Beryl Wallace
Encyclopedia
Beryl Wallace was an American singer, dancer and actress.
Born Beryl Heischuber in the Brighton Beach
section of Brooklyn, New York, she was the eldest of nine children of working class Jewish immigrants from Austria
. Pursuing a dancing career, she was in her teens when she saw a casting call advertisement in the newspaper
and landed a role in the 1928 Earl Carroll
Broadway theatre
production of Vanities that was billed as having the "most beautiful girls in the world". Beryl Heischuber adopted the last name "Wallace" as part of her stage name
and went on to appear in another six similar such risqué productions that featured scanty costumes for the female performers and full nudity for the first time on Broadway.
Beryl Wallace and producer Earl Carroll began a personal relationship that would take them to Hollywood where she would perform in film and at his Earl Carroll Theatre
. The theatre-supper club
's facade was adorned by what at the time was one of Hollywood's most famous landmark
s: a 20 feet (6.1 m)-high neon
facial portrait of Beryl Wallace of which a recreation can be seen today at Universal CityWalk
, at Universal City
, as part of the collection of historic neon signs from the Museum of Neon Art
.
Beryl Wallace made her film debut in 1934 in an uncredited role in the Paramount Pictures
film production of Carroll's Broadway play Murder at the Vanities
. She went on to appear in a number of small roles until 1937, when she co-starred in the Monogram Pictures
"B
" Western film production of Romance of the Rockies with Tom Keene. This led to another co-starring role in the 1938 film, Air Devils. In the early 1940s she continued appearing in bit parts, but also had good secondary roles in Republic Pictures
"B" Westerns starring the likes of Roy Rogers
and Richard Dix
. While acting in twenty-two films over a ten-year period, Wallace's primary job was as a star entertainer at Earl Carroll's theatre.
During World War II
, Beryl Wallace sang weekly on two 15-minute radio shows and on Monday evenings hosted a half-hour entertainment show on NBC
radio called Furlough Fun. In addition to helping entertain soldiers at the Masquers Club, on Sunday afternoons she was a volunteer dancer at the Hollywood Canteen
.
Broadway performances:
in Aristes, Pennsylvania
. They were interred together in the Garden of Memory at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
in Glendale, California
.
Born Beryl Heischuber in the Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is an oceanside neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.-Location:...
section of Brooklyn, New York, she was the eldest of nine children of working class Jewish immigrants from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Pursuing a dancing career, she was in her teens when she saw a casting call advertisement in the newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
and landed a role in the 1928 Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll was an American theatrical producer, director, songwriter and composer born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Vanities that was billed as having the "most beautiful girls in the world". Beryl Heischuber adopted the last name "Wallace" as part of her stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
and went on to appear in another six similar such risqué productions that featured scanty costumes for the female performers and full nudity for the first time on Broadway.
Beryl Wallace and producer Earl Carroll began a personal relationship that would take them to Hollywood where she would perform in film and at his Earl Carroll Theatre
Earl Carroll Theatre
Earl Carroll Theatre was the name of two important theaters owned by Broadway impresario and showman Earl Carroll. One was located on Broadway in New York City and the other on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, California.-Broadway:...
. The theatre-supper club
Supper club
A supper club, in general, refers to a dining establishment that also functions as a social club. The term may describe different establishments depending on the region, but in general, supper clubs tend to present themselves as having a high-class image, even if the price is affordable to...
's facade was adorned by what at the time was one of Hollywood's most famous landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
s: a 20 feet (6.1 m)-high neon
Neon
Neon is the chemical element that has the symbol Ne and an atomic number of 10. Although a very common element in the universe, it is rare on Earth. A colorless, inert noble gas under standard conditions, neon gives a distinct reddish-orange glow when used in either low-voltage neon glow lamps or...
facial portrait of Beryl Wallace of which a recreation can be seen today at Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk is the name given to the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. Originating as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the...
, at Universal City
Universal City, California
Universal City is a community in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, that encompasses the 415 acre property of Universal Studios...
, as part of the collection of historic neon signs from the Museum of Neon Art
Museum of Neon Art
The Museum of Neon Art is a museum that exists to a encourage learning and curiosity through the preservation, collection, and interpretation of neon art. The museum has had several locations since its foundation; it is presently located at 136 West Fourth Street in Los Angeles, California, and is...
.
Beryl Wallace made her film debut in 1934 in an uncredited role in the Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
film production of Carroll's Broadway play Murder at the Vanities
Murder at the Vanities
Murder at the Vanities is a musical film based on the 1933 Broadway musical with music by Victor Young, made in the pre-Code era, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Mitchell Leisen, stars Carl Brisson, Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Gertrude Michael, Toby Wing, and Jessie Ralph...
. She went on to appear in a number of small roles until 1937, when she co-starred in the Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
"B
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
" Western film production of Romance of the Rockies with Tom Keene. This led to another co-starring role in the 1938 film, Air Devils. In the early 1940s she continued appearing in bit parts, but also had good secondary roles in Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
"B" Westerns starring the likes of Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
and Richard Dix
Richard Dix
Richard Dix was an American motion picture actor who achieved popularity in both silent and sound film. His standard on-screen image was that of the rugged and stalwart hero.-Early life:...
. While acting in twenty-two films over a ten-year period, Wallace's primary job was as a star entertainer at Earl Carroll's theatre.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Beryl Wallace sang weekly on two 15-minute radio shows and on Monday evenings hosted a half-hour entertainment show on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio called Furlough Fun. In addition to helping entertain soldiers at the Masquers Club, on Sunday afternoons she was a volunteer dancer at the Hollywood Canteen
Hollywood Canteen
The Hollywood Canteen operated at 1451 Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, California between October 3, 1942 and November 22, 1945 as a club offering food, dancing and entertainment for servicemen, usually on their way overseas...
.
Broadway performances:
- Earl Carroll's Vanities (1940)
- The Women (1936)
- Earl Carroll's Sketch Book (1935)
- Murder at the VanitiesMurder at the VanitiesMurder at the Vanities is a musical film based on the 1933 Broadway musical with music by Victor Young, made in the pre-Code era, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Mitchell Leisen, stars Carl Brisson, Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Gertrude Michael, Toby Wing, and Jessie Ralph...
(1934) - Earl Carroll's Vanities (1932)
- Earl Carroll's Vanities (1931)
- Earl Carroll's Vanities (1930)
- Earl Carroll's Vanities (1928)
Death
On June 17, 1948, while en route from Los Angeles to New York City, Beryl Wallace and Earl Carroll died in the crash of United Airlines Flight 624United Airlines Flight 624
United Airlines Flight 624, a Douglas DC-6 airliner, registration NC37506, was a scheduled passenger flight that originated in San Diego, California with stops in Los Angeles and Chicago en route to LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The four-engine propeller-driven airplane crashed at 1:41 p.m...
in Aristes, Pennsylvania
Aristes, Pennsylvania
Aristes is a census-designated place in Conyngham Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 230 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. They were interred together in the Garden of Memory at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original location of Forest Lawn, a chain of cemeteries in Southern California. The land was formerly part of Providencia Ranch.-History:...
in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.