![Mary Lee](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/dbi8dCiHjy99pHn0UwmMHgKu3dS.jpg)
Mary Lee
Mary Lee was born on October 24, 1924 in Centralia, Illinois, USA as Mary Lee Wooters. She was an actress, known for Ridin' on a Rainbow (1941), Nancy Drew... Reporter(1939) and Three Little Sisters (1944). She was married to Harry J. Banan. She died on June 6, 1996 in Sacramento, California, USA. Interred at Sierra Hills Memorial Park in Sacramento, California.
Appeared in a few short features for Republic in 1941, including one entitled Meet the Stars #5: Hollywood Meets the Navy (1941). Frequent sagebrush co-star for Gene Autry in the 40s. A CD of her rare soundtrack performances was issued by Varese Sarabande and is available from the Gene Autry Museum. Mary Lee had two sisters, Vera and Norma Jean, who were also performers. Ted Weems saw them perform together and hired Mary Lee to sing with the Ted Weems Orchestra for two years in the late '30s. Later, Vera worked as a secretary in Gene Autry's office, and Norma Jean also became an actress in Westerns. Republic Studios promoted Mary as "America's Little Sweetheart". The middle of three daughters born to an Illinois barber. The three girls did a singing sister act for local events. Mary quickly went solo as a teenager and was later signed up for Ted Weems Orchestra. Appeared in nine Gene Autry westerns as a teenager in which she sang and provided mild comedy relief. The singing cowboy heard her on a Ted Weems radio broadcast and influenced Republic to sign her up. She later appeared on Autry's radio show "Melody Ranch" and when Autry went off to war duty, appeared in a couple of Roy Rogers westerns. One sister, Vera, later worked as a secretary for Autry's Flying "A" Productions. The other, Norma Jean, also acted in westerns.
Had two children, Harry Philip and Laura L., with husband Harry J. Banan. She retired from films not long after they married.
In later years she worked at Bank of America.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 3.539 |
Birthday | 1924-10-24 |
Place of Birth | Centralia, Illinois, USA |
Also Known As | Mary Lee Wooters, |
![Nancy Drew... Reporter](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/wFlJKXPWf360M9b1088dHtEUutE.jpg)
1939
![Nancy Drew... Reporter](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/wFlJKXPWf360M9b1088dHtEUutE.jpg)
Nancy Drew... Reporter
6.196/28
While participating in a contest at a local newspaper in which school children are asked to submit a news story, local attorney Carson Drew's daughter...
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Nancy Drew... Reporter
![Cowboy and the Senorita](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/d5Z1EHhsbrOWDhpwRQZqs2T2gg3.jpg)
1944
![Cowboy and the Senorita](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/d5Z1EHhsbrOWDhpwRQZqs2T2gg3.jpg)
Cowboy and the Senorita
5/2
Chip has inherited a supposedly worthless gold mine from her father and Craig Allen is about to buy it. Roy suspects the mine may be valuable and usin...
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Cowboy and the Senorita
![South of the Border](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/z4NKia46CVKiTIjVK69POfJ9uJb.jpg)
1939
![South of the Border](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/z4NKia46CVKiTIjVK69POfJ9uJb.jpg)
South of the Border
5/1
A federal agent and his partner hang out in Mexico to check a revolution.
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South of the Border
![Song of Nevada](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/gVznFWCIAlQLd4GgmgoUm8fWpKQ.jpg)
1944
![Song of Nevada](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/gVznFWCIAlQLd4GgmgoUm8fWpKQ.jpg)
Song of Nevada
6/5
When John Barrabbee's plane makes an emergency landing, he wanders off and joins Roy's cattle drive. Later he learns he was killed when his plane resu...
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Song of Nevada
![Back in the Saddle](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mWeRfFetObk5godRZGelFn2t6Qa.jpg)
1941
![Back in the Saddle](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mWeRfFetObk5godRZGelFn2t6Qa.jpg)
Back in the Saddle
5.5/2
Gene returns from the East with new ranch owner Tom Bennett to find everyone's cattle dying. Blaine has reopened the copper mine and the waste is pois...
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Back in the Saddle
![Rancho Grande](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ldtzakarwSKx5llPVubpC4g97hT.jpg)
1940
![Rancho Grande](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ldtzakarwSKx5llPVubpC4g97hT.jpg)
Rancho Grande
0/0
A ranch foreman (Gene Autry) helps three youngsters protect their inheritance from foreclosure.
