NET Playhouse; 208; Helen Hayes: Portrait of an American Artists
- Series
- NET Playhouse
- Episode Number
- 208
- Producing Organization
- Kroll Productions
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/516-h41jh3f219
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- Description
- Episode Description
- This special color documentary film commemorates Helen Hayes 65-year career on the American stage (two days before her seventieth birthday on October 10) and offers as well a panorama of the American theater during the past six decades. Using photographs, memorabilia, conversations with her contemporaries, re-enactments of some of her most noted roles, and sequences from her films, the program presents an intimate profile of the actress. Miss Hayes is seen in her home in Nyack as she reminisces about her childhood, her early interest in the theater, her roles, her associations with actors and producers, her marriage to author Charles MacArthur, and her film career. She discusses historical factors which influenced the American theater, relates how she created certain roles, and presents her opinions about the theater in general. The following is a list of the roles she re-enacts: 1. Queen Victoria in Laurence Housemans Victoria Regina 2. Mary Stuart in Maxwell Andersons Mary of Scotland, in which Zoe Caldwell appears as Queen Elizabeth 3. Harriet Beecher Stowe in Harriet by Florence Ryerson and Colin Clements 4. Nora Melody in Eugene ONeills A Touch of the Poet with Jennifer Harmon 5. Grandma in Edward Albees American Dream with Steve McHattie. In addition she directs Orson Bean, Jennifer Harmon, and Oliver Conant in a scene from Booth Tarkingtons Clarence, in which she appeared 51 years ago with Alfred Lunt, Glenn Hunter, and Mary Boland. The program also includes several conversations with Helen Hayes and noted people in the theater world. In one segment Miss Hayes is joined by Armina Marshall (Mrs. Laurence Langner), wife of the founder of the Theater Guild, and Marc Connelly, co-author of Eeggaz on Horseback and Pulitzer Prize winner for Green Pastures, in a discussion of the American theater and Miss Hayes career during the 20s. In a later segment they are joined by George Abbott, co-author and director of the 1927 hit Coquette (which starred Miss Hayes) and countless other plays Pal Joey, Call Me Madam, The Pajama Game, and Damn Yankees. Producer, Robert Whitehead and Miss Hayes talk about the 40s and 50s in the theater. Mr. Whitehead produced a number of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller plays and ONeills A Touch of Poet (in which Miss Hayes played Nora Melody). Miss Hayes and the young actress Jennifer Harmon discuss the theater in the 60s and Miss Hayes association with the APA Repertory Company. She joined the company in 1966 and appeared in a variety of roles both large and small. She received particular acclaim in the APA revival of George Kellys The Show-Off. The two actresses touch on a number of topics morally, nudity, change concerning the theater. NET Playhouse #208 Helen Hayes: Portrait of an Artist has been produced for NET by Kroll Productions, Inc. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Episode Description
- 90 minute piece, produced by Nathan Kroll and initially distributed by NET in 1970. It was originally shot in color.
- Broadcast Date
- 1970-10-08
- Asset type
- Episode
- Genres
- Performance
- Documentary
- Topics
- Performing Arts
- Biography
- Theater
- Media type
- other
- Credits
-
-
Director: Kroll, Nathan
Editor: Arsham, Miriam
Guest: Hayes, Helen
Guest: Connelly, Marc
Guest: Whitehead, Robert
Guest: Bean, Orson
Guest: Abbott, George
Guest: Marshall, Armina
Guest: Harmon, Jennifer
Guest: Conant, Oliver
Producer: Kroll, Nathan
Producing Organization: Kroll Productions
Writer: Merrill, Claire
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
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- Citations
- Chicago: “NET Playhouse; 208; Helen Hayes: Portrait of an American Artists,” 1970-10-08, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed May 1, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-516-h41jh3f219.
- MLA: “NET Playhouse; 208; Helen Hayes: Portrait of an American Artists.” 1970-10-08. American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. May 1, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-516-h41jh3f219>.
- APA: NET Playhouse; 208; Helen Hayes: Portrait of an American Artists. Boston, MA: American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-516-h41jh3f219