195:, the foundation's president, announced plans for the fund on January 9, 1950, saying that half of the proceeds would be used for care of patients in the community where the money was raised, and the other half would finance respirator centers in at least five cities. The friends' initial efforts were to be supplemented by activities of committees in several cities, with contributions to be solicited from people in the entertainment community.
46:, causing the play to close. The producer said that he should not have to pay the Actors' Equity Association's standard "two weeks' salary in lieu of notice" to the play's cast, because the pregnancy was covered by the contract's "act of God" clause. An arbitration committee awarded the pay to the actors.
76:
When MacArthur was 17, she said that she had become interested in acting only within the previous two years. She explained, "My father told me it was time I got a career for myself. He said I couldn't write so I'd better try acting. And now I'm just trying to find out whether I'm any good or not."
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called the first-night performance "memorable" and added, "It was probably as trying and triumphant a night as any mother and daughter ever experienced." The trying aspect for MacArthur arose from "her mother's enviable reputation as the 'First Lady of the
Theater'", while Hayes wanted "to see her
148:, director Homer Fickett realized that Hayes "was nervous for Mary, which made Mary nervous, and they were both making me nervous." He said to Hayes, "Helen, you know what you are doing — you are playing Mrs. MacArthur." The tension then lifted. The two also appeared together on the radio program
22:(February 15, 1930 - September 22, 1949) was an American actress. Her death from polio at age 19 led to creation of the Mary MacArthur Memorial Fund, which provided money for research and for treatment of people with that disease.
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had a different perspective. It said that MacArthur "stumbled over her lines" and summarized, "though she tried very hard, it was the general feeling among the 400 socialite-spectators that Mary MacArthur is not a born actress."
107:
own child captivate and hold an audience". The review noted that MacArthur "proved to be her mother's daughter, playing the part of Amy Grey with the teen-age perfection it calls for." A review distributed by the
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on
September 14, 1949, and died there on September 22, 1949, aged 19. The cause of death was then said to be "a generalized virus infection". Later reports said that she died of respiratory polio.
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was her brother by adoption. Hayes's pregnancy led to a "widely publicized theatrical controversy" and an arbitration settlement after she suddenly left a
Pacific Coast production of
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129:. When that 10-day run ended, Hayes left to perform in England, while MacArthur remained as resident ingenue. MacArthur and Hayes acted together in
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61:. She first appeared on stage in 1937 at age 7, in a walk-on appearance with a curtsy (but no lines) when Hayes was performing in
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reported, "There were telegrams and flowers backstage, a gift from her mother and the company, and a lot of sentiment."
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Joint appearances sometimes caused problems for Hayes. When both were appearing on an episode of the radio program
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771:"Tomorrow's Stars Show Their Stuff: Mary MacArthur memorial vaudeville brings out top talent of lower age groups"
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713:"Actress Ill, Play Changes Schedule: Mary MacArthur, Appearing in McCleery Comedy With Mother, in Hospital Here"
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271:"Mary M'Arthur, Actress, 19, Dies: Daughter of Helen Hayes and Charles MacArthur Succumbs to a Virus Infection"
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Fundraising efforts led by MacArthur's friends led to creation of the Mary MacArthur
Memorial Fund of the
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170:. The play was to have been the vehicle for MacArthur's New York City stage debut. She was admitted to
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93:. Her professional stage debut occurred there on July 15, 1946, when she performed with Hayes in
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MacArthur was born on
February 15, 1930, in New York City. She was the daughter of playwright
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called the "biggest event of the theatrical year, junior division", raised $ 9,000 for the
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234:"Daughter to Helen Hayes: Mother, in Private Life Mrs. MacArthur, Was Star of 'Coquette'"
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In 1946, MacArthur began a theatrical apprenticeship in acting and stagecraft at the
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put on a memorial performance to honor MacArthur. The two-hour variety show, which
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In 1947 MacArthur, as a member of the supporting cast, toured with
Lillian Gish in
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744:"Fund to Aid Polio Care: Mary MacArthur Memorial Will Support Research Work"
548:. International News Service. July 17, 1946. p. 8. Archived from
298:"Mary MacArthur, 'Act of God Baby' of Helen Hayes, Dies in New York"
304:. Associated Press. September 24, 1949. p. 3. Archived from
582:. Maine, Lewiston. August 23, 1947. p. 17. Archived from
677:"Stations To Give Complete Election Returns Thursday"
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512:"Helen Hayes and Daughter Make Theatrical History"
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777:. February 27, 1950. pp. 107–108, 110, 113
683:. November 2, 1947. p. 7-D. Archived from
392:"Helen Hayes's Daughter Makes Stage Debut at 7"
576:"Lillian Gish At Ogunquit In Noel Coward Play"
420:"Star's Daughter Says Parents Can Be Handicap"
162:MacArthur became ill in the summer of 1949 in
647:"Theater Guild Director Bosses Biggest Stars"
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336:"Actors Win Decision in 'Coquette' Closing"
189:National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
611:"Having Famous Parents Can Be A Handicap"
542:"Helen Hayes' Daughter Stumbles In Debut"
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121:. MacArthur and Hayes appeared again in
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125:to open the summer 1948 season at the
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710:Zolotow, Sam (September 19, 1949).
