Hal Le Roy

Biography

Hal Le Roy's first professional job was in "Hoboken Heroes" at the Lyric Theater, Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1928. He was young, tall, thin as a pole and had a distinctive, dazzling, eccentric style that was acclaimed by audiences and dancers alike. In 1931 he attracted the attention of Broadway producers, who engaged him in the short-lived Broadway show "The Gang's All Here." Later that year he and partner Mitzi Mayfair stole the spotlight from big stars such as Harry Richman and Ruth Etting in the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1931." His unique, eccentric style made him popular in numerous film shorts made in the Brooklyn Vitaphone Brooklyn studios. He was a feature of several Broadway shows, including "The Gang's All Here" (1931, with Eunice Healy), "Ziegfeld Follies of 1931" (with Mitzi Mayfair), "Thumbs Up" (1935, again with Healy) and Rodgers & Hart's "Too Many Girls" (1939, with partner Mildred Law). His biggest feature film was Warner Bros. Harold Teen (1934) in which he performs an elongated solo (to the song "Collegiate Wedding") in the last reel. He made news in July 1935 when he sued his father for $70,000. Le Roy charged that when he married his dancing partner, Ruth Dodd, his father drew out the money, which had been on deposit (set up by Hal's late mother) in a joint account in 4 banks. The arrangement was supposed to have continued until he was 21. Throughout the 1930s he was given the occasional "spot" in feature films, such as the brilliant college dance scene in Start Cheering (1938). In vaudeville, he appeared throughout the 1930s and '40s in such venues as Radio City Music Hall, the Capitol Theatre (with the Woody Herman band), the State Theatre (with Smith & Dale) and the Earle Theatre (Philadelphia) with Clyde McCoy's band. He appeared on television and summer stock, including Guy Lombardo's production of "Show Boat" (1956) at Marine Stadium, Jones Beach, New York. In 1966 he directed the off-Broadway show "Summer's Here." He died in 1985 following heart surgery.