FORGOTTEN FILMS: TV TRANSITION

Though typically overshadowed by Hollywood's A-list, there were respectable performances by numerous actors and actresses who never became major film stars. A common occurrence was their transition to the new medium of television, often becoming familiar faces in homes across America. These periodic posts offer insight into their transition.

Peggie Castle: Peggy Blair (1927-73)

Peggie Castle had a brief career in B-grade films typically playing a conniving second love interest or a woman on the wrong side of the law. She signed a seven-year contract with Universal-International and made her film debut—as Peggy Call—in the 1947 film, When a Girl's Beautiful. In 1949, the 5’ 7” model was voted "Miss Classy Chassis" by members of the United Automobile Workers Union from seven Western states. Just one of the modeling titles bestowed upon her during the period. She continued with uncredited or supporting roles in a number of forgotten films until landing a lead role as a socialite in Invasion U.S.A. (1952), a low-budget film concerning the power of hypnosis and its mind-altering perceptions about a third world war. Then came a solid role in the gripping crime noir, 99 River Street (1953) opposite John Payne, in which her character meets an untimely demise at the hands of Brad Dexter. Westerns became a staple as she was assigned the female lead in Jesse James’ Women (1954) and the starring role of, Two-Gun Lady (1955). Both far-fetched and forgettable.

Her car logically turned to television and the western was her stock and trade. She appeared on Cheyenne (1955-60). In one episode, Fury at Rio Hondo (1956), she was delightfully playful as a singer and pickpocket nicknamed “Mississippi.” Castle tapped into her roots for a pretty convincing Virginia accent. She rejoined John Payne twice on his western series, The Restless Gun (1958-59) before a regular role in the more popular series, Lawman (1959-62) in the second season. With little surprise, she was the owner of The Birdcage Saloon, giving stars John Russell and Peter Brown someplace to hang out. She left show business after the show’s cancellation therein struggling for the next decade with alcoholism.

Note: Born in the small town of Appalachia, Virginia, her characters came across as a woman to reckon with more than a dainty flower as her alto vocal range with scripted caustic remarks fitting her film noir roles. From an acting standpoint, she never embarrassed herself on screen. Indeed, her performance could be considered the most memorable in some of her low-budget productions.