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Allison Hayes
1930-1977
Updated 2/7/2008 with more films available on DVD. Thanks to Jack Randall Earles for providing photos and information. Don't forget to visit The Allison Hayes Gallery.
biography
Born Mary Jane Hayes in Charleston, West Virginia, on March 6, 1930, Allison Hayes grew up to become Miss Washington D.C. in 1949. Hayes took jobs in early television in Washington before moving to California in 1953 to begin an acting career. Allison Hayes acted in a string of B movies, along with a few "A" films, from 1954 to 1965. One of her earliest films was the Universal series entry Francis Joins the WACS (1954; with Mamie Van Doren). She counted among her friends Raymond Burr and Nancy Kulp; she worked with Burr numerous times on his Perry Mason series. In addition, Hayes made many guest appearances on popular TV programs in the 1950s and 1960s.
Photos of Hayes taken around the time of her appearance on Conflict, the 1956-57 ABC series. Conflict aired with Clint Walker's Cheyenne on Warner Bros. Presents
Always in demand, Hayes' busiest period came in the late 1950s when she was cast in numerous B film roles, such as Gunslinger (1956; with Beverly Garland and John Ireland), The Unearthly (1957; with Tor Johnson and Sally Todd), The Disembodied (1957; with Paul Burke); Attack of the Fifty-Foot Woman (1958; with Yvette Vickers), and The High Powered Rifle (1960). After 1960, Hayes began taking on more television roles and made films only sporadically thereafter. In her last film, she appeared alongside Elvis Presley in Tickle Me (1965; with Merry Anders and Julie Adams). Hayes is featured in the beginning of Tickle Me as a drunken bar patron who lunges as Elvis as he performs. Viewers will note that she looks thin and gaunt in this, her only scene in the film. For years, Hayes had taken a doctor-prescribed calcium supplement with extreme levels of lead---so extreme that she contracted lead poisoning. After the onset of her illness in the mid 1960s, she was simply too ill to work and was housebound for long periods of time.
the films of allison hayes
Double Jeopardy (1955)
From the Republic film noir release Double Jeopardy with Rod Cameron
Chicago Syndicate (1955)
From Columbia's noir release Chicago Syndicate. LEFT: With Dennis O'Keefe. RIGHT: With Dennis O'Keefe, Xavier Cugat, and Abbe Lane
Count Three and Pray (1955)
From Columbia's western Count Three and Pray. LEFT: Allison Hayes cracks the whip as Georgina Decrais, the role which proved to be her favorite. CENTER: With John Ireland. RIGHT: With Van Heflin
The Steel Jungle (1956)
Hayes as the seductive Mrs. Archer in the Warner Bros. drama The Steel Jungle
Mohawk (1956)
From the 20th Century-Fox western Mohawk. LEFT: With Scott Brady (thanks to Michael Barnum). RIGHT: Hayes as Greta Jones
The Disembodied (1957)
Hayes portrays voodoo priestess Tonda Metz in the campy Allied Artists horror flick The Disembodied
Zombies of Mora Tau (1957)
From Columbia's horror release Zombies of Mora Tau
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1958)
From the campy Allied Artists science fiction thriller Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman. LEFT: Hayes as the beautiful but doomed Nancy Archer, her most famous role. CENTER: Photo used for a projection shot. RIGHT: Poster for Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman
Wolf Dog (1958)
With Jim Davis and Tony Brown in the Canadian-made western Wolf Dog, released by 20th Century-Fox
Counterplot (1959)
From the United Artists crime drama Counterplot
Pier 5, Havana (1959)
From the United Artists adventure Pier 5, Havana
The High Powered Rifle (1960)
From the 20th Century-Fox late noir feature The High Powered Rifle with Willard Parker
The Hypnotic Eye (1960)
Climactic scene from the cult horror favorite The Hypnotic Eye with Jacques Bergerac
later years
Sadly, the original 50-foot woman passed away just a few days before her 47th birthday in 1977 following a 13-year illness that forced her into retirement. Jack Randall Earles writes: Her lead poisoning and subsequent leukemia were the direct result of a health food supplement that was sold to her over a period of many years. Its contents gave her lead poisoning. Her efforts at reform caused the FDA to reexamine its policy on health food supplements. Hayes is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Francis Joins The WACs [VHS](1954) VHS
A clerical miscue lands Donald O'Connor back in the service, but as a WAC, and with equine pal Francis in tow. The Army gals, who are used to strict protocol, soon grow accustomed to all-out wackiness. Julia (Julie) Adams, Mamie Van Doren, ZaSu Pitts and Chill Wills, in voice and in person, also star. 95 min. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
Mohawk [DVD](1956) DVD
A peace-loving federal agent (Scott Brady) and an Indian woman (Rita Gam) work together to prevent a range war, only to fall in love in the process and face rejection from both their peoples. Western drama also stars Neville Brand, Lori Nelson. 80 min.
