{{short description|American actress}}
{{Infobox person | name = Alice Reinheart | image = File:Alice Reinheart 1934.jpg | alt = | caption = Alice Reinheart in 1934 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1910|5|6}} | birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1993|6|10|1910|5|6}} | death_place = Avon, Connecticut, U.S. | resting_place = Riverside Cemetery, Farmington, Connecticut | other_names = | occupation = Actress | alma_mater = University of California<br />University of Wisconsin<br />San Francisco Conservatory of Music | known_for = The Lieutenant Wore Skirts | spouse = William Burke Miller (1938-?)<br />Les Tremayne (1945-1962; divorced) | children = }}
'''Alice Reinheart''' (May 6, 1910 – June 10, 1993) was an American actress, best known for her work in old-time radio. She also appeared on television. An article in the September 1940 issue of ''Radio and Television Mirror'' magazine described her as "pert, vivacious, beautiful and talented in writing and music as well as acting."<ref name=rtm0940>{{cite journal|title=Thursday's Highlights|journal=Radio and Television Mirror|date=September 1940|volume=14|issue=5|page=50}}</ref>
==Early years== Reinheart was born May 6, 1910 in San Francisco, California and grew up in Winnemucca, Nevada.<ref name=rtm0141/> She was called "a child prodigy, [who] gave piano concerts when she was 12."<ref name=rtm0940/> Reinheart "traveled extensively in Europe" before she was 16 years old.<ref name=rtm0940/> Later, she studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin,<ref name=ddr>{{cite news|last=Stevenson|first=L.L.|title=Lights of New York|newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3800335/the_decatur_daily_review/|agency=The Decatur Daily Review|date=December 4, 1948|location=Illinois, Decatur|page=20|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = December 10, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref> studied drama and languages at the University of California<ref name=mfr>{{cite news|title=Mr. Fairfax Replies|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Guide-IDX-Site/IDX/1939/Radio-Guide-39-08-04-OCR-Page-0039.pdf|accessdate=7 December 2015|agency=Radio Guide|date=August 4, 1939|page=37}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and studied piano at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.<ref>{{cite news|title=Radio Column|newspaper=Logansport Pharos-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3788425/logansport_pharostribune/|agency=Logansport Pharos-Tribune|date=March 25, 1939|location=Indiana, Logansport|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = December 8, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>
==Radio== Reinheart's debut on radio came in 1928 on KYA in San Francisco, California. She went on to appear in both soap operas and prime-time dramatic programs. A 1936 news brief reported, "She has appeared in as many as 12 programs in one week."<ref>{{cite news|title=Busy Actress|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19361025&id=x-QdAAAAIBAJ&pg=5884,4372274&hl=en|accessdate=9 December 2015|agency=The Pittsburgh Press|date=October 25, 1936|page=Society Section 9}}</ref> She was perhaps best known for her role of Chichi in ''Life Can Be Beautiful''<ref name="sies1">Sies, Luther F. (2014). ''Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-5149-4}}. P. 548.</ref> (1938-1946).<ref name=coxgreat>Cox, Jim (1999). ''The Great Radio Soap Operas''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3865-5}}. Pp. 85, 134,</ref>
Reinheart's other work on radio included roles in ''One Man's Family'',<ref name=coxgreat/> ''The Woman in My House'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Television-Radio Reviews: The Woman in My House|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/50s/1951/Billboard%201951-04-07.pdf|access-date=10 December 2015|agency=Billboard|date=April 7, 1951|page=8}}</ref> ''Nona from Nowhere'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Toomey|first1=Elizabeth|title=Stage Pair Finds Ancient Ruins Ideal For Relaxing On Vacation|newspaper=The Terre Haute Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3800731/the_terre_haute_tribune/|agency=The Terre Haute Tribune|date=July 15, 1950|location=Indiana, Terre Haute|page=4|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = December 10, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Wendy Warren and the News'',<ref>{{cite journal|title=Information Booth|journal=Radio and Television Mirror|date=April 1950|volume=33|issue=5|page=13|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/50s/50/Mirror-50-Apr-OCR-Page-0015.pdf|accessdate=10 December 2015}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ''Young Doctor Malone'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Coming and Going|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-Radio-Daily-IDX/RD-50/Radio-Daily-1950-June-0034.pdf|access-date=10 December 2015|agency=Radio Daily|date=June 7, 1950|page=2}}</ref> ''Treasury Agent'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Treasury Agent|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oQwEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Alice+Reinheart%22&pg=PT11|accessdate=10 December 2015|agency=Billboard|date=April 28, 1947|page=12}}</ref> ''Front Page Farrell'',<ref>{{cite news|title=(photo caption)|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Life-IDX/IDX/Radio-Life-1944-07-16-OCR-Page-0036.pdf|accessdate=10 December 2015|agency=Radio Life|date=July 16, 1944|page=36}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ''Romance, Inc.'