Alice Faye

Alice Faye Synopsis

This is the most definitive survey yet of Alice Faye's unique career in film, recording, broadcasting, and on stage. An annotated bibliography of book, magazine, and newspaper sources covers her life and career from 1933 through 1989. This volume also features a filmography, discography, detailed coverage of Faye's broadcasting and stage career, specialized appendixes, and a general index and song index. a superb work of reference. Classic Images

This is the most definitive survey yet of Alice Faye's unique career in film, recording, broadcasting and on stage, a career that began in 1933 and which is still flourishing today as a spokesperson for the elderly on health issues. Even as a child, Alice Faye, born Alice Jean Leppert, was drawn to the stage.

On Saturdays Alice and her mother would attend matinees at the Broadway theaters, where Alice would loiter by the stage door pretending she was leaving for her own engagement. Faye's first break came as a dancer for the Chester Hale troupe. Her dancing chores trained her well for when she auditioned successfully for impressario George White.

Faye was cast in the eleventh edition of George White's Scandals, which opened on September 14, 1931. Faye was now making $60 a week, in a company that included such young luminaries as Ethel Merman and Ray Bolger. Faye was soon taken under the wing of Rudy Vallee, the renowned radio crooner and recording star of the day.

She debuted on his radio program in December of 1932, and became a regular shortly thereafter. Her career in film musicals began a year later when she was signed to do a musical number on a restyled movie edition of George White's Scandals, at Fox Studios in Hollywood.

In addition to individual chapters on each facet of her life, the book features an annotated bibliography of book, magazine, and newspaper sources. All undocumented quotes in the introductory biography are from first hand remarks of people contacted by the author. The filmography of feature films is arranged in chronological order, with five other Faye appearances in clips or film shorts listed separately.

The discography chapter lists her recordings alphabetically and by category. This section also lists compact disc releases and miscellaneous compilations on tape. The broadcasting chapter covers appearances on radio and television in chronological order. The stage chapter also lists Faye's appearances in chronological order.

The annotated bibliography is arranged in alphabetical order by author or by article title if no author is identified. Specialized appendixes and a general index and song index complete the volume. The song index lists songs exclusively featuring Faye (or in accompaniment with others) in her film, broadcasting and stage appearances.

This book will be of interest to all Alice Faye fans and to anyone interested in the history of film musicals.