The Unearthly [DVD](1957) DVD
Mad scientist John Carradine's experiments on human transplants have left him with two problems: a pesky undercover police officer and a cellar full of grotesque mutants! Campy horror film also stars Allison Hayes ("Attack of the 50-Foot Woman") and the inimitable Tor Johnson as Lobo, uttering the immortal line "Time for go to bed!" 76 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; photo gallery.
A Lust To Kill [DVD](1957) DVD
After his kid brother is slaughtered by law officers, a bandit gets even more ornery, escaping the law with help from his gal pal and seeking revenge on his former partner, whom he holds responsible for the killing. Jim Davis, Don Megowan and Allison Hayes star.
Sam Katzman: Icons Of Horror Collection [DVD] DVD
This collection of four chill-packed classics from prolific producer Sam Katzman begins with "Creature with the Atom Brain" (1955), as a down-and-out mobster enlists the aid of a wicked German scientist to create an army of murderous zombies to serve as his personal squad of assassins. Michael Granger, Angela Stevens star. Next, an amnesiac man (Steven Ritch) goes from a guinea pig to "The Werewolf" (1956), suffering the after-effects of an experimental serum coursing through his veins. With Joyce Holden and Don Megowan. Eager treasure hunters have their work cut out for them when a sunken ship off the African coast is found to be loaded with a fortune in diamonds...as well as the "Zombies of Mora Tau" (1957)! Gregg Palmer, Allison Hayes, Morris Ankrum star. AKA: "The Dead That Walk." Then, look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a puppet! It's "The Giant Claw" (1957)! Can Jeff Morrow and Playboy Playmate Mara Corday stop the ferocious, big-beaked alien fowl before it destroys the world? Ankrum, Louis Merrill also star. 4 3/4 hrs. total on two discs. Standard/Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; bonus shorts "Terror Faces Magoo" (1959), "Midnight Blunders" (1936); theatrical trailers.
Cult Camp Classics, Vol. 1: Sci-Fi Thrillers [DVD] DVD
Three-disc set includes "Attack of the 50-Foot Woman" (1958), "Queen of Outer Space" and "The Giant Behemoth."
Attack Of The 50-Foot Woman [DVD](1958) DVD
A suspicious wife gets the upper hand (literally) on her philandering husband when a stranded alien zaps her with a "growth ray." Allison Hayes cuts several fine figures as the beauteous behemoth in this classic sci-fi turkey. With Yvette Vickers, William Hudson. 66 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH), French; audio commentary; theatrical trailer.
The Hypnotic Eye [DVD](1960) DVD
When apparently unrelated beautiful women suffer horrific self-inflicted injuries, the police begin an investigation that leads them to a stage hypnotist. Is the mesmerist responsible for this insidious campaign of mind control, or is he simply a charlatan in a fancy tux? Chills and thrills galore mark this B-movie delight starring Jacques Bergerac, Allison Hayes, and Lawrence Lipton as "King of the Beatniks." 78 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English.NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
The Crawling Hand [DVD](1963) DVD
The severed hand of an astronaut killed on re-entry gains a life of its own and starts a reign of terror in this chiller. Kent Taylor, Alan Hale, Peter Breck star. 89 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo.
The Crawling Hand [VHS](1963) VHS
The severed hand of an astronaut killed on re-entry gains a life of its own and starts a reign of terror in this chiller. Kent Taylor, Alan Hale, Peter Breck star. 89 min.
Tickle Me [DVD](1965) DVD
A light-hearted Elvis romp, with the handsome crooner playing a former rodeo star who signs on to work at a health ranch whose clientele includes bevies of beautiful girls. With Julie Adams, Jocelyn Lane. Songs include "If It Feels So Right" and "I'm Yours." 91 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH), French; theatrical trailer.
