Mae Questel (pronounced "ques-TELL"; September 13, 1908–January 4, 1998) was an American actress and vocal artist best known for providing the voices for the animated characters, Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. She began in vaudeville, and played occasional small roles in films and television later in her career, most notably the role of Aunt Bethany in 1989's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Early career and Betty Boop[link]

Born as Mae Kwestel in New York City to Simon and Freida Kwestel, she attended Morris High School and studied acting at the American Theatre Wing and with the Theatre Guild.^[1] Although she wanted to be an entertainer, her parents, who were Orthodox Jews, actively discouraged her from doing so, at one time forcing her to leave the Theatre Guild school.

Nevertheless, at the age of 17 Questel won a talent contest held at the RKO Fordham Theatre in the Bronx by imitating Helen Kane. She was signed by an agent and began performing in vaudeville as an impressionist. Billed as "Mae Questel - Personality Singer of Personality Songs," she did Fanny Brice, Marlene Dietrich, Eddie Cantor, Mae West, Maurice Chevalier and others, as well as doing animal imitations.^[1] She was seen by animator Max Fleischer, who was looking for an actress to provide the voice for his Betty Boop character. Questel's "Boop-boop-a-doop" routine, done in a style similar to that of the song's originator, Helen Kane, while at the same time evoking something of the naughty allure of film star Clara Bow, was exactly what Fleischer wanted, and he hired Questel in 1931.^[1] She began as one of a number of actresses providing the character's voice, but soon took over the role exclusively.^[2]

From 1931 until 1939, Questel provided the voice of Betty Boop in more than 150 animated shorts, the longest run for any actress doing that voice. During the 1930s she released a recording of "On the Good Ship Lollipop" which sold more than two million copies. In 1988, she reprised the role in a cameo appearance in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Along with her voice work, and occasional on-camera appearance in Paramount shorts, Questel also attended Columbia University,^[1] where she studied drama.

Olive Oyl[link]

Beginning in 1933^[1] Questel also provided the voice for Olive Oyl and Swee'pea in Fleischer's Popeye animated shorts. She based Olive's nasal vocal style, and expressions like "Oh, dear!" on the persona of the legendary character actress ZaSu Pitts, and ultimately played the role for more than 20 years. Questel refused to move to Miami, Florida when Fleischer Studios relocated there in 1938, so Margie Hines took over during the Miami years. Questel returned as the voice of Olive Oyl when Paramount Pictures moved the former Fleischer Studios – which became Famous Studios – back to New York. She also filled in for Jack Mercer, the voice of Popeye, for a small number of cartoons made when Mercer was temporarily drawn into war service.^[2]

When Hanna-Barbera began making new Popeye cartoons for television in 1978, Questel auditioned for the role of Olive Oyl, and lost out to another voice-over actress.

Other voices[link]

In addition to her signature voices of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl, Questel also provided the voice of Little Audrey and Casper, the Friendly Ghost in their respective animated shorts.^[1] In the 1950s, she was the voice for the title character of the pioneering interactive Saturday-morning cartoon series Winky Dink and You.

She continued to provide the voices of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl in commercials, television specials and elsewhere until her death.

On-camera roles[link]

Questel has played a number of small parts, including appearing with Rudy Vallee as Betty Boop in the 1931 short Musical Justice (1931)^[3] and as a nurse in The Musical Doctor in 1932.^[4]

In 1961 she was seen as a middle-aged bride in Jerry Lewis' It's Only Money,^[2] one of Fanny Brice's mother's card-playing friends at the start of the film Funny Girl in 1968, and as the "Jewish Mama from Hell" in Woody Allen's New York Stories in 1989 in Woody's segment titled "Oedipus Wrecks";^[2] she had earlier sung the song "Chameleon Days" on the soundtrack for Allen's film Zelig in 1983.^[1] Her last non-voice appearance was as the elderly Aunt Bethany in 1989's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

