Allison Hayes

Allison Hayes (March 6, 1930 – February 27, 1977)[2] was an American film and television actress and model.

Allison Hayes
Born
Mary Jane Hayes

(1930-03-06)March 6, 1930
Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 1977(1977-02-27) (aged 46)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Cause of deathLeukemia or lead poisoning[1]
Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Culver City
Mother of Sorrows, Lot 618, section N, grave 1 GPS (lat/lon): 33.99248, -118.38374
OccupationActress, model, advocate
Years active1954–1967

Early life

Allison Hayes was born Mary Jane Hayes[3] to William E. Hayes (1880–1959) and Charlotte Gibson Hayes (1893–1977) in Charleston, West Virginia. She was in the class of 1948 at Calvin Coolidge High School. Hayes won the title of Miss District of Columbia. She represented D.C. in the 1949 Miss America pageant. Although she did not win the competition, it provided her with the opportunity to work in local television before moving to Hollywood to work for Universal Pictures in 1954.

Career

Hayes made her film debut in the 1954 comedy Francis Joins the WACS. Her second film, Sign of the Pagan, provided her with an important role in a relatively minor film. Opposite Jack Palance, she played the part of a siren who ultimately kills him. Despite the strength of her second film role, she played minor roles in her next few films. Originally cast in Foxfire (1955), she was removed from the film during a lawsuit filed against Universal Pictures for injuries, including broken ribs, that she had sustained during the filming of Sign of the Pagan. Released from her contract, she was signed by Columbia Pictures in 1955.

Chicago Syndicate, her first film for Columbia, Hayes played Joyce Kern - alias Sue Morton who seeks vengeance for the death of her father at the hand of local gangster Arnie Valent. Count Three and Pray gave her the role that she later described as the best of her career. Hayes played with Van Heflin, co-starring with Raymond Burr and Joanne Woodward in her debut. As an arrogant Southern belle, she was in love with Heflin, returning from the Civil War as a minister. After being spurned by him, Hayes is reduced to becoming Burr’s live-in "housekeeper." Hayes had several well-played dramatic scenes. However, when the film was released much of the attention of reviewers was focused on Woodward, and Hayes was largely ignored. She appeared in films such as Steel Jungle, Mohawk, and Gunslinger (all 1956), but a fall from a horse during the filming of the latter left Hayes with a broken arm and unable to work. After she recovered, she began appearing in supporting roles in television productions.

With Gene Barry in Bat Masterson (1958). From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

In 1958, she played in several B movies, including Wolf Dog as well as taking the lead role in Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, where she plays the part of an abused socialite who grows to giant size because of an alien encounter. In this film, she starred with Yvette Vickers and William Hudson, and it is probably her best-known role.[4] With its science fiction storyline and low budget, the film attained popularity with some movie fans, and in the subsequent years has attracted a cult film following based primarily on Hayes spending almost all the time she’s enlarged calling for "Harry!" as she angrily searches for her philandering husband. The film did not lead to better roles, though she remained constantly employed and found work as a model. During 1963 and 1964, she played a continuing role in the General Hospital but by this time her movie career was virtually over.

In 1958, she appeared in the recurring role of Ellie Winters, beautiful poker dealer/secret agent, in seven episodes in the western series Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry.[5] A close friend of Raymond Burr since filming Count Three and Pray, she made five guest appearances on Perry Mason during this time, including the role of Pearl Chute in the 1962 episode "The Case of the Bogus Books."

As her acting career declined, she began to experience severe health problems and was unable to walk without a cane. In severe pain, her usually good-natured personality began to change and she became emotional and volatile, making it difficult for her to secure acting work. She was given a minor role in the 1965 Elvis Presley film Tickle Me, making her final appearances in a guest role on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. in 1967.

