Joy Hodges

Frances Eloise Hodges, who died in California on 19 January 2003 following a stroke, was not only a successful singer and actor, but will also be remembered for her part in launching Ronald Reagan's film career by getting him to 'ditch the glasses.' This he did, and the rest is history.She was born on 29 January 1915 in Des Moines, Iowa, to Verne Hodges and his wife. At the age of eight, she became one half of the Bluebird Twins, performing across Iowa, and later at high school was part of a trio named the Crooning Co-eds.Married three times, firstly to Gil Doorly from 1939 - 1941, then to Paul Helmund and finally, until his death, to Eugene Scheiss, she appeared frequently on stage, in films and on TV and radio. Her career began when she won a talent contest at the Paramount Theatre, and in 1935 she signed a 5-year contract with RKO. She appeared with Fred Astaire in Follow the Fleet (1936) and in 1937 was singing at Hollywood's Biltmore Bowl and in various Broadway musicals, inclu... [Details Intro]