Captivating! |
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Captivating! Welcome A Short Bio The Author Prologue
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The first time that I laid eyes upon Helen Mack, I was captivated! Her demeanor was calm and cool. Her eyes were inviting....her face unforgettable. She exhibited a look of sophistication and charm, yet looked ever so slightly out of place. All of this begged the question - "Who is (or was) this lady that stared at me from the beat up framed picture tucked away on a wall surrounded by images of Hollywood greats?" This question had lodged itself in my consciousness for over ten years, unanswered....until now. I've just begun to explore the world and life that Helen Mack belonged to. The first significant discovery of information about Helen was like the moment when the great archeologist Howard Carter first peered into King Tut's tomb, and his benefactor 'Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the suspense any longer, inquired anxiously, "Can you see anything?" It was all I could do to get out the words, "Yes, wonderful things."' - the journals of Howard Carter |
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The picture that started it all! |
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Welcome! | ||||||||||
Welcome to the
only website on the internet (that I know of) that is solely dedicated to
preserving the memory and works of actress Helen Mack. Helen was much more
than an actress. So much more... Helen Mack is one of the earliest examples of pioneering women who were successful in the entertainment industry, first as a performer and then orchestrating behind the scenes. Helen started her career as a child actress in silent films, moving on to Broadway plays, and touring the vaudeville circuit. Later success (as an actress) was as a leading lady in the 1930's and early '40's. Eventually Helen transitioned into performing on radio, and then into writing, directing, and producing some of the best known radio shows during the Golden Age of Radio. Later in life Helen billed herself as a professional writer, writing for Broadway, stage, and television. Helen's career spanned the infancy of the motion picture industry, the beginnings of Broadway, the final days of Vaudeville, the transition to "talkies", the Golden Age of Radio, and the rise of television. Helen blazed a path years ahead of her time, and laid the groundwork for many other women to follow. My goal, when I started this project, was to learn more about this mysterious lady, who seems to have gone unnoticed since the late 1930's. This project has turned into a crusade to uncover and publish the life and times of a beautiful lady everyone seems to have forgotten. My work is not complete - far from it. But, along the way I have uncovered many interesting facts and facets regarding this wonderful person. It is my hope to be able to create THE comprehensive source on Helen Mack. I welcome any inquiries, help, suggestions, and information. I will not leave any stone unturned until I have completed her history, from A to Z. |
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A Short Bio | ||||||||||
Helen McAvity (married name) was the daughter
of William and Regina McDougall. They enrolled Helen in the Professional
Children's School in New York City in 1921, where Helen went to school
while she performed in silent movies, vaudeville, and Broadway plays as a
child performer. It was during this time that she acquired her stage name
- Helen Mack. From 1931 to 1945, Helen Mack performed in 38 films, mostly as a leading actress. Her best known films are probably "Son of Kong" and "She". In 1940 she married Thomas McAvity, a radio show producer who went on to become Vice President of Television Network for NBC. During the late 1930's and early 1940's Helen acted in radio shows, but eventually changed careers and moved into producing and directing radio shows. In the 1960's and early '70's Helen wrote several Broadway plays and screenplays for popular television shows like "Daniel Boone" and "Julia". Helen died in Beverly Hills, California in 1986. |
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About The Author | ||||||||||
Daryl Curtis is a Petroleum Engineer, living and working in Bakersfield, California. He became interested in Helen Mack in 1990, when he purchased an autographed photo of Helen from a curiosity shop in Ventura, California. Daryl is married and has six cats, one dog, a few fish, is a lifelong Star Trek fan, has a passion for NASCAR racing, and devotes a lot of time and energy to supporting the local children's shelter in Bakersfield. | ||||||||||
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Copyright 2003. All information and material on this website is the property of Daryl Curtis. Use of this material may not be used without the permission of the owner. | ||||||||||