In 1973, Questel had a role in the short-lived ABC television sitcom The Corner Bar,^[1] but she achieved perhaps her greatest visibility in television commercials, notably playing "Aunt Bluebell" in ads for Scott Towels, but also appeared in spots for Playtex, Folger's Coffee and others. She also appeared on panel shows and in daytime soap operas.^[1]

Questel had a withered arm; in her on-camera film appearances, she was usually photographed with elbows bent and both hands at her waist or holding an object in the crook of her elbow to make it less obvious that one arm was shorter and smaller than the other.^{[citation needed]}

Broadway[link]

Questel appeared on Broadway four times:^[5]

• Doctor Social (1948) with Dean Jagger;^[6]
• Leonard Spigelgass' A Majority of One (1959) with Cedric Hardwicke and Barnard Hughes^[7] – she reprised her role (as "Essie Rubin") in the 1961 film adaptation;^[8]
• Enter Laughing (1963) based on the novel by Carl Reiner, with Alan Arkin, Alan Mowbray, Sylvia Sidney and Michael J. Pollard;^[9] and
• Bajour (1964), the Walter Marks musical, starring Herschel Bernardi, Nancy Dussault and Chita Rivera.^[10]

Death[link]

Questel died from complications related to Alzheimer's disease at the age of 89 in her Manhattan apartment. She was buried in West Babylon, New York's New Montefiore Cemetery. She had two sons, Robert Balkin, who pre-deceased her, and Richard, who survived her.^[1]

Selected filmography[link]

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Mae Questel at the Internet Broadway Database
• Mae Questel at the Internet Movie Database
• Mae Questel at AllRovi
• Mae Questel at the TCM Movie Database
• Mae Questel at Find a Grave
• Mae Questel at the Internet Archive
• Mae Questel at Behind the voice actors
• Mae Questel at Otrrpedia

Mae
Mae performing at the Soundwave festival 2008.
Background information
Origin	Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Genres	Emo[1][2] Alternative rock[3] Christian rock[4][5]
Labels	Tooth & Nail (2003-2007) Capitol (2007-2008) Cell Records (2009-2010)
Associated acts	River James
Website	http://www.whatismae.com/
Members
Dave Elkins Zach Gehring Jacob Marshall Rob Sweitzer Mark Padgett
Past members
William Clark Matt Beck Jacob Clemons

Mae is an American alternative/indie band that formed in Norfolk, Virginia^[6] in 2001. The band's name is an acronym for "Multi-sensory Aesthetic Experience," based on a course taken by drummer Jacob Marshall while a student at Old Dominion University.^[7]

History[link]

Jacob Marshall and Dave Elkins began what would become Mae by writing their first song, "Embers and Envelopes", in Marshall's living room. The band signed with Tooth and Nail Records and released their first album, Destination: Beautiful, in 2003. They released their second full-length album, The Everglow, in 2005. The band toured extensively to promote it, and also performed on the Vans Warped Tour. Mae re-released The Everglow in 2006, adding three new songs and a two-hour DVD.

Later in 2006, the band signed to Capitol Records for their third full-length album. Mae began recording the album in the fall of 2006, working with producer Howard Benson (who has produced albums for Saosin, My Chemical Romance, Blindside, and Relient K). The album, titled Singularity, was released on August 14, 2007. On June 19, 2007, the band released the first single from Singularity, "Sometimes I Can't Make It Alone".

On September 24, 2007 Padgett and Sweitzer parted ways with Mae.^[8] The following year, Mae announced that they had split ways with Capitol Records.^[9] They also stated that they would embark on a new, experimental project, releasing one new song for each month of 2009. Each song would be available to download on their website for a minimum donation of $1, with proceeds going to humanitarian projects of Mae's choosing. Additionally, they would be compiling the monthly songs into three separate EPs entitled (m)orning, (a)fternoon and (e)vening, respectively.

