‘Little Rascal’ actress was 96
Betsy Gay, a Yodeler and retired actress who appeared in “The Pinch Singer”, “Arbor Day” and “Our Gang Follies of 1938” died on 13 June. She was 96.
Gay’s death was reported by her girlfriend, Bob Satterfield.
Gay started her film career by playing in a series of comic films called ‘Our Gang Comedies’, which later became known as the ‘Little Rascals’. She appeared in various episodes before she accepted the role of ‘Alfalfa’s’ girlfriend ‘Effie’. She stayed with the comedy group for more than four years before switching to other film projects in 1938.
Gay appeared in more than 40 feature films, including ‘Tom Sawyer’, ‘Came the Brawn’, ‘Man of Conquest’, ‘A Day at the Circus’ and ‘Mystery Plane’. By 1941 the actress was involved in an Andy Cyle film shortly before Columbia Pictures, where she performed a Yodeling scene. Until 1943 she played in the Podium Games in the Pasadena Playhouse with roles in “Quality Street”, “A Kiss for Cinderella” and “Heros Unlimited.”
Before moving to Los Angeles, Gay performed with her family, who had a background in music. Her parents ran a music school where they gave lessons in singing, piano, banjo, violin, guitar and accordion. In 1935 the family moved from Gay to Hollywood, where she started her career as a child actress.
In addition to her acting career, she became an accomplished Yodeler who performed songs in films such as “What’s Buzzin Cousin” where she played a Hillbilly. She acted next to Dub Taylor, Ann Miller and Freddy Martin and his orchestra. By 1944 she regularly made singing performances with country music artist Stuart Hamben and his happy stars. A year later, Gay won the California State Yodeling Championship in the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles and won the title again in 1946.
Although she had no hit Yodeling -Single, she was a guest in various radio programs such as the “Hank Penny Show”, “The Jimmy Wakely Show” and “The Don Ameche Show” where they “Belle of the Old Barn Dance”, “Texas Plains”, “I want a Dryboy’s Sweetheart” and “I want a” I want “and” I want a Dryoy’s Sweetheart “and” I want a Dryoy’s Sweetheart “and” I want a Dryoy’s Sweetheart “and” I want a Dryboy’s Sweetheart “and” I want “Bello -Bells” and “I Bells” and “I Bells” and “I Bells” and “I Bello Belloy’s Dryboy’s Dryboysheartheartheartheartheartheartheart. sang.
She continued her music career and started a tour in the east coast in 1946. She joined a group of singers and performed with Tex Williams and his band until the 1950s. Although Homo had a passion for music, she did not leave acting. She became a regular cast member of the ABC Show Squeakin ‘Deacon’s’ Country Store’.
Her other TV credits are ‘hometown Jamboree’, ‘County Barn Dance’, ‘Town Hall Party’, ‘Country America’, ‘International Party Time’ and ‘Polka Show’.
She married Thomas Cashen in 1954 and had five children: twins Mimi and Gigi, Tommy, Suzy and Cathy.
