The Wonderful Alice Faye

By Ned Norris

Alice Faye was born Alice Jeane Leppert in New York City on May 15, 1915. She began her career in the early 1920s and 30s as a chorus girl for Chester Hale Vaudeville Unit. While she performed as a chorus girl she changed her last name to Faye.

Her career in radio began as a singer on The Fleischmann Hour in 1932. She continued her run on that show for two years. Then a twist of fate landed her the role of a lifetime.

Alice was known for introducing songs by important composers and turning them into instant hits. She was voted America’s Number One Song Plugger. She introduced songs from Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter to name a few.

Faye went to Hollywood to record a song for a film and was chosen to play the lead role in George White’s Scandals when the star, Lilian Harvey, walked out. This launched her into stardom.

From 1935-1940 she signed with 20th Century-Fox and appeared in many of their productions over the years including In Old Chicago and Alexander’s Ragtime Band. In 1941 she married her lifetime companion Phil Harris. It was the second marriage for both.

She had two children with Harris and in 1946 she and her husband were asked to appear on Fitch Bandwagon. This eventually led into the formation of the Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show that starred the couple in a comedy routine and musical performance each episode.

The radio show ran until 1954. After it ended, Faye could be seen in many guest television appearances. Alice could be seen on the Dean Martin Show, Love Boat, the Red Skelton Show, and the Perry Como Show. She also starred in a film version of State Fair with 20th Century Fox.

In the 1970s, Alice Faye also appeared on stage with John Payne and Stubby Kaye in a touring production of Good News. From 1984-1991 she appeared as a Good Health Ambassador for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. She also wrote the book Getting Older, Staying Young. Her marriage to Harris lasted the remainder of his life totaling 51 years of marriage.

Harris died of a heart attack in 1995. Three years later Faye succumbed to stomach cancer and passed away in her home surrounded by her daughters.