Allene
Roberts
By
Gail McIntyre
Jack Larson, in the critical commentary for Kid Monk
Baroni described her as “the new Lillian Gish”. Allene
Roberts’ stunning face graced the screen in some 12 motion
pictures from 1947 to 1955 until she retired from acting to
raise a family. During those 10 years she starred opposite some
of Hollywood major film draws including Edward G. Robinson and
William Holden. According to IMDB,
she attended an acting school on Sunset Boulevard for two
years where she was discovered by a casting director. The
connection eventually led to interviews and a strong role in
The Red House in 1947. During her acting years, her
mother Velma was a seamstress at Fox Studios.
Allene appears in 3 episodes of TAOS in the black and white
years which comprised some of the more dramatic and action
packed presentations. In the tradition of Lillian Gish who
began in the silent film era, Allene plays Alice in her first
appearance on the TAOS episode The Haunted Lighthouse.
Her character is mute so she has no lines but uses magnificent
facial expressions to communicate with the other characters and
the audience. At one point, she tries to lead Jimmy to the
lighthouse to show him what is going on but it caught by the
woman posing as Aunt Luisa. As she goes back to her room she
turns to her and Jimmy and shakes her head in frustration. It
is thru her face that we learn and anticipate how the story will
unfold, negating the need for dialogue.
The
Monkey Mystery
was the 2nd hallmarks Allene Roberts 2nd
guest appearance. Here we get to hear her voice but gives a
marvelous performance by speaking with an eastern European
accent. Produced at a time in history when the world was just
beginning to come to grips with the dangers of nuclear weapons,
she plays Maria Moleska, the daughter of a slain European atomic
scientist who has escaped to America and with her father’s
secret formula. Lois (Phyllis Coates) finds her unconscious and
is herself knocked out the thugs trying to acquire the formula
for their own dangerous and sinister causes.
It
is in The Whistling Bird that we finally get a
chance to hear Ms. Roberts speak in her natural voice. This
episode ties together ingredients we found in the previous 2
episodes; another talking parrot and another scientist with a
dangerous formula, originally designed to produce a good tasting
glue but turns out to be a highly explosive compound strong
enough to give Superman more than his share of agida
(heartburn). Again she is the daughter of a brilliant
scientist (Sterling Holloway) presenting her with a sweet girl
next door charm.
Allene Roberts currently lives in Alabama and has been quoted
as saying, “I would say it was a very fortunate career for me.
It was very fulfilling, I got to work with some wonderful people
and I got to know good directors and I really enjoyed what I was
doing”. Looking back on her work, particularly her appearances
in TAOS, that is certainly obvious. Colete Morlock has honored
her in her exciting series of articles on the Ladies of
TAOS. It is my pleasure to take the honor to the next
level and nominate her for induction into the George Reeves Hall
of Fame.
Glass
House Presents