Alice Beatrice Roberts (March 7, 1905 – July 24, 1970) was an American film actress.

Early years

Roberts was born on March 7, 1905, in New York City. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colin M. Roberts, and she attended Winthrop High School. She entered several beauty pageants, including the 1924 and 1925

Miss America Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is judged on competition segments with scoring percentages: ''Priva ...

pageants in

Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...

(as Miss Manhattan, 1924, and Miss Greater New York, 1925). She won the "Most Beautiful Girl in Evening Gown" award each time.

Career

Roberts went to Hollywood in 1933 and between then and 1949, she appeared in nearly 60 films. From 1938 she worked exclusively at

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

through special arrangement with

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

. Author Charles Higham explains that MGM studio chief

Louis B. Mayer Louis Burt Mayer (; born Lazar Meir; July 12, 1884Mayer maintained that he was born in Minsk on July 4, 1885. According to Scott Eyman, the reasons may have been: * Mayer's father gave different dates for his birthplace at different times, so ...

"had noticed her when she appeared as a guest in a party scene in ''

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

''; soon afterward, he began dating her. He fell in love with her; for years, she was the love of his life. She shared with him a passion for operettas and Viennese waltzes; she was an accomplished pianist, which, of course, appealed to him. Mayer insisted on keeping her under contract, loaning her out for picture after picture ... He had an under-the-table arrangement with Universal to have her placed on semipermanent loan-out, and for the next 10 years she appeared in Universal films as maids, nurses, or secretaries." Her most notable role was that of Queen Azura in ''

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...

'', a 1938 serial for Universal.

Personal life

On October 31, 1919, Roberts married

Robert Ripley LeRoy Robert Ripley (February 22, 1890 – May 27, 1949) was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, who is known for creating the '' Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' newspaper panel series, television show, and radio sho ...

, owner of ''Ripley's Believe It or Not''. Their marriage was "a union that only lasted three months, but which wasn't dissolved officially until 1926." She married Robert A. Dillon in

Tijuana Tijuana is the most populous city of the Mexican state of Baja California, located on the northwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Tijuana is the municipal seat of the Tijuana Municipality, the hub of the Tijuana metropolitan area and the most popu ...

, Mexico, on May 17, 1928. That marriage was annulled on September 8, 1933, because Dillon was a

bigamist In a culture where only monogamous relationships are legally recognized, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. A legal or de facto separation of the couple does not alter their mari ...

, having had another wife at the time of his marriage to Roberts. In 1940, Roberts married John Wesley Smith.

Death

Roberts died in

Plymouth, Massachusetts Plymouth ( ; historically also spelled as Plimouth and Plimoth) is a town in and the county seat of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. Located in Greater Boston, the town holds a place of great prominence in American history, folklor ...

, from pneumonia, aged 65.

Selected filmography

* '' Fast Life'' (1932) - Guest (uncredited) * '' Melody Cruise'' (1933) - Ship Passenger (uncredited) * ''

Pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...

'' (1933) - Sick Nurse (uncredited) * '' My Weakness'' (1933) - Mannequin. Woman's Journal (uncredited) * '' My Woman'' (1933) - Party Girl (uncredited) * '' The Worst Woman in Paris?'' (1933) - Gossip at Club Bon Vivant (uncredited) * '' The Return of Chandu'' (1934, Serial) - Party Guest h. 1(uncredited) * '' The Captain Hates the Sea'' (1934) - Passenger (uncredited) * '' Night Life of the Gods'' (1935) - One of the 3 Graces (uncredited) * '' Naughty Marietta'' (1935) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Times Square Lady ''Times Square Lady'' is a 1935 American crime drama film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Robert Taylor, Virginia Bruce and Helen Twelvetrees.Quirk p.36 It was produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Toni Bradley comes to ...

'' (1935) - Casa Nova Patron (uncredited) * '' West Point of the Air'' (1935) - Woman in Party at Night Club (uncredited) * ''

China Seas The China Seas consist of a series of marginal seas in the Western Pacific Ocean, around China. They are the major components signifying the transition from the continent of Asia to the Pacific Ocean.Pinxian Wang, Qianyu Li, Chun-Feng Li, ''Geol ...

'' (1935) - Ship's Passenger (uncredited) * ''

Broadway Melody of 1936 ''Broadway Melody of 1936'' is a musical film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1935. In New York, the film opened at the Capitol Theatre, the site of many prestigious MGM premieres. In New York, the film opened at the Capitol Theatre, the sit ...

