From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Helen Mack
Helen Mack
Helen Mack a youth at the Professional Children’s School of New York
City. Vera Gordon was a friend who helped her along
as a child actress. She appeared on Broadway, in vaude-
ville (1926–28) and in stock, as well as in silent films.
Mack debuted on stage in The Idle Inn with Jacob Benami.
She performed with Roland Young in The Idle Inn and
toured America (1928–29) with William Hodge in Straight
Through The Door.
Film actress
Her Fox Film screen test came in March 1931 and within
three weeks she was on the studio lot. Mack began her
film career, first billed as Helen Macks, in Success. The
motion picture featured Brandon Tynan, Naomi Childers,
and Mary Astor. In Zaza, Mack worked with Gloria Swan-
son. She also had a small role in D. W. Griffith’s last film
The Struggle (1931).
Born Helen McDougall She made her debut as a leading lady opposite Victor
November 12, 1913(1913-11-12) McLaglen in While Paris Sleeps (1932) and was cast with
Rock Island, Illinois, U.S. John Boles in his initial Fox Film venture, Scotch Valley.
Died August 13, 1986(1986-08-13) (aged 72) Mack played in several westerns in the early 1930s.
Beverly Hills, California, U.S. Among these are Fargo Express (1933) with Ken Maynard
and The California Trail with Buck Jones.
Occupation actress, writer, director, producer
Reviewer Norbert Lusk commented favorably regard-
Years active 1923–1971 ing Mack’s performance in the 1933 motion picture,
Sweepings (1933). He said "she has a lively personality,
Spouse Charles Irwin (1935–1938)
Thomas McAvity (1940–1974) his death appreciated all the more in a heavy, loomy picture, and
she plays her shopgirl role with understanding and fi-
Helen Mack (November 12, 1913 – August 13, 1986) was nesse."[citation needed] Prior to this film Mack’s career had
an American actress. Mack started her career as a child declined for three years. Three of her productions failed.
actress in silent films, moving on to Broadway plays, and One reason for this career downturn is that she was usu-
touring the vaudeville circuit. Her greater success as an ally a character star. Her employers had used Mack as
actress was as a leading lady in the 1930s. Eventually an ingenue. RKO Radio Pictures Inc. offered her a second
Mack transitioned into performing on radio, and then chance as Mamie Donahue in Sweepings.
into writing, directing, and producing some of the best She may be best remembered for the 1933 movie se-
known radio shows during the Golden Age of Radio. Later quel The Son of Kong, as Harold Lloyd’s sister in The Milky
in life, Mack billed herself as a professional writer, writ- Way (1936) and as the suicidal Molly Malloy in His Girl Fri-
ing for Broadway, stage, and television. Her career day (1940). She also played an important role as Tanya
spanned the infancy of the motion picture industry, the in Merian C. Cooper’s production of H. Rider Haggard’s
beginnings of Broadway, the final days of Vaudeville, the She (1935) opposite Randolph Scott, Nigel Bruce, and He-
transition to "talking pictures", the Golden Age of Radio, len Gahagan (who did the title role as She, who must be
and the rise of television. obeyed). Other roles for Mack included the bank-robbing
ingenue opposite Richard Cromwell and Lionel Atwill in
1937’s The Wrong Road for RKO.
Youth and stage
Helen Mack, born Helen McDougall was the daughter of
William George McDougall, a barber, and Regina (née
WAMPAS wrangle
Lenzer) McDougall, who had a repressed desire to be- In 1931, thirteen members of the Fox Film Company pub-
come an actress. She obtained her education (1921–29) as licity department resigned in protest of WAMPAS
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Helen Mack
(Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers) fail- • Los Angeles Times, "Helen Mack Wins Boles Lead",
ure to name a Fox starlet on their annual list of baby stars. December 22, 1931, Page A7.
Linda Watkins missed by one vote and Mack was a bit • Los Angeles Times, "Actress Assigned", November 8,
farther down the list of those omitted. In response Fox 1932, Page 11.
named Mack, Watkins, and Conchita Montenegro as rival • Los Angeles Times, "Newcomer, Helen Mack,
debutantes or budding stars. Fox proposed to name baby Conspicuous", April 2, 1933, Page A3.
stars for each year after, by a vote of its executives. • Los Angeles Times, "Films’ Revolting Daughters Turn
Out To Be Meek Lambs", April 30, 1933, Page A7.
Private life • Los Angeles Times, "Helen Mack Chimes Ring",
February 14, 1935, Page 1.
She married lawyer Charles Irwin in San Francisco, Cali- • Lowell, Massachusetts Sun, "Helen Mack Born Actress",
fornia, in February 1935 at age 21. Irwin was a bankrupt- January 18, 1934, Page 42.
cy trustee for Fox Film West Coast Theaters. By this time • Sheboygan, Wisconsin The Press, "Three Debutante
Mack was under contract to Paramount Pictures. They Stars On Way To Stardom With Fox", September 11,
had a son in 1936 and divorced in 1938. 1931, Page 14.
In 1940 she married Thomas McAvity in Santa Bar- • Picture Show, "Helen Mack and Her Films", August 17,
bara, California. McAvity later became Vice President in 1935, Page 18.
Charge of Television Network for NBC. They had one son. • Syracuse Herald-Journal, "Hollywood", November 2,
McAvity died in 1974. 1939, Page 21.
In 1986, Mack died after a battle with cancer.
External links
Late career • Helen Mack at the Internet Movie Database
In the 1940s and 1950s, Mack worked as a producer and • Helen Mack at the Internet Broadway Database
director of radio programs including such series as • The Unofficial Helen Mack Tribute Site
Richard Diamond, Private Detective and The Saint. As TV suc- • Download His Girl Friday at the Internet Archive
ceeded radio as the prevalent entertainment medium, • Helen Mack at Find a Grave
she continued to write plays and TV episodes until her Persondata
death.
Name Mack, Helen
In 1949, she collaborated with Roger Price in writing
the children’s record Gossamer Wump, narrated by Frank Alternative names
Morgan and released by Capitol Records. Short description American actress
Date of birth November 12, 1913
References Place of birth Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.
• New York Times, "The Screen", July 10, 1923, Page 22. Date of death August 13, 1986
• Los Angeles Times, "New Move Marks War On Place of death Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
WAMPAS", August 24, 1931, Page A1.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helen_Mack&oldid=451386277"
Categories:
• American child actors
• American film actors
• American silent film actors
• Vaudeville performers
• Western (genre) film actors
• Cancer deaths in California
• 1913 births
• 1986 deaths
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