203:In January 1950, students from the
418:Watts, Elizabeth (July 10, 1947).
364:"Drama Aspirants Hear Helen Hayes"
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510:Thompson, E. B. (July 21, 1946).
59:American Academy of Dramatic Arts
57:, and was a 1949 graduate of the
653:. Associated Press. p. D-11
343:. September 21, 1929. p. 24
278:. September 23, 1949. p. 23
813:20th-century American actresses
451:"Mary MacArthur to Go on Stage"
399:. February 22, 1937. p. 12
241:. February 17, 1930. p. 26
751:. January 10, 1950. p. 36
205:Professional Children's School
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609:Schier, Ernie (May 8, 1948).
818:Actresses from New York City
645:Meegan, Jean (May 2, 1948).
426:. p. 12. Archived from
371:. March 18, 1949. p. 32
183:Mary MacArthur Memorial Fund
16:American actress (1930–1949)
486:. July 15, 1946. p. 20
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617:. p. 14 - Section III
109:International News Service
516:The Philadelphia Inquirer
458:. May 1, 1946. p. 39
139:, in the summer of 1949.
103:The Philadelphia Inquirer
823:American stage actresses
479:"Mary M'Arthur in Debut"
302:Fort Worth Star-Telegram
145:Theatre Guild on the Air
651:Richmond Times Dispatch
91:New Hope, Pennsylvania
87:Bucks County Playhouse
55:Greenwich, Connecticut
681:The Knoxville Journal
164:Westport, Connecticut
123:Alice Sit-by-the-Fire
95:Alice Sit-by-the-Fire
151:Cavalcade of America
127:Olney summer theater
172:Lenox Hill Hospital
132:The Glass Menagerie
49:MacArthur attended
749:The New York Times
718:The New York Times
484:The New York Times
456:The New York Times
397:The New York Times
369:The New York Times
341:The New York Times
276:The New York Times
239:The New York Times
70:The New York Times
828:Deaths from polio
687:on April 11, 2024
586:on April 11, 2024
552:on April 17, 2024
430:on April 11, 2024
168:Good Housekeeping
53:girls' school in
32:Charles MacArthur
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779:. Retrieved
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615:Times Herald
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118:The Marquise
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100:A review in
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34:and actress
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19:
18:
808:1949 deaths
803:1930 births
580:Sun-Journal
36:Helen Hayes
26:Early years
797:Categories
219:References
781:April 18,
691:April 11,
657:April 11,
621:April 11,
590:April 11,
556:April 17,
522:April 17,
434:April 11,
755:April 6,
724:April 6,
490:April 6,
462:April 6,
403:April 6,
375:April 6,
347:April 9,
312:April 9,
282:April 4,
245:April 9,
44:Coquette
38:. Actor
178:Legacy
81:Career
158:Death
783:2024
775:Life
757:2024
726:2024
693:2024
659:2024
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592:2024
558:2024
524:2024
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