In July 2009, Mae announced they were starting their own label called "Cell Records" through which they would release their three-EP set. In order to get in-store distribution Mae returned to their original label Tooth and Nail Records and signed a distribution agreement with the label. The (m)orning EP was released in stores and online on September 22, 2009. There was a limited edition scratch-and-sniff disk that was only available on their spring US tour and which was scented like the ocean (the band encouraged members in the crowd of their live shows to smell the disc during their song "The Ocean"). Mae released the (a)fternoon EP in stores and online March 30, 2010. The final EP, (e)vening, was initially available in a limited edition on the band's "Goodbye, Goodnight" tour. The EP was then released in stores and online on March 8, 2011 bundled with a DVD of their hometown farewell show filmed at The Norva in Norfolk, VA. The farewell show features 20 songs, with songs from each of their full length records and their three most recent EPs.

On May 7, 2010 word began spreading of Mark Padgett and Rob Sweitzer rejoining Mae for their upcoming fall tour. On June 19, 2010, Mae played a show in Singapore, and it was the first show since 2007 that included both Mark Padgett and Rob Sweitzer. On June 22, 2010, Mae's Dave Elkins confirmed on the band's forums that Mark Padgett and Rob Sweitzer have reunited with Mae.^[10] On June 28, 2010 Mae announced that their upcoming "Goodbye, Goodnight" Tour would be their last for the foreseeable future, marking their indefinite hiatus.^[11] On August 23, 2010, the newly reunited Mae including Mark Padgett and Rob Sweitzer played their first show back home in the US at Eureka College in Eureka, IL - evidently gearing up for the Goodbye, Goodnight tour. On Saturday November 27, 2010, the band played what was billed as its last show at the Norva in Norfolk, VA. The show was filmed to be released on DVD. What were believed at the time to be Mae's actual final performances consisted of two shows played on February 23 and 24 2011 at the Shibuya and Shinsaibashi locations of Club Quattro in Japan.^{[12][better source needed]} However, in late December of 2011, the band announced on its web site that it would play eight shows in the U.K. and Europe as part of the Goodbye, Goodnight tour from Jan. 3-10, 2012.

Members[link]

Current members[link]

• Dave Elkins (born Dave Gimenez) – vocals, guitar (2001–Present)
• Zach Gehring – guitar (2003–Present)
• Jacob Marshall – drums, piano (2001–Present)
• Mark Padgett - bass (2002–2007, 2010–Present)
• Rob Sweitzer - keyboards (2002–2007, 2010–Present)

Former members[link]

• William Clark – bass (2001–2002)
• Matt Beck – guitar (now with Spitfire) (2001–2003)
• Jacob Clemons – saxophone (went on to host "One Cubed" (USA) which aired on ABC Family)

Touring Members[link]

• Josiah Schlater – bass (From the band Tokyo and Color)
• Robert Smith – keyboard (From the band Tokyo and Musicplayer)
• David Pogge – bass (For the (a)fternoon tour)
• Tyler Strickland - guitar (For the (a)fternoon tour)

Related projects[link]

Before forming Mae, Dave Elkins was co-founder and lead vocalist for the indie band Sky's the Limit. Two songs that Elkins originally wrote for Sky's the Limit have been recorded and released by Mae – "Skyline Drive", on Destination: Beautiful, and "Tisbury Lane", on Destination: B-Sides.^[13]

After Mae finished their final tour, Dave Elkins began a new project called This Is Schematic. The project focuses on collaboration between artists, producers, and their supporters. Elkins created Schematic as a label since he feels the "music industry is broken and that a drastic improvement is necessary." Submissions for the label are currently being accepted and Elkins is currently working his own EP also under the name Schematic.