'' (1935) - Showgirl (uncredited) * ''

Wife vs. Secretary ''Wife vs. Secretary'' (or ''Wife Versus Secretary'') is a 1936 American romantic comedy drama film starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow. Directed and co-produced by Clarence Brown, it was the fifth of six collaborations between Gabl ...

'' (1936) - Party Guest (uncredited) * '' We Went to College'' (1936) - Sightseeing Alumnus's Wife (uncredited) * ''

'' (1936) - Forrestal Guest (uncredited) * '' Sinner Take All'' (1936) - Hat Check Girl (uncredited) * ''

Park Avenue Logger ''Park Avenue Logger'' is a 1937 American lumberjack Western film directed by David Howard. The film is also known as ''Millionaire Playboy'' in the United Kingdom and ''Tall Timber'' (American reissue title). It is based on the short story of ...

'' (1937) - Peggy O'Shea * '' Bill Cracks Down'' (1937) - Susan Bailey * ''

Outlaws of the Orient An outlaw is a person living outside the law. Outlaws or The Outlaws may also refer to: Film and television Film * ''The Outlaws'' (1950 film), an Italian crime film * ''Outlaws'' (1985 film), a French film * ''The Outlaws'' (2017 film), a Sou ...

'' (1937) - Alice * ''

Love Takes Flight ''Love Takes Flight'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Conrad Nagel and written by Lionel Houser and Mervin J. Houser. The film stars Bruce Cabot, Beatrice Roberts, John Sheehan, Astrid Allwyn, Elliot Fisher and Wild Bill Elliott. The ...

'' (1937) - Joan Lawson * ''

'' (1938, Serial) - Queen Azura * '' The Devil's Party'' (1938) - Helen McCoy * '' Pioneers of the West'' (1940) - Anna Bailey * '' Tight Shoes'' (1941) - Waitress (uncredited) * '' San Antonio Rose'' (1941) - Diner (uncredited) * '' Mob Town'' (1941) - Bit Role (uncredited) * ''

Never Give a Sucker an Even Break ''Never Give a Sucker an Even Break'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and starring W. C. Fields, Gloria Jean, and Leon Errol. Fields also wrote the original story, under the pseudonym Otis Criblecoblis. Fields plays ...

'' (1941) - Stewardess (uncredited) * ''

Bombay Clipper ''Bombay Clipper'' is a 1942 aviation drama film directed by John Rawlins and starring William Gargan and Irene Hervey. The film features Maria Montez in an early role. Turhan Bey also appears. The film was based on the exploits of oceanic fl ...

'' (1942) - Miss Kane - Secretary (uncredited) * '' What's Cookin'?'' (1942) - Miss Lewis (uncredited) * ''

Gang Busters ''Gang Busters'' is an American dramatic radio program heralded as "the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories." It premiered on January 15, 1936 and was broadcast for more 21 years through November 27, 1957. H ...

'' (1942, Serial) - O'Brien's Secretary (uncredited) * '' The Mystery of Marie Roget'' (1942) - Woman #2 Reading Newespaper (uncredited) * '' It Comes Up Love'' (1943) - Bernice * ''

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man ''Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man'' is a 1943 American horror film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry Talbot (the Wolf Man) and Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster. The script, written by Curt Siodmak, follows ' ...

'' (1943) - Varja - Barmaid (uncredited) * '' He's My Guy'' (1943) - Secretary (uncredited) * '' Phantom of the Opera'' (1943) - Nurse (uncredited) * '' Fired Wife'' (1943) - Divorcee (uncredited) * '' Adventures of the Flying Cadets'' (1943, Serial) - Hill Aerial Secretary h. 1(uncredited) * '' Top Man'' (1943) - War Plant Worker (uncredited) * ''

Phantom Lady Phantom Lady is a fictional superheroine appearing in media published by Quality Comics and DC Comics. She was created by the Eisner & Iger studio, one of the first to produce comics on demand for publishers. The character's early adventures we ...

'' (1944) - Monteiro's Maid (uncredited) * ''

Her Primitive Man ''Her Primitive Man'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Michael Fessier and Ernest Pagano. The film stars Louise Allbritton, Robert Paige, Robert Benchley, Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick, Stephanie ...

