Joy Hathaway Explained

Joy Hathaway (born Joy Hathaway Meeker;^{[1] [2]} 1913 – November 4, 1954)^[3] was a Canadian-born American actress on stage, old-time radio, and television.

Early years

One of five children and the only daughter born to Bessie Ann Townsend and Henry Clemons Meeker,^{[4] [5] [6]} Hathaway was from Vancouver, British Columbia. She was educated at Victoria Normal School^[7] and graduated from the University of British Columbia, where she acted in productions of the Varsity Players Club.

Career

Hathaway sang in operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan.^[7] On Broadway, she portrayed Mrs. Ritter in A Slight Case of Murder (1935), a fitter in The Women (1936), and an usherette in The Fabulous Invalid (1938).^[8]

Hathaway's work on radio included the roles shown in the table below.

Program	Character
Amanda of Honeymoon Hill	Amanda Dyke[9]
David Harum	Celia[10]
Our Gal Sunday	Regina Page
Second Husband	Irma Wallace[11]
Stella Dallas	Laurel Dallas

She also had roles on Young Widder Brown, True Story Tales of Tomorrow,^[12] Modern Romances,^[13] and Seth Parker.

In 1953, Hathaway was the model for a statue of Sister Thérèse Couderc. Sculptor Pietro Montana created the life-size sculpture of the nun, who was being considered for canonization.^[14]

Personal life

Hathaway was married to composer Charles Kenny.

Death

On November 5, 1954, Hathaway died at age 41 of pneumonia in a hospital in Vancouver. Her death came three hours after the funeral for her three-week-old daughter, who also died of pneumonia.^[15]

Notes and References

1. https://archive.org/details/anecho193132uvic/page/38/mode/2up?q=%22joy+h+meeker%22 "Class 'B'; Our Gang"
2. https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist0632uvic_11/page/n3/mode/2up?q=%22joy+hathaway+meeker%22 "Results Given of Examinations in Normal Schools; Include Other areas"
3. News: City-Born Actress, Child Die . 10 June 2019 . The Vancouver Sun . November 5, 1954 . Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver . 2. Newspapers.com.
4. News: Vancouver Actress Returns From East . 10 June 2019 . The Province . May 10, 1939 . Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver . 13. Newspapers.com.
5. News: H. C. Meeker Dies in Valley . 26 April 2023 . The Vancouver Sun . May 1, 1946 . Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver . 3. Newspapers.com.
6. "Canada, British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL2R-2Y4 : 8 November 2017), Henry Clemons Meeker, 1946.
7. News: Two New WHP Series . 10 June 2019 . Harrisburg Telegraph . August 1, 1942 . Pennsylvania, Harrisburg . 23. Newspapers.com.
8. Web site: ("Joy Hathaway" search results) . Internet Broadway Database . The Broadway League . 10 June 2019.
9. Book: Terrace. Vincent. Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. 1999. McFarland & Company, Inc.. 978-0-7864-4513-4. 21.
10. News: Gross . Ben . Televiewing . 11 June 2019 . Daily News . December 22, 1950 . New York, New York City . 32. Newspapers.com.
11. Book: Dunning . John . On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio . 1998 . Oxford University Press . 9780199770786 . 604 . registration . Joy Hathaway actress. . 11 June 2019 . en.
12. News: Mrs. Kenny, Veteran Actress, Buried Today . 11 June 2019 . The Baltimore Sun . Associated Press . November 6, 1954 . Maryland, Baltimore . 11. Newspapers.com.
13. News: (Photo caption) . 11 June 2019 . The Akron Beacon Journal . March 6, 1951 . Ohio, Akron . 34. Newspapers.com.
14. News: Model of Saintliness . 11 June 2019 . The Boston Globe . May 17, 1953 . Massachusetts, Boston . 74. Newspapers.com.
15. News: Joy Kenny, 41, TV actress, dies . 10 June 2019 . The Bridgeport Telegram . November 5, 1954 . Connecticut, Bridgeport . 36. Newspapers.com.