Jacob Marshall has formed the band River James with members of the band Army of Me

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

EPs and B-Sides[link]

Singles[link]

DVDs[link]

• From Toledo to Tokyo (Astorya Entertainment, 2005)
• The Everglow: Special Edition DVD (Tooth & Nail Records, 2006)
• Destination: Beautiful Five Year Anniversary (Mae Recording Company, 2008)
• (M)orning (Cell Records, 2009)
• (A)fternoon (Cell Records, 2010)
• (E)vening (Cell Records, 2011)

Compilation Appearances[link]

• Happy Christmas Vol. 4 (2005, contributed Carol Of The Bells)
• Punk Goes 90's (2006, contributed March of the Pigs)

Song of the Month[link]

Throughout 2009, Mae released 'Songs of the Month' (proceeds benefiting Habitat for Humanity and Donorschoose.org), with the first four tracks going onto the (M)orning EP, the second set of four going onto the (A)fternoon EP, and the final four on the (E)vening EP:

• January: The House that Fire Built
• February: Boomerang
• March: A Melody, The Memory
• April: Night/Day
• May: Over and Over
• June: The Cure
• July: The Fight Song
• August: In Pieces
• September: I Just Needed You To Know
• October: Seasons
• ^†November: Sleep Well
• ^†December: Bloom

† - Release delayed due to the theft of Mae's instruments and gear in Philadelphia

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mae Official Website.
• Mae on PureVolume Contains MP3s, a biography, show dates and photos.
• Mae on Virb
• Video interview with Mae for AbsolutePunk.net
• This Is Schematic
• Interview with Mae for FussMagazine.com
• Interview with Dave Elkins for freshZIVE.com

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009)

Alan Reed (August 20, 1907 – June 14, 1977) was an American actor and voice actor, best known as the original voice of Fred Flintstone (whom he was said to have physically resembled) on The Flintstones and various spinoff series. He also appeared in multiple films, such as The Tarnished Angels, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Viva Zapata! (as Pancho Villa), Nob Hill and various other films, as well as making acting appearances on various television series and he was the voice of Boris in Lady and the Tramp.

Life and career[link]

Born Edward Bergman in New York City, he majored in journalism at Columbia University, and then began his acting career in the city, eventually working on Broadway. He was Jewish.^[1]

For a time, he continued to list himself either as Bergman or Alan Reed, depending on the role he was playing (Reed for more comedic roles, Bergman for more serious ones). He was able to act in 22 foreign dialects, and made a career as a successful radio announcer and stage actor. In 1932, Reed married the former Finnette Walker (1909–2005), a Broadway actress. She appeared on stage in the early 1930s and was a chorus member in the original 1934 Broadway production of Anything Goes with Ethel Merman. They would have three sons, including actor Alan Reed, Jr. (born May 10, 1936).

His radio work included the role of Solomon Levy on Abie's Irish Rose; as the "Allen's Alley" resident poet Falstaff Openshaw on Fred Allen's NBC Radio show, and later on his own five-minute show, Falstaff's Fables, on the American Broadcasting Company; as Officer Clancey and other occasional roles on the NBC Radio show Duffy's Tavern; as Shrevey the driver on several years of The Shadow; as Chester Riley's boss on the NBC Radio show The Life of Riley, and as Italian immigrant Pasquale in Life with Luigi on CBS Radio, and various supporting roles on Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, also on CBS Radio.

From 1957–58, Reed appeared in a recurring role as J.B. Hafter, a studio boss, on the CBS sitcom Mr. Adams and Eve, starring Howard Duff and Ida Lupino, then married in real life but appearing as a fictitious acting couple living in Beverly Hills, California. In 1964–65, he had a recurring role as Mr. Swidler in the ABC sitcom Mickey starring Mickey Rooney as the owner of a resort hotel in Newport Beach, California.

His final performance as Fred Flintstone was a cameo guest shot on an episode of Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics.

Death[link]

Reed died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California on June 14, 1977, two months shy of his 70th birthday. His body was donated to the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He was survived by his wife, sons and several grandchildren.

References[link]

• Reed, Alan. The Alan Reed Story. Albany, Georgia: BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 1-59393-313-4
• Terrace, Vincent. Radio Programs, 1924–1984. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1999. ISBN 0-7864-0351-9

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Alan Reed at the Internet Movie Database
• "Alan Reed". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3663. Retrieved September 3, 2010.