'' (1944) - Maid (uncredited) * ''

Jungle Woman ''Jungle Woman'' is a 1944 American horror film directed by Reginald LeBorg. The film stars Evelyn Ankers, J. Carrol Naish, Samuel S. Hinds, Lois Collier and Acquanetta. ''Jungle Woman'' was the second film in Universal's ''Cheela, the Ape ...

'' (1944) - Inquest Juror (uncredited) * ''

The Invisible Man's Revenge ''The Invisible Man's Revenge'' is a 1944 American science fiction horror film directed by Ford Beebe and written by Bertram Millhauser. The film stars John Carradine as a scientist who tests his experiment on a psychiatric hospital escapee, pl ...

'' (1944) - Nurse (uncredited) * ''

Allergic to Love ''Allergic to Love'' is a 1944 American comedy musical romance film directed by Edward C. Lilley and starring Martha O'Driscoll, Noah Beery Jr. and David Bruce. The film's plot centers on a bride (O'Driscoll) who appears to be allergic to her ...

'' (1944) - Mrs. Walker (uncredited) * '' Reckless Age'' (1944) - WAVE (uncredited) * ''

Dead Man's Eyes ''Dead Man's Eyes'' is a 1944 noir-mystery film, and the third installment in '' The Inner Sanctum Mysteries'' anthological film series, which was based on the popular radio series of the same name. Directed by Reginald Le Borg, and starring ...

'' (1944) - Nurse (uncredited) * '' Hi, Beautiful'' (1944) - Hostess (uncredited) * '' Song of the Sarong'' (1945) - Radio Telephone Operator (uncredited) * '' Strange Confession'' (1945) - Miss Rogers, Secretary (uncredited) * ''

This Love of Ours ''This Love of Ours'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Merle Oberon, Maris Wrixon, Claude Rains, Charles Korvin and Carl Esmond. The film's composer, Hans J. Salter, was nominated for an Academy Award f ...

'' (1945) - Surgical Nurse (uncredited) * ''

Scarlet Street ''Scarlet Street'' is a 1945 American film noir directed by Fritz Lang. The screenplay concerns two criminals who take advantage of a middle-aged painter in order to steal his artwork. The film is based on the French novel ''La Chienne'' (liter ...

'' (1945) - Secretary (uncredited) * '' Because of Him'' (1946) - Wife (uncredited) * '' The Scarlet Horseman'' (1946) - Halliday's Maid (uncredited) * '' The Mysterious Mr. M'' (1946) - Dr. Walker (uncredited) * ''

The Killers The Killers are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After the band went through a number of short-term bas ...

'' (1946) - Nurse (uncredited) * ''

White Tie and Tails ''White Tie and Tails'' is a 1946 American comedy drama film directed by Charles Barton (director), Charles Barton and starring Dan Duryea, Ella Raines, William Bendix, and Frank Jenks. The film tagline is "Clothes Don't Make the Man ... a Gentl ...

'' (1946) - Marie (uncredited) * '' The Brute Man'' (1946) - Nurse (uncredited) * ''

The Egg and I ''The Egg and I'', first published in 1945, is a humorous memoir by American author Betty MacDonald about her adventures and travels as a young wife on a chicken farm on the Olympic Peninsula in the US state of Washington (state), Washington. Th ...

'' (1947) - Nurse (uncredited) * '' Time Out of Mind'' (1947) - Mrs. Weber (uncredited) * ''

Ride the Pink Horse ''Ride the Pink Horse'' is a 1947 film noir crime film produced by Universal Studios. It was directed by Robert Montgomery, who also stars in it, from a screenplay by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer, which was based on the 1946 novel of the sam ...

'' (1947) - Shop Manager (uncredited) * '' The Senator Was Indiscreet'' (1947) - Woman (uncredited) * '' Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid'' (1948) - Mother * '' For the Love of Mary'' (1948) - Dorothy * '' You Gotta Stay Happy'' (1948) - Maid (uncredited) * ''

An Act of Murder ''An Act of Murder'' is a 1948 American film noir directed by Michael Gordon and starring Fredric March, Edmond O'Brien, Florence Eldridge and Geraldine Brooks. It was based on a novel by the Austrian writer Ernst Lothar. The film was prod ...

'' (1948) - Nurse Coble (uncredited) * '' Family Honeymoon'' (1948) - Belle (uncredited) * '' Criss-Cross'' (1949) - Nurse (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

*
The Music of Flash Gordon: Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Beatrice 1905 births Actresses from Manhattan People from Plymouth, Massachusetts American film actresses 1970 deaths 20th-century American actresses