Christine McIntyre
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| Christine McIntyre | |
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 The lovely Christine McIntyre |
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| Born | Christine Cecilia McIntyre April 16, 1911 Nogales, Arizona  |
| Died | July 8, 1984 (aged 73) Van Nuys, California  |
| Years active | 1937-1954 |
Christine Cecilia McIntyre (April 16, 1911 – July 8, 1984) was an actress who appeared in many movies in the 1930s and 1940s but is mainly known as the beautiful blonde actress who appeared in the Three Stooges shorts from Columbia Short Pictures.
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[edit] Early career
A native of Nogales, Arizona [1], Christine McIntyre was one of five children. A classically trained singer, McIntyre received a Bachelor of Music degree at Chicago Musical College in 1933. It was here that she developed her operatic soprano voice, which would be put to good use in several Three Stooges films in the 1940s. McIntyre began singing in feature films at RKO Pictures, and made her film debut in 1937's Swing Fever. She then appeared in a series of B-westerns featuring the likes of Ray Corrigan and Buck Jones.
[edit] The Three Stooges and Columbia Pictures
It was in 1944 that McIntyre was discovered by Columbia Pictures producer Hugh McCollum, in which she was signed to a decade-long contract. During her time at Columbia, she appeared in many short subjects starring Shemp Howard, Andy Clyde, Joe Besser, and Hugh Herbert.
McIntyre's association with the Three Stooges would become her most memorable. Her debut appearance with the team was Idle Roomers, followed by No Dough Boys. McIntyre's magnificent singing voice was featured prominently in 1945's Micro-Phonies, as she sung both "Voices of Spring" and "Lucia Sextet." She would again sing "Lucia Sextet" three years later in Squareheads of the Round Table.
McIntyre was also a gifted comedic actress. She had amazing screen presence and managed to fit right in with the roughneck Stooges. Her performance as Miss Hopkins in Brideless Groom featured a knockabout scene in which she beats voice instructor Shemp Howard into submission. Director Edward Bernds remembers:
| “ | "In the story, Shemp had a few hours in which to get married if he wanted to inherit his uncle's fortune. He called on Christine McIntyre, who mistook him for her cousin (Basil) and greeted him with hugs and kisses. Then the real cousin phoned and she accused Shemp of kissing her, as it were, under false pretenses. At this point, she was supposed to slap Shemp around. Lady that she was, Chris couldn't do it right; she dabbed at him daintily, afraid of hurting him. After a couple of bad takes, Shemp pleaded with her. 'Honey,' he said, 'if you want to do me a favor, cut loose and do it right. A lot of half-hearted slaps hurts more than one good one. Give it to me, Chris, and let's get it over with.' Chris got up her courage and on the next take, let Shemp have it. 'It' wound up as a whole series of slaps — the timing was beautiful; they rang out like pistol shots. Shemp was knocked into a chair, bounced up, met another ringing slap, fell down again, scrambled up, trying to explain, only to get another stinging slap. Then Chris delivered a haymaker — a right that knocked Shemp through the door. When the take was over, Shemp was groggy, really groggy. Chris put her arms around him and apologized tearfully. 'It's alright, honey,' Shemp said painfully. 'I said you should cut loose and you did. You sure as hell did!'" [2] | ” |
[edit] Later years
McIntyre married radio personality J. Donald Wilson in 1953. One year later, her contract at Columbia expired and she retired from show business, eventually developing a career in real estate.
Wilson's sudden death from a heart attack in January 1984 took its toll on McIntyre. She was already suffering from cancer at the time of his passing, and his death worsened her illness. McIntyre passed away in Van Nuys, California on July 8, 1984, six months after her husband. She had no children. McIntyre is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
[edit] References
- ^ The Nogales Chamber.com
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). The Three Stooges Scrapbook, p. 81, Citadel Press. ISBN 0806509465
