Marilyn Hare | |
|---|---|
 Hare in 1958 | |
| Born | October 13, 1923 |
| Died | October 9, 1981 (aged 57) Encino, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1939–1972 |
| Spouse | Joe Parker |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent | Ernie Hare (father) |
Marilyn Hare (October 13, 1923 – October 9, 1981) was an American actress, singer, and television personality active from the late 1930s through the early 1960s. A daughter of radio star Ernie Hare, one half of the famed duo The Happiness Boys, she began performing as a teenager in radio before moving into motion pictures with Republic Pictures during the 1940s. Best remembered for her World War II morale-boosting “10,000 Kisses” campaign, Hare later became a popular figure in early Los Angeles television, hosting programs such as You're Never Too Old and True to Life Theater.[1]
Early life
[edit]Marilyn Hare was born in 1923, she was the daughter of singer Ernie Hare.[2] Following her father's death, she joined Billy Jones on the air to continue the duo's legacy. That broadcast gained the attention of film executives, who soon offered her a screen contract.[2]
Career
[edit]At the age 17, she was discovered while singing behind the scenes on the film Arkansas Judge when story editor Albert I. Cohen overheard her voice and offered her a screen test, Hare then signed with Republic Pictures.[3]
In early 1941, Hare was chosen as the “Fiesta Girl” of Los Angeles’ All-Winter Sun Festival, traveling to Calexico to crown festival maids and deliver perfumed candles from Olvera Street.[4]
During early 1942, Hare staged a morale stunt in which she vowed to kiss 10,000 soldiers at a California Army encampment near an aircraft plant. Standing on a soapbox, she sang “Kiss the Boys Goodbye” and by day's end had recorded 733 kisses on her “kissometer.” The story symbolized Hollywood's patriotic exuberance during the war.[1]
Between 1941 and 1945, Hare appeared in musical and comedy films, including Angels with Broken Wings (1941), Hi, Neighbor (1942) with Jean Parker, John Archer, and Janet Beecher,[5] and Ice-Capades Revue (1942) with Jerry Colonna, Vera Vague, Harold Huber, and Bill Shirley[6][7]
Following her film years, Hare transitioned into television and radio. She co-hosted the senior-talent program You’re Never Too Old on KNXT and KLAC with Harry Koplan beginning in 1953.[8][9]
In 1954, she began hosting True to Life Theater on Channel 13 (KCOP), a homemaking and entertainment series, often being praised as “a personality as friendly as Miss America and as natural as your next-door neighbor.”[10]
By 1960, Hare remained a familiar local television personality. She appeared at the Women's Division of the Democratic State Central Committee's “Tea Time With Marilyn Hare” program in Long Beach, honoring civic leadership among women.[11] She also had small roles on television series such as The Wild Wild West and My Three Sons.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Hare was married to director Joe Parker and they had two sons and a daughter together, Stephen, Christopher & Germaine Miles.[10][12]
Death
[edit]Hare died on October 9, 1981, in Encino, California, aged 58.[1] She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.[13]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Angels with Broken Wings | Marilyn Lord | Feature film debut |
| 1941 | Ice-Capades | Audition Girl | Uncredited |
| 1942 | Lady for a Night | Mary Lou | |
| 1942 | A Tragedy at Midnight | Uncredited | |
| 1942 | Yokel Boy | Stenographer | |
| 1942 | Shepherd of the Ozarks | Susanna Weaver | |
| 1942 | Hi, Neighbor | Mary Lou | |
| 1942 | Ice-Capades Revue | Bubbles | |
| 1943 | West of Texas | Ellen Yaeger | |
| 1944 | Since You Went Away | Merchant Marine's Wife | Uncredited |
| 1956 | The House Without a Name | Short film |
Television
[edit]| Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | The 20th Century-Fox Hour | Miss Gallagher | 1 episode |
| 1961–1971 | My Three Sons | Effie / Mrs. Avery / Marge | 3 episodes |
| 1966 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Third Lady | 1 episode |
| 1967 | The Wild Wild West | Lady in Stagecoach | 1 episode |
| 1969 | Family Affair | Joyce | 1 episode |
| 1972 | The Smith Family | Frances | 1 episode |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d LIFE.com – "Meet the Actress Who Set Out to Kiss 10,000 Soldiers to Boost Morale."
- ^ a b "Famous Radio Team Will Be on 'We, The People' Program". The Lima News. Lima, Ohio. February 27, 1940. p. 11.
- ^ "Her Voice Beat Her to the Screen". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. February 9, 1941. p. 48.
- ^ "Fiesta Girl Goes to Calexico Fete". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. February 20, 1941. p. 28.
- ^ "'Girl Trouble' Booked for Wednesday at Rivoli; 'Hi, Neighbor' Is at Strand". Waco Tribune-Herald. Waco, Texas. January 31, 1943. p. 8.
- ^ "Scene from "Ice Capades Revue"". Elmira Star-Gazette. Elmira, New York. December 31, 1942. p. 10.
- ^ "Ice-Capades Revue Advertisement". The Kentucky Post. Covington, Kentucky. May 8, 1943. p. 3.
- ^ "TV Tele-Vues". Long Beach Independent. Long Beach, California. May 9, 1953. p. 20.
- ^ "M.C. Team Sparks Oldsters' Talent Show". Daily News-Post and Monrovia News-Post. Monrovia, California. May 30, 1953. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Marilyn Hare's 'True Life' Includes Cooking for Family". Daily News. Los Angeles, California. November 17, 1954. p. 22.
- ^ "Actress Booked at Demo Tea". Long Beach Independent. Long Beach, California. April 21, 1960. p. 21.
- ^ Erskine Johnson (September 28, 1953). "Hollywood Today". Suffolk News-Herald. Suffolk, Virginia. p. 4.
- ^ Wilson, Scott (August 19, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-2599-7. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
External links
[edit]
- Marilyn Hare at IMDb