October 10
FIRST LADY OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE DAY
Ten months into the 20th century, the world received a gift. A baby named Helen Brown was born in Washington, D.C. on this day in 1900. She was destined to become the First Lady of the American Theatre. We know her as Helen Hayes.
Her best work on stage was as Great Britain’s Queen Victoria in the play, Victoria Regina.
She was more than wonderful on Broadway and her Tony Awards attest to that: Best Dramatic Actress in 1947 for Happy Birthday, and again in 1958 for Time Remembered. Her talents were recognized on movie screens (Hayes appeared in films as early as 1927). She received an Academy Award for Best Actress for her first major role: The Sin of Madelon Claudet in 1931, and forty years later for Best Supporting Actress in Airport. Other silver screen performances included roles in Arrowsmith, A Farewell to Arms and Anastasia. Helen Hayes was recognized for her talents on the small screen as well, garnering an Emmy for TV’s Best Actress on February 5, 1953. And, as late as 1974 she was still performing on TV in The Snoop Sisters.
Helen Hayes died on March 17, 1993. The mother of one of TV’s well-known actors, the late James MacArthur (Hawaii Five-O’s Danno), Helen Hayes will always be the First Lady of the American Theatre.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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