Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Bill Hayes

Bill Hayes, longtime cast member of the daytime drama Days of Our Lives, passed away at 98 years of age. Remarkably, fans of the show will note he worked right up until the end -- appearing at the annual Christmas episode with his wife and castmate Susan Seaforth Hayes (reportedly, they were introduced to each other by castmate Macdonald Carey). (The program left broadcast television in 2022 but continues streaming on NBC's Internet "Peacock" channel.)

Mr. Hayes very kindly allowed me to interview him on Ann Blyth for my book, Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. in 2014. (Has it really been ten years?) He was charming, funny, and gracious. I enjoyed talking with him very much and listening to his memories of his career in theatre and television.

He first appeared with Ann Blyth in the summer theatre production of Brigadoon in 1968 at the St. Louis Municipal Opera (MUNY), and in 1985 they appeared opposite each other in Song of Norway at the Long Beach Civil Opera. In 1992, they formed a cabaret act and sang together at New York's exclusive Rainbow & Stars room atop Rockefeller Center and continued to play other dates across the country in the early 1990s.

His contribution to my book was invaluable, and I'll carry the warm memory of my chat with this dear man always. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. As Ann Blyth is still with us, this is, undoubtedly, her loss as well.

For more on Bill Hayes' long career, have a look at this article in The Hollywood Reporter.

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Looking for a gift a classic film fan?Have a look at my book -- Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

eBook edition (Amazon)

print edition available at Amazon and also my Etsy shop.

audiobook edition

Also available in eBook at:

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Apple iBooks

...and a variety of other online shops!

For more on my other books and plays, please see my website: JacquelineTLynch.com

"Lynch’s book is organized and well-written – and has plenty of amusing observations – but when it comes to describing Blyth’s movies, Lynch’s writing sparkles." - Ruth Kerr, Silver Screenings

"Jacqueline T. Lynch creates a poignant and thoroughly-researched mosaic of memories of a fine, upstanding human being who also happens to be a legendary entertainer." - Deborah Thomas, Java's Journey

"One of the great strengths of Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is that Lynch not only gives an excellent overview of Blyth's career -- she offers detailed analyses of each of Blyth's roles -- but she puts them in the context of the larger issues of the day."- Amanda Garrett, Old Hollywood Films

"Jacqueline's book will hopefully cause many more people to take a look at this multitalented woman whose career encompassed just about every possible aspect of 20th Century entertainment." - Laura Grieve, Laura's Miscellaneous Musings''

"Jacqueline T. Lynch’s Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is an extremely well researched undertaking that is a must for all Blyth fans." - Annette Bochenek, Hometowns to Hollywood

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Ann Blyth on radio - "There's No Escape"

Ann Blyth performed on radio many times. Here Ann stars in an episode of the program Proudly We Hail, which was a production of the U.S. Army Recruiting Service that ran from 1946 to 1957. The program produced comedies, dramas, musical episodes, and included promotional spots for U.S. Army recruitment.

Ann appears in "There's No Escape," a suspense story released for broadcast April 17, 1949. The shows were "transcribed," meaning they were not performed live, but rather recorded on a disk in the studio, as you may infer from the image of the record label above.

The episode can be heard or downloaded from the Internet Archive website, or have a listen here on YouTube:

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Looking for a gift a classic film fan?Have a look at my book -- Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

eBook edition (Amazon)

print edition available at Amazon and also my Etsy shop.

audiobook edition

Also available in eBook at:

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Apple iBooks

...and a variety of other online shops!

For more on my other books and plays, please see my website: JacquelineTLynch.com

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Ann Blyth's solo on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW

Ann appeared on Ed Sullivan's popular television variety show on February 14, 1954, to not only publicize her recent film The Student Prince (1954), co-starring with Mario Lanza, but to showcase individually her magnificent singing talent. Here is an excerpt from my book, Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.:

Ann got a chance to sing “Deep in My Heart” without Mario, in an exquisite solo on live television a few months before the film’s release. Along with an array of other MGM stars, she appeared on Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town, February 14, 1954. The episode was a salute to the thirtieth anniversary of MGM. Sullivan and studio head Dore Schary, both in tuxedos, discussed MGM’s past history of films, showed clips of current movies, and showcased some splendid live performances that were highlights of MGM’s recent films, including a spirited rendition of “Sobbin’ Women” from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with Howard Keel and the actors who played his brothers in the film. Ann and Edmund Purdom performed a brief scene from The Student Prince, where they slip away from the ball and plan to run away together, but must part, possibly forever, when the prince is called away. Then Ann, dressed in her serving Mädchen dirndl sings “Deep in My Heart,” though without the blonde wig. Her dark hair is cut in a short pageboy bob style of the day. Her rendition is splendid, delivered with astonishing power and loveliness, with the hat tip of the high note at the end, we may think, “Mario who?”