Gretchen Hale

Birth: Aug. 28, 1897 Death: Jan. 27, 1979

Actress. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was a in her teens as a stage performer under the name of Greta Arbin prior to making her screen debut in "Famous Players" (1914). A popular figure of the silent film era, her credits included "Colomba" (1915), "The Purple Lady" (1916), "Les Miserables" (1917), "The Bandbox" (1919), "Bride 13" (1920), "Her Brother's Keeper" (1921) and "While Justice Waits" (1922). She was also the wife of actor Alan Hale, Sr. and mother of actor Alan 'The Skipper' Hale, Jr. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)

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A soulful-looking brunette, Gretchen Hartman played Barbara Hare in a 1915 version of the ever-popular East Lynne. Louise Vale starred as the much put-upon Lady Isabel and a very young Alan Hale was Sir Francis. Hartman had been Mrs. Alan Hale since 1914 and she is perhaps better remembered as the mother of Alan Hale, Jr. than for any of her scores of silent film roles. A stage ingenue under the name of Greta Arbin prior to making her screen debut for Famous Players in 1914, Hartman had created the role of Mary Jane in Mary Jane's Pa, a popular Broadway comedy. She was most ingenuish in her films as well, but for now-obscure reasons changed her billing to Sonia Markova to play Fantine in Les Miserables (1917). She returned to Gretchen Hartman soon after, but her career was already waning by the early '20s. Retiring at the advent of sound, Hartman returned for a bit role in Room for One More (1952).

Born Grace Barrett in Chicago.

Gretchen Hartman : Trivia

Children, with Hale; Actor Alan Hale Jr. (1921-1990) (Gilligan's Island T.V.), Karen Hale (1924-1998) and Jeanne MacKahan Born Hale.

Daughter of actress Agnes A. Hartman (1860-1822 December 1932), who also appeared in films.

Sister of Ruth Hartman (1893-1956) and aunt of Carlyle Blackwell Jr.(1913-1974).

Brunette silent screen actress with Fox in the 1920's. Formerly appeared on stage under the name Greta Arbin.

also known as Grace Barrett, Greta Hartman, Sonia Markova, Gretchen Hartman Hale

Marriage with Alan Hale, Sr. between 1914 and 22 January 1950 (36 years) parent of Alan Hale, Jr. Jeanne Hale Karen Hale

Birth: Aug 28 1897 - Chicago, cook, IL

Death: Jan 27 1979 - Los Angeles, CA

filmography: "Bride 13" "Gaslight Follies" played Mrs. Winters in "The Time, the Place and the Girl"

Parents: Unknown Hartman, Agnes A actress Hartman Hartman

Sister: Ruth actress Blackwell (born Hartman)

Partner: Alan Hale Sr. Famous Actor in Hollywood.