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Radio Reports: Romance, Inc.|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety122-1936-06#page/n29/mode/1up/search/%22Alice+Reinheart%22|accessdate=9 December 2015|agency=Variety|date=June 3, 1936|page=30}}</ref> ''Call the Police'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Radio and Television Program Reviews: Call the Police|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/40s/1948/Billboard%201948-06-12.pdf|access-date=8 December 2015|agency=Billboard|date=June 12, 1948|page=12}}</ref> ''Casey, Press Photographer'',<ref>{{cite news|title=(photo caption)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3788484/the_nebraska_state_journal/|agency=The Nebraska State Journal|date=July 9, 1944|location=Nebraska, Lincoln|page=28|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = December 8, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Her Honor, Nancy James'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lewis|first1=Martin|title=Airialto Lowdown|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Guide-IDX-Site/IDX/1938/Radio-Guide-38-10-29-OCR-Page-0012.pdf|accessdate=8 December 2015|agency=Radio Guide|date=October 29, 1938|page=10}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ''John's Other Wife'',<ref>{{cite journal|title=What Do You Want to Know|journal=Radio Mirror|date=July 1938|volume=10|issue=3|page=54|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/30s/38/Mirror-1938-Jul-OCR-Page-0060.pdf|accessdate=8 December 2015}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ''Gang Busters'', Molle Mystery Theater (05/17/1946 episode "Killer Come Back to Me"), ''On Broadway'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Coast-to-Coast|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-Radio-Daily-IDX/RD-37/RA-1937-Nov-OCR-Page-0040.pdf|access-date=8 December 2015|agency=Radio Daily|date=November 5, 1937|page=8}}</ref> and ''The Court of Human Relations''.<ref>{{cite news|title=How Radio Stars Win Friends and Influence People|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Guide-IDX-Site/IDX/1937/Radio-Guide-37-08-14-OCR-Page-0017.pdf|accessdate=December 8, 2015|agency=Radio Guide|date=August 14, 1937|page=17}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> She and her husband, Les Tremayne, had a morning talk show, ''The Tremaynes'', in the late 1940s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Morse|first1=Leon|title=Program Reviews: The Tremaynes|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/40s/1949/Billboard%201949-05-07.pdf|access-date=10 December 2015|agency=Billboard|date=May 7, 1949|page=10}}</ref>
Reinheart's vocal talents for radio included her ability to scream in a way "fit to send cold shivers up and down the backs of the unseen audience, fit to make one's hair stand on end."<ref name=bde070338>{{cite news|title=Ladies' Screams Are Worth Money|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3788388/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=July 3, 1938|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=26|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = December 8, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref> A newspaper article reported, "Alice Reinheart has [a] vocal range of three and one-half octaves [and] can scream ten full notes above high C" and that she "can drive the studio control needle up to 60 decibels, which is tops for the measuring instrument."<ref name=bde070338/>
One of Reinheart's radio roles led to a compliment from British royalty. After an episode of ''The March of Time'' had Reinheart portraying the Duchess of Windsor, Reinheart "subsequently was invited to a reception by the Duchess, who was pleased by the portrayal."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Vincent|title=McNamee Still Among the Best|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19411204&id=3aFhAAAAIBAJ&pg=5815,46419&hl=en|accessdate=9 December 2015|agency=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=November 13, 1941|location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh}}</ref>
