1. Helen Phyllis Shipman was an American singer, dancer and actress who starred in various Broadway musicals, in musical comedies in vaudeville, and in films.
12 Facts About Helen Shipman
1. 2.
Helen Shipman was childhood friends with Ira and George Gershwin.
3.
In 1915, Helen Shipman was invited by Florenz Ziegfeld to co-star in his new Midnight Frolic production on the rooftop of the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City.
4.
Helen Shipman then took the 1919 Broadway musical, Irene, on tour playing the title role and introducing the song "Alice Blue Gown" to audiences in places like Cleveland and Chicago.
5.
Helen Shipman's longest running Broadway play was The Lady In Ermine which ran for 232 performances at the Ambassador Theatre in 1922.
6.
Helen Shipman performed in at least 14 movies including Christopher Bean with Beulah Bondi and Marie Dressler, Naughty Marietta with Nelson Eddy and Frank Morgan, San Francisco with Clark Gable and Jeanette MacDonald, and Small Town Girl with Robert Taylor and James Stewart.
7.
Helen Shipman expressed hopes of playing the role of Hannah in the upcoming movie titled "White Banners" but lost the part to actress Fay Bainter.
8.
Helen Shipman married the Broadway, movie, and radio actor Edward Pawley while he was in Hollywood performing in movies.
9.
Helen Shipman effectively quit show business after their marriage and focused more attention on her other interests, such as gardening, the arts, reading and music.
10.
Helen Shipman was an active member of the fraternal order known as the Rosicrucians.
11.
Helen Shipman died there of heart failure on April 13,1984, at the age of 85.
12.
Helen Shipman has sometimes been confused with Helena Shipman who was born in the State of Washington and who married actor Robert Keith and had a son, Brian Keith, who became a famous actor in the movies and on TV.