Alice Faye’s Old Time Radio Experiences

Alice Faye was born on May 15th 1915 in New York City. In the early 1920s and 30s she started her career as a chorus girl for the Chester Hale Vaudeville Unit. She changed her last name to Faye at this time as well.

She began her career in old radio shows as a singer on The Fleischmann Hour in 1932. For a further two years she remained on old radio shows shows. It was a happy coincidence that brought her the role that would change her career.

Having introduced the songs of many top composers, she turned such songs into hits. She soon came out on top as the No 1 Song Plugger of the US. Songs by George Gershwin and Irving Berlin were among those she introduced.

Faye went to Hollywood to record a song for a film and was chosen to play the lead role in George White’s Scandals when the star, Lilian Harvey, walked out. This launched her into stardom.

Between 1935-40 she starred in many productions by 20th Century-Fox such as Alexander’s Ragtime Band. Phil Harris soon joined her in marriage in 1941. It was the second marriage for both.

Fitch Bandwagon soon wanted the couple to join by 1946, by which time Harris had two children with Faye. This eventually led into the formation of the Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show that starred the couple in a comedy routine and musical performance each episode.

The radio show ran until 1954. Faye followed up with multiple guest appearances in TV shows. Alice could be seen on the Dean Martin Show, Love Boat, the Red Skelton Show, and the Perry Como Show. She also starred in a film version of State Fair with 20th Century Fox.

In the 1970s, Alice Faye also appeared on stage with John Payne and Stubby Kaye in a touring production of Good News. As a representative of pharmaceutical agents, she promoted good health as an ambassador. She also wrote the book Getting Older, Staying Young. She remained married to Harris for the rest of his life, and the marriage lasted for 51 years.

However, Harris suffered from a fatal heart attach in 1995. Three years later Faye succumbed to stomach cancer and passed away in her home surrounded by her daughters.