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 6 [DVD] DVD
Two features and two shorts receive the MST3K treatment in a four-disc boxed set. The Satellite of Love gang learns more about South America than they ever wanted to know in "Assignment Venezuela"; a session of cinema "tor-CHA!" is in order with "Teenagers from Outer Space"; marvel at the musical androgyny that is "Mr. B Natural"; and watch Beverly Garland tame the Wild West in Roger Corman's "Gunslinger." 6 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English.
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 3 [DVD] DVD
Special four-disc set includes "The Atomic Brain," "The Sidehackers," "The Unearthly" and "Shorts, Vol. 2."
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Crawling Hand [DVD] DVD
You have to hand it to Joel and the bots for sitting through this first-season stinkfest about an astronaut's severed hand that goes on a five-finger killing spree.
filmography
FILM
Tickle Me (1965) with Elvis Presley, Julie Adams, and Merry Anders
The Crawling Hand (1963) with Kent Taylor, Peter Breck, Richard Arlen, and Alan Hale Jr.
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963) with Elizabeth Montgomery and Dean Martin
The High Powered Rifle (1960) with Willard Parker
The Hypnotic Eye (1960) with Merry Anders, Jacques Bergerac, and Marcia Henderson
Counterplot (1959) with Forrest Tucker
A Lust to Kill (1959) with Jim Davis and Rickie Sorenson
Pier 5, Havana (1959) with Cameron Mitchell
Wolf Dog (1958) with Jim Davis
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) with William Hudson and Yvette Vickers
Hong Kong Confidential (1958) with Gene Barry
The Disembodied (1957) with Paul Burke
The Undead (1957) with Richard Garland, Bruno VeSota, and Dick Miller
The Unearthly (1957) with Sally Todd, Tor Johnson, Myron Healey, and John Carradine
Zombies of Mora Tau (1957) with Gregg Palmer, Autumn Russell, Joel Ashley, Morris Ankrum, and Ray 'Crash' Corrigan
The Gunslinger (1956) with Beverly Garland, John Ireland, Bruno VeSota, Jonathan Haze, and Dick Miller
Mohawk (1956) with Lori Nelson, Scott Brady, Neville Brand, John Hoyt, and Mae Clark
The Steel Jungle (1956) with Beverly Garland and Gregory Walcott
The Prodigal (1955) with Lana Turner and Edmund Purdom
The Purple Mask (1955) with Colleen Miller, Tony Curtis, and Gene Barry
Chicago Syndicate (1955) with Dennis O'Keefe, Abbe Lane, and Xavier Cugat
Count Three and Pray (1955) with Van Heflin, Joanne Woodward, Philip Carey, Raymond Burr, and Myron Healey
Francis Joins the Wacs (1954) with Mamie Van Doren, Julie Adams, and Zasu Pitts
Double Jeopardy (1954) with Robert Armstrong, Rod Cameron, and Jack Kelly
Sign of the Pagan (1954) with Jeff Chandler, Jeff Morrow, and Jack Palance
So This Is Paris (1954) with Tony Curtis, Corrine Calvet, and Mara Corday
TELEVISION SERIES
General Hospital, 1963-present ABC daytime drama. Hayes portrayed Priscilla Longsworth from 1963 to 1964
Ripcord, 1962-1963 TV series. Also featured on the series were Larry Pennell and Ken Curtis
Acapulco, 1961 TV series. Also featured were Ralph Taeger, Telly Savalas, and Bobby Troup
TELEVISION GUEST SHOTS
The Alaskans
Bat Masterson, three appearances, 1959
Conflict
Gomer Pyle, USMC
Perry Mason, numerous appearances from 1960 through 1965
Rawhide
The Untouchables
allison hayes links
Horror-Wood Webzine: Scream Queen Allison Hayes
Visit the fantastic Horror-Wood Webzine site to read Jack Randall Earles' two-part article on the horror films of Allison Hayes.
Allison Hayes: Bigger than Life
Visit this touching tribute to Allison Hayes, complete with photos and an extensive biography.
The Meeker Museum's Potpourri Lounge: Allison Hayes Page
This site contains a nice photo of Allison Hayes and selected filmography. Be sure to see the Meeker Museum's other offerings.
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This page premiered January 11, 1999.
Counter reset March 1, 2001.
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