Belle Montrose

Belle Montrose, born Isabelle Donohue in Illinois, (April 23, 1886 – October 26, 1964) was an Irish-American actress and vaudeville performer. She appeared on stage with her husband Carroll Abler (stage name: Billy Allen, 1888–1923) in the comedy team of Allen and Montrose (with Allen as the straight man), touring with the Orpheum vaudeville circuit.

Belle Montrose
Montrose in the early 1920s
Born
Isabelle Donohue

(1886-04-23)April 23, 1886
Illinois, United States
DiedOctober 26, 1964(1964-10-26) (aged 78)
Hollywood, California,
United States
OccupationActress
Years active1920–1963
ChildrenSteve Allen

On December 26, 1921, Montrose and Carroll Abler became the parents of Steve Allen. After Carroll Abler died in 1923, young Steve Allen began living with the Montrose family on Chicago's South Side, near Hyde Park, while his mother toured. After Carroll's death, Belle continued in vaudeville, working as a solo act and with other comedians. In 1925, the 17-year-old comedian Milton Berle toured with Montrose.[1]

Years later, Steve Allen wrote about her in his memoir, Mark It and Strike It: An Autobiography (1960).

Television

Milton Berle once described Montrose as "the funniest woman in vaudeville." In her later years, Montrose acted on television, including several appearances on Steve Allen's Sunday show (1956–59), The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1959–60), and later on The New Steve Allen Show (1961). She was a regular on The Hathaways (1961), starring Peggy Cass and Jack Weston.

Films

Montrose's movie credits include The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and its sequel Son of Flubber (1963).

At the age of 78 Montrose died of a heart attack in Hollywood. She is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery in San Fernando, California, not far from actor Walter Brennan.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1961The Absent-Minded ProfessorMrs. Chatsworth
1963Son of FlubberMother in CommercialUncredited, (final film role)

References
  1. Greppi, Michele. Hollywood Reporter, November 1, 2000.

Sources
  • Allen, Steve. Mark It and Strike It: An Autobiography, 1960.
  • Steve Allen, Jr. MD
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