IT WAS THE stock market crash of 1929 that brought Broadway Actor, George Hayes to Hollywood. As It was reported in headline, WALL STREET LAYS AN EGG*, and the economics of the time made working in the movies a much more appealing alternative for heretofore "legitimate" Stage Trained Thespians. We mean, we all got to eat!
APPEARING AS A SUPPORTING player in many films**. Billed as 'George Hayes', he soon found his way into a recurring role in support of William Boyd in the HOPALONG CASSIDY Western Seris. The character's name was 'Windy'. When George left the series, he couldn't use the copyright name, so he adopted "Gabby" Hayes and remained so for the rest of his life.
WITH THE ASCENT of television in the Post WWII period, some movie parts vanished as the movie business underwent changes. Competition with the small screen left much in doubt. During this time frame, "Gabby" tried his hand at two different kiddie oriented shows. The first one, in 1950, was a 15 minute daily on NBC.
THIS SECOND INCARNATION was launched in 1956 and had "Gabby" Hayes acting as the kin studio M.C., whose job it was to introduce "B" Western Movies; such as those from the BILLY THE KID Series from PRC; which starred Buster Crabbe and Al "Fuzzy" St. John.
DURING BREAKS IT was his job to tell some tall tales or 'yarns', as he called them. During this segment, he would do some wood carving or 'whittling'. It wasn't Broadway, but it was a job.
AFTER ALL, WE all got to eat!
NOTE: * That famous "Wall Street Lays An Egg" headline was published by VARIETY the journal of Show Biz.
NOTE: ** Mr. Hayes is most visible and recognizable as an indigent farmer seeking a new parcel of land from star, Gary Cooper in MR DEEDS GOES TO TOWN.