==Stage== Beginning when she was 15, Reinheart acted for two years in stock productions with the Players Guild<ref name=mfr/> in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite news|title=Artists of the Airwaves|newspaper=The Evening Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3787965/the_evening_independent/|agency=The Evening Independent|date=July 1, 1937|location=Ohio, Massillon|page=16|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = December 8, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref> Her Broadway credits include ''Papavert'' (1931-1932), ''Foolscap'' (1933), ''The Mask and the Face'' (1933), ''The Drums Begin'' (1933), ''The Wooden Slipper'' (1934), ''Journey to Jerusalem'' (1940), and ''Leaf and Bough'' (1949).<ref>{{cite web|title=Alice Reinheart|url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/34039/Alice-Reinheart|website=Playbill Vault|accessdate=7 December 2015}}</ref>
==Film== During a trip abroad, Reinheart "made moving picture shorts in English, German, and French."<ref name=rtm0940/> A brief item in a 1932 issue of the trade publication ''Film Daily'' reported that she "appeared in several shorts and feature productions for Ufa while in Berlin."<ref name=fd032832>{{cite news|title=Short Shots from Eastern Studios|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume55859newy#page/772/mode/1up/search/%22Alice+Reinheart%22|accessdate=9 December 2015|agency=The Film Daily|date=March 28, 1932|page=8}}</ref> Her first appearance in an American film was in ''The Sky Hawk,'' produced at the Brooklyn Vitaphone studio<ref name=fd032832/> (not to be confused with ''The Sky Hawk'', produced in 1929 by Fox Film Corporation). Feature films in which she appeared included ''The Lieutenant Wore Skirts'', ''Bachelor Flat'', and ''The Iron Sheriff''.<ref name=nyt/>
In 1941, Reinheart participated in a blend of stage and film. She was in the cast of ''Journey to Jerusalem'', which was filmed and made available "throughout the land" for exhibition by "more than 25,000 owners and renters of 16 millimeter sound-equipped projectors" as part of a project called Theater-on-Film Inc.<ref>{{cite news|title=Theater Gossip|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19410205&id=kw1QAAAAIBAJ&pg=4308,3127887&hl=en|accessdate=10 December 2015|agency=The Evening Independent|date=February 5, 1941|location=Florida, St. Petersburg|page=14}}</ref>
==Television== Reinheart appeared in a number of television programs, including ''Dragnet'', ''The Donna Reed Show'', ''The Danny Thomas Show'', ''Get Smart'', ''I Dream of Jeannie'', and ''Mission Impossible''.<ref name=d/>
==Personal life== Reinheart was an avid reader, so much so that a 1940 magazine article said, "her own home is practically a library with living-quarters attached. She has a large collection of fine editions, and a four-volume scrapbook which she began in 1928, into which she copies in her own handwriting excerpts from the world's greatest literature."<ref name=rtm0940/>
On September 26, 1938,<ref>{{cite news|title=Late News and Personal Notes|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/38-OCR/1938-10-01-BC-OCR-Page-0057.pdf|access-date=8 December 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=October 1, 1938|page=A-7}}</ref> Reinheart married William Burke Miller, who had won a Pulitzer Prize when he was a newspaper reporter. They met when he was night manager at NBC.<ref name=rtm0141>{{cite journal|last1=Ashley|first1=Judy|title=Love Can Be Beautiful|journal=Radio and Television Mirror|date=January 1941|volume=15|issue=3|pages=12–16, 61}}</ref> Her second marriage was to actor Les Tremayne on December 11, 1945. The union ended in divorce in 1962.<ref>{{cite news|title=From the Production Centres: In New York City ...|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety160-1945-12#page/n33/mode/1up|accessdate=10 December 2015|agency=Variety|date=December 5, 1945|page=34}}</ref>
In the 1970s, Reinheart moved to Farmington, Connecticut. She was president of the Farmington Historical Society.<ref name=d/>
==Death== Reinheart died June 10, 1993, at the Brightview Convalescent Home in Avon, Connecticut.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|title=Alice Reinheart, 83, Stage and TV Actress|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/15/obituaries/alice-reinheart-83-stage-and-tv-actress.html|accessdate=9 December 2015|agency=The New York Times|date=June 15, 1993}}</ref> She had no survivors.<ref name=d>{{cite news|title=Alice Reinheart: Stage, screen actress|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19930613&id=2ppGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2964,3011684&hl=en|accessdate=9 December 2015|agency=The Day|date=June 13, 1993|page=B 6}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}} {{Portal|Biography|California|United States|Radio|Film|Television|Theater}}
{{Authority control}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|718169}} * {{Find a Grave|8047418}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reinhart, Alice}} Category:American radio actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:American film actresses Category:1913 births Category:1993 deaths Category:Actresses from San Francisco Category:San Francisco Conservatory of Music alumni Category:University of California alumni Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Journalism & Mass Communication alumni Category:20th-century American actresses Category:People from Farmington, Connecticut