Later years and death

Hayes later said that the pain of her illness caused her to contemplate suicide, and that her symptoms were not taken seriously by doctors. Reading a medical book about the metal poisoning of factory workers, Hayes recognized the symptoms described as being similar to her own. Hayes began to question the ingredients of a calcium supplement she had been taking for a long time and when she employed a toxicologist to test a sample of the product, he determined that it had an extremely high content of lead and concluded that Hayes was most likely suffering from lead poisoning. Hayes mounted a campaign to have the FDA ban the import or sale of the food supplement.[6]

An invalid, Hayes moved to San Clemente, California and her health continued to deteriorate. In 1976, she was diagnosed with leukemia and was treated regularly in La Jolla, California. While at the hospital receiving a blood transfusion, her condition unexpectedly and rapidly deteriorated as she experienced chills, flu-like symptoms and intense pain. She was transferred to the University of California Medical Center in San Diego, California on February 26, 1977, where she died the following day, one week before her 47th birthday. Hayes was interred with her father at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Her mother Charlotte died eight months later and was buried in a nearby unmarked grave. In a letter that arrived after her death, the FDA advised her that amendments were being made to the laws governing the importation of nutritional supplements, largely as a result of her situation.[6]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1954 Francis Joins the WACS Lt. Dickson
So This Is Paris Carmen Alternative titles: Three Gobs in Paris and So This Is Paree
Sign of the Pagan Ildico
1955 The Prodigal Minor role Uncredited
The Purple Mask Irene de Bournotte
Double Jeopardy Barbara Devery Alternative title: Crooked Ring
Chicago Syndicate Joyce Kern, alias Sue Morton
Count Three and Pray Georgina Decrais Alternative title: The Calico Pony
1956 The Steel Jungle Mrs. Archer
Mohawk Greta Jones
Gunslinger Erica Page
1957 The Undead Livia
Zombies of Mora Tau Mona Harrison Alternative title: The Dead That Walk
The Unearthly Grace Thomas
The Disembodied Tonda Metz
1958 Attack of the 50 Foot Woman Nancy Fowler Archer
Wolf Dog Ellen Hughes
A Lust to Kill Sherry
Hong Kong Confidential Elena Martine
1959 Pier 5, Havana Monica Gray
Counterplot Connie Lane
1960 The Hypnotic Eye Justine
The High Powered Rifle Sharon Hill Alternative title: Duel in the City
1963 The Crawling Hand Donna Alternative title: Don't Cry Wolf
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? Mrs. Grayson
1965 Tickle Me Mabel

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1955 Four Star Playhouse Christine 1 episode
1957 The Ford Television Theatre Marian Abbott 1 episode
Death Valley Days Mary Granger 1 episode
The Millionaire Linda Kendall 1 episode
The Web Blonde 1 episode
1957–1959 Tombstone Territory Various roles 4 episodes
1958 Cool and Lam Evaline Dell Television pilot
1958–1960 Bat Masterson Ellie Winters 7 episodes
1959 Mike Hammer Miriam Courtney 1 episode
The Rough Riders Ellen Johnston 1 episode
Markham Marina 1 episode
Captain David Grief Melba 1 episode
World of Giants 1 episode
Rawhide Rose Morton 1 episode
The Alaskans Stella 1 episode
1960 Richard Diamond, Private Detective Angel Case 1 episode
Men into Space Mandy Holcomb 1 episode
77 Sunset Strip Marianne Winston Episode: "The Parallel Caper"
The Untouchables Mrs. Charles "Pops" Felcher 1 episode
1960–1965 Perry Mason Various roles 5 episodes
1961 Acapulco Chloe Unknown episodes
The Case of the Dangerous Robin 1 episode
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater Millie 1 episode
Laramie Francie 1 episode
Surfside 6 Lotta Episode: "Prescription for Panic"
1962 Ripcord Laura Coulter 1 episode
Bachelor Father Loretta 1 episode
Kraft Mystery Theatre 1 episode
1963–1964 General Hospital Priscilla Longsworth Unknown episodes
1966 The F.B.I. Anne Frazier 1 episode
1967 The Iron Horse Dana 1 episode
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Rose Pilchek 2 episodes, (final appearance)
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References
  1. "Allison Hayes - The Private Life and Times of Allison Hayes. Allison Hayes Pictures". www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com.
  2. Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9781476625997. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  3. Room, Adrian (2012). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. 223: McFarland. ISBN 9780786457632. Retrieved 16 August 2017.CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. Hogan, David J. (1997). Dark Romance: Sexuality in the Horror Film, p. 65. McFarland Classics.
  5. "Bat Masterson (TV Series 1958–1961)" – via www.imdb.com.
  6. Davis, W. Marvin (2006). Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines, pp. 1–3. The Haworth Press, Inc.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Joann Miller		 Miss District of Columbia
1949		 Succeeded by
Sandra Stahl
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