Frances Hyland (born Frances C. Moore) was an American screenwriter active between the late 1920s and the late 1940s. She was the first woman hired as a "gagman" at a film studio, and she wrote dozens of comedic scripts over the course of her career.[1]
Frances Hyland | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frances C. Moore 1903 (estimated) Arkansas |
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
| Parent(s) | William C. Moore Aura Lee Dickey. |
Biography
editHyland was born in Arkansas, the daughter of William C. Moore and Aura Lee Dickey. Her father was the editor of the local newspaper; he would later move to California and edit The Hueneme Harbor Bulletin.[2]
In 1926, she became the first woman to be hired by Universal as a "gagman" (comedy writer).[3] She later worked for Tiffany Pictures.[4] She continued to work steadily throughout the 1930s and 1940s, producing scripts for well-received films like The Sin of Nora Moran, A Shriek in the Night, and In Old California.
She was married to filmmaker Albert Ray until his death.[5] Her date of death and final resting place are unknown.
Selected filmography
edit- In Old Sacramento (1946)
- Murder in the Music Hall (1946)
- The Cheaters (1945)
- Someone to Remember (1943)
- In Old California (1942)
- You're Telling Me (1942)
- Girl from Avenue A (1940)
- Free, Blonde and 21 (1940)
- The Cisco Kid and the Lady (1939)
- Charlie Chan in Reno (1939)
- Winner Take All (1939)
- Everybody's Baby (1939)
- Keep Smiling (1938)
- Island in the Sky (1938)
- City Girl (1938)
- 45 Fathers (1937)
- Under Your Spell (1936)
- Star for a Night (1936)
- The Crime of Dr. Forbes (1936)
- My Marriage (1936)
- Thunder in the Night (1935)
- Smart Girl (1935)
- Helldorado (1935)
- Money Means Nothing (1934)
- A Woman's Man (1934)
- The Sin of Nora Morgan (1933)
- A Shriek in the Night (1933)
- The Intruder (1933)
- Officer Thirteen (1932)
- Guilty or Not Guilty (1932)
- The Thirteenth Guest (1932)
- Deceit (1932)
- Morals for Women (1931)
- Two Men and a Maid (1929)
- The Voice Within (1929)
- Painted Faces (1929)
- Marriage by Contract (1928)
- The Power of Silence (1928)
- The Grain of Dust (1928)
- The House of Scandal (1928)
- Women's Wares (1927)
References
edit- ^ "9 Jul 1926, Page 4 - The Coshocton Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- ^ "4 Jun 1938, 22 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- ^ "30 Aug 1926, 25 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- ^ "7 Feb 1930, 30 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- ^ "24 Jul 1932, Page 15 - Oakland Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.