Mary Parker (born Mary Frances Roberson;[1] August 28, 1918 – March 2, 1998) was an American stage, television and screen actress/performer. Parker appeared in 17 films from 1938 to 1954, but was also known for her dance work with partner Billy Daniel.[2]
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Parker (also known as "Punkins" Parker),[1] was a protégé of Mitchell Leisen. Leisen recruited Parker for various projects both on and off the screen starting in 1938. Parker was discovered while performing at the Casa Mañana Theatre in her native Fort Worth, Texas during the Texas Centennial celebrations and given a contract with Paramount Pictures.[3] She performed in several large budget films, and was chosen by Paramount and Max Factor Jr. as "The Real Miss America", yet her fame was short lived.[4]
In 1943, Parker signed a contract with MGM.[5] Courtesy of MGM, in April 1944 Parker starred in a production of The Desert Song for the troops at Camp Roberts, California.
Parker and Daniels also performed in nightclubs. In those engagements, they specialized in "ballroom fairy tales", in which the dances told stories and each step of each dance was a component of the story that the dance told.[1]
In 1944, Parker wed Lt. Richard B. Dixson,[6] a decorated fighter pilot. They remained married a little over a year during World War II, and never remarried. She returned from Hollywood in the late 1940s and only made a few movies from that point (all bit parts). Her television show Mary Parker Playtime was a show for children in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.[7]
Mary Parker Playtime (Fort Worth, Texas) 1949/53 WBAP-5
Dance Parade (Fort Worth, Texas) 1950/53 WBAP-5
References
^ abcCoon, Robbin (December 9, 1940). "Didn't Know Each Other In Fort Worth". Lansing State Journal. Michigan, Lansing. p. 7. Retrieved June 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^Mitchell Leisen, Hollywood Director by David Chierichetti, c. 1995.
^"Punkins Isn't Punkins Anymore in Hollywood"; The Hartford Courant, October 30, 1938, pg. 1
^"The News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved January 1, 2015.
^"Mary Parker Signs Pact". The Austin American. Texas, Austin. August 27, 1943. p. 14. Retrieved June 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^Parsons, Louella O. (May 18, 1944). "Film Cinderella To Be Bride". The Tampa Times. Florida, Tampa. International News Service. p. 10. Retrieved June 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^Tim Hollis, Hi There, Boys and Girls! America’s Local Children's TV Programs, University Press of Mississippi; First Paperback Edition (October 29, 2001).
mary, parker, american, actress, other, people, named, mary, parker, mary, parker, disambiguation, topic, this, article, meet, wikipedia, notability, guideline, biographies, please, help, demonstrate, notability, topic, citing, reliable, secondary, sources, th. For other people named Mary Parker see Mary Parker disambiguation The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s notability guideline for biographies Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Mary Parker American actress news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mary Parker born Mary Frances Roberson 1 August 28 1918 March 2 1998 was an American stage television and screen actress performer Parker appeared in 17 films from 1938 to 1954 but was also known for her dance work with partner Billy Daniel 2 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Career 2 1 Selected filmography 2 2 Stage 2 3 Television 3 References 4 External linksLife and career EditBorn in Fort Worth Texas Parker also known as Punkins Parker 1 was a protege of Mitchell Leisen Leisen recruited Parker for various projects both on and off the screen starting in 1938 Parker was discovered while performing at the Casa Manana Theatre in her native Fort Worth Texas during the Texas Centennial celebrations and given a contract with Paramount Pictures 3 She performed in several large budget films and was chosen by Paramount and Max Factor Jr as The Real Miss America yet her fame was short lived 4 In 1943 Parker signed a contract with MGM 5 Courtesy of MGM in April 1944 Parker starred in a production of The Desert Song for the troops at Camp Roberts California Parker and Daniels also performed in nightclubs In those engagements they specialized in ballroom fairy tales in which the dances told stories and each step of each dance was a component of the story that the dance told 1 In 1944 Parker wed Lt Richard B Dixson 6 a decorated fighter pilot They remained married a little over a year during World War II and never remarried She returned from Hollywood in the late 1940s and only made a few movies from that point all bit parts Her television show Mary Parker Playtime was a show for children in the Dallas Fort Worth area 7 She died in Fort Worth Texas in 1998 Career EditSelected filmography Edit Music for Millions 1944 as Anita Lady in the Dark 1944 as Miss Parker Marie Green and Her Merry Men 1940 41 Ranch House Romeo 1939 as Mitzi Sudden Money 1939 as Ellen Cafe Society 1939 uncredited as Southern Girl St Louis Blues 1939 as Punkins Artists and Models Abroad 1938 as PunkinsStage Edit Hit the Deck 1945 version musical written by Vincent Youmans Let s Face It 1941 43 wartime musical written by Cole Porter Abe Lincoln in Illinois 1939 40 Television Edit Mary Parker Playtime Fort Worth Texas 1949 53 WBAP 5 Dance Parade Fort Worth Texas 1950 53 WBAP 5References Edit a b c Coon Robbin December 9 1940 Didn t Know Each Other In Fort Worth Lansing State Journal Michigan Lansing p 7 Retrieved June 6 2018 via Newspapers com Mitchell Leisen Hollywood Director by David Chierichetti c 1995 Punkins Isn t Punkins Anymore in Hollywood The Hartford Courant October 30 1938 pg 1 The News Google News Archive Search Retrieved January 1 2015 Mary Parker Signs Pact The Austin American Texas Austin August 27 1943 p 14 Retrieved June 6 2018 via Newspapers com Parsons Louella O May 18 1944 Film Cinderella To Be Bride The Tampa Times Florida Tampa International News Service p 10 Retrieved June 6 2018 via Newspapers com Tim Hollis Hi There Boys and Girls America s Local Children s TV Programs University Press of Mississippi First Paperback Edition October 29 2001 External links EditMary Parker official website Profile Turner Classic Movies website Mary Parker at the Internet Broadway Database Mary Parker at IMDb Photograph digitalgallery nypl org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Parker American actress amp oldid 1060262313, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
