Hal Skelly
Encyclopedia
Hal Skelly was an American Broadway and film actor.
and spent his early years in Davenport, Iowa
. He left home at the age of 15 and joined the circus. He acted in his first stage production, The Time, the Place and the Girl, at the LaSalle Theater in Chicago
. He became a veteran of medicine shows, musical comedy, burlesque, Lew Dockstader
's minstrels and opera. His eccentric dancing ability earned him the nickname "Tumbling Harold Skelly".
Skelly made his Broadway
debut in Fiddler’s Three (1918) and went on to appear in ten other shows on Broadway. In 1927, he played a starring role alongside Barbara Stanwyck
, in her first Broadway hit, the musical Burlesque. The two were invited by Paramount Studio to star in the 1929 film version of the show, retitled The Dance of Life
since Paramount executives thought the original title too risqué. Stanwyck turned down the offer, while Skelly reprised his role as 'Skid' Johnson. Skelly made a total of ten films, including the Woman Trap (1929), Behind the Make-Up
(1930), and The Shadow Laughs
(1933). He was also featured on two movie soundtracks.
Skelly was killed in a train-auto accident in West Cornwall, Connecticut when the truck he was driving was struck by a New York-Pittsfield train at a crossing. News reports at the time said he was staying with friends and he was looking for a dog that had run away. His widow brought his body back to New York City
for the funeral. His mother and his brother Hugh went to New York and accompanied the body back to Davenport for burial at St. Marguerite’s Cemetery, now known as Mount Calvary Cemetery
.
Biography
J. Harold Skelly was born in Alleghenyville, PennsylvaniaAlleghenyville, Pennsylvania
Alleghenyville is an unincorporated community in Brecknock Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is located near the Lancaster County line, and is served by the Governor Mifflin School District....
and spent his early years in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
. He left home at the age of 15 and joined the circus. He acted in his first stage production, The Time, the Place and the Girl, at the LaSalle Theater in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He became a veteran of medicine shows, musical comedy, burlesque, Lew Dockstader
Lew Dockstader
Lew Dockstader was a United States singer, comedian, and Vaudeville star, best known as a blackface minstrel show performer in the late 19th century and early years of the 20th century.Dockstader performed both as a solo act and leading a popular Minstrel troupe...
's minstrels and opera. His eccentric dancing ability earned him the nickname "Tumbling Harold Skelly".
Skelly made his Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut in Fiddler’s Three (1918) and went on to appear in ten other shows on Broadway. In 1927, he played a starring role alongside Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck was an American actress. She was a film and television star, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors including Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra...
, in her first Broadway hit, the musical Burlesque. The two were invited by Paramount Studio to star in the 1929 film version of the show, retitled The Dance of Life
The Dance of Life
The Dance of Life is the first of three film adaptations of the popular Broadway play Burlesque, the others being Swing High, Swing Low and When My Baby Smiles at Me . The Dance of Life was made with Technicolor sequences, directed by John Cromwell and A...
since Paramount executives thought the original title too risqué. Stanwyck turned down the offer, while Skelly reprised his role as 'Skid' Johnson. Skelly made a total of ten films, including the Woman Trap (1929), Behind the Make-Up
Behind the Make-Up
Behind the Make-Up is a 1930 drama film starring Hal Skelly, William Powell, and Fay Wray. It is based on the short story "The Feeder" by Mildred Cram. A vaudeville performer takes advantage of his partner, even to stealing his girlfriend.-Cast:...
(1930), and The Shadow Laughs
The Shadow Laughs
"The Shadow Laughs" was the third pulp magazine story to feature The Shadow. Written by Walter B. Gibson, it was submitted for publication under the same name on March 20, 1931, and published as "The Shadow Laughs" in the October 1, 1931 issue of The Shadow Magazine.-Summary:* Shadow Disguises:...
(1933). He was also featured on two movie soundtracks.
Skelly was killed in a train-auto accident in West Cornwall, Connecticut when the truck he was driving was struck by a New York-Pittsfield train at a crossing. News reports at the time said he was staying with friends and he was looking for a dog that had run away. His widow brought his body back to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for the funeral. His mother and his brother Hugh went to New York and accompanied the body back to Davenport for burial at St. Marguerite’s Cemetery, now known as Mount Calvary Cemetery
Mount Calvary Cemetery (Davenport, Iowa)
Mount Calvary Cemetery is located in north-central Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was established as St. Marguerite’s Cemetery in the 1850s on of property donated by Antoine LeClaire. At the time the cemetery lay outside the city of Davenport...
.
Broadway
- Fiddlers Three (1918), as Sam Wigglesbury
- The Night Boat (1920), as Freddie Ides
- The Girl in the Spotlight (1920), as Watchem Tripp
- Orange Blossoms (1922), as Jimmy Flynn
- Mary Jane McKane (1923–1924), as Joe McGillicudy
- Betty Lee (1924–1925), as Wallingford Speed
- Burlesque, (1927–1928), As Skid
- Melody (1933), as François Trapadoux
- Ghost Writer (1933), as Bill Harkins
- Queer People (1934), as Theodore Anthony White
- Come What May (1934), as Chet Harrison
Filmography
- The Dancing TownThe Dancing TownThe Dancing Town is a two-reeler sound short and was Humphrey Bogart's first film appearance. The film also featured Helen Hayes and Hal Skelly.-Film preservation:A complete copy of this film survives at the UCLA Film and Television Archive....
(1928; short) - The Dance of LifeThe Dance of LifeThe Dance of Life is the first of three film adaptations of the popular Broadway play Burlesque, the others being Swing High, Swing Low and When My Baby Smiles at Me . The Dance of Life was made with Technicolor sequences, directed by John Cromwell and A...
(1929) as Ralph 'Skid' Johnson - Woman TrapWoman TrapWoman Trap is a 1929 American drama film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Evelyn Brent.- Cast :* Hal Skelly as Dan Malone* Chester Morris as Ray Malone* Evelyn Brent as Kitty Evans* William B. Davidson as Watts* Effie Ellsler as Mrs. Malone...
(1929) as Dan Malone - Behind the Make-UpBehind the Make-UpBehind the Make-Up is a 1930 drama film starring Hal Skelly, William Powell, and Fay Wray. It is based on the short story "The Feeder" by Mildred Cram. A vaudeville performer takes advantage of his partner, even to stealing his girlfriend.-Cast:...
(1930) as Hap Brown - Men Are Like That (1930) as J. Aubrey Piper
- The Gob (1930; short)
- The StruggleThe Struggle (film)The Struggle is a sound feature film directed by D. W. Griffith, and was his only other full-sound film besides Abraham Lincoln . After several films directed by Griffith failed at the box office, this was Griffith's last film...
(1931) as Jimmie Wilson - Hotel Variety (1933)
- The Shadow Laughs (1933) as Robin Dale
- The Chump (1934; short)
Discography
- The Dance of Life (1929) featured: "True Blue Lou" / "The Flippity Flop"
- Men Are Like That (1930) featured: "In the Gloaming" 1877