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Rancho Grande
![Angels with Broken Wings](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mvxZmFsrktXKnH3wtrcVgVGYaUp.jpg)
1941
![Angels with Broken Wings](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mvxZmFsrktXKnH3wtrcVgVGYaUp.jpg)
Angels with Broken Wings
3.7/3
Charlotte Lord, a widow in her early forties and owner of Manhattan's smartest modiste shop, is about to marry Guy Barton, a wealthy businessman. But...
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Angels with Broken Wings
![Carolina Moon](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/j8ZRTkqzDUFSYJidVqqu5JVZf4E.jpg)
1940
![Carolina Moon](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/j8ZRTkqzDUFSYJidVqqu5JVZf4E.jpg)
Carolina Moon
5/1
A singing cowboy and his sidekick encounter misunderstandings and rodeo havoc as they try and save a man and daughter from con men.
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Carolina Moon
![The Singing Hill](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9Yq2WUNQ5Vnr06NcPWeLhnpzZC9.jpg)
1941
![The Singing Hill](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9Yq2WUNQ5Vnr06NcPWeLhnpzZC9.jpg)
The Singing Hill
0/0
If a young lady gives up her inheritance the local ranchers will lose their free grazing land.
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The Singing Hill
![Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ceUbRkAnXVKfWIZjyCfVObVTzg9.jpg)
1940
![Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ceUbRkAnXVKfWIZjyCfVObVTzg9.jpg)
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
4/0
Gene inherits a meat-packing plant, then faces stiff competition from snooty Ann Randolph, rival owner determined to do him in.
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Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
![Nobody's Darling](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1k6qa2S2aHo0v5RUtKLlHPEgGVS.jpg)
1943
![Nobody's Darling](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1k6qa2S2aHo0v5RUtKLlHPEgGVS.jpg)
Nobody's Darling
0/0
Ugly duckling Janie Farnsworth is a student at Pennington High School, and has a crush on Charles Grant, Jr., who is the writer and producer of the up...
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Nobody's Darling
![Three Little Sisters](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/5tCRsLGzbjnIjdXHukPNWULzd7Q.jpg)
1944
![Three Little Sisters](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/5tCRsLGzbjnIjdXHukPNWULzd7Q.jpg)
Three Little Sisters
0/0
The three Scott sisters, Susie, Hallie and Lily, live in the small town of Riverdale with their father Tom, a handyman whose laziness is legendary. Th...
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Three Little Sisters
![Barnyard Follies](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/jAhxJIDR6Cz6VggYIrjUuFOizgt.jpg)
1940
![Barnyard Follies](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/jAhxJIDR6Cz6VggYIrjUuFOizgt.jpg)
Barnyard Follies
5/3
A country orphanage puts on a show with some musicians to save their 4H club from being shut down by greedy politicians.
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Barnyard Follies
![Melody and Moonlight](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/imp87MCLAT7PZqjTe2IOJDy9p44.jpg)
1940
![Melody and Moonlight](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/imp87MCLAT7PZqjTe2IOJDy9p44.jpg)
Melody and Moonlight
5/1
Jane Frazee made her starring film debut in the Republic B-plus musical Melody and Moonlight. The plot is motivated by the show-biz aspirations of bel...
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Melody and Moonlight
![Gaucho Serenade](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9L5kzovfZu8sBpBuOfL1B7QCwcT.jpg)
1940
![Gaucho Serenade](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9L5kzovfZu8sBpBuOfL1B7QCwcT.jpg)
Gaucho Serenade
0/1
Gene Autry and sidekick Frog Millhouse depart Madison Square Garden and NYC heading west for home in their car and a horse trailer carrying Gene's hor...
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Gaucho Serenade
![Shantytown](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1qT78Ss2EjSiS3Re8AfSzJbaCd5.jpg)
1943
![Shantytown](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1qT78Ss2EjSiS3Re8AfSzJbaCd5.jpg)
Shantytown
6/1
Liz lives with her mother and stepfather in a boarding house on the "wrong side of the tracks"
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Shantytown
![Melody Ranch](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/rh5NSnYXuROeOXu0Xa3UNLTBdeL.jpg)
1940
![Melody Ranch](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/rh5NSnYXuROeOXu0Xa3UNLTBdeL.jpg)
Melody Ranch
5.5/3
His Arizona hometown of Torpedo invites Gene back to be the honorary sheriff of the Frontier Days Celebration.
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Melody Ranch
![Ridin' on a Rainbow](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6yR78kruHkM0SAUDcJZKmOwmEOL.jpg)
1941
![Ridin' on a Rainbow](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6yR78kruHkM0SAUDcJZKmOwmEOL.jpg)
Ridin' on a Rainbow
5/4
When the showboat hits town, two men use the parade as a distraction to rob the bank. Their accomplice is Pop, the clown from the showboat. He leaves...
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