Dr. Lona Bailey
Amazon-Bestselling,
award-winning author, researcher, and writing coach
About
Dr. Lona Bailey is an award-winning, Amazon-bestselling author and leading researcher of the Golden Age of Hollywood. She has written several acclaimed biographies, including Uncredited, Voice of Villainy, Mrs. Radio, and Some Small Nobility, with a focus on restoring the voices of overlooked women. Her book Voice of Villainy was a finalist in the International Book Awards and won the Gold Medal in Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Awards. Dr. Bailey has been featured in Film Daily, The Los Angeles Tribune, and on The Wolfe Den Show. Her recent work The Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon was praised by Gregory Maguire, and she is a featured player for her biography Wasp Woman: Hollywood’s Susan Cabot in the new docuseries Wasp Woman now streaming on Sundance Now.
Books
Uncredited: The Life and Career of Actress Virginia Gregg
She had one of the most recognizable faces and voices in American media for over 40 years. In radio, television, and film, Virginia went largely uncredited for many of her legendary performances including "Norma Bates" from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic Psycho. In radio she was a favorite on classics like Dragnet, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, and Richard Diamond, Private Detective. On television she was a regular guest on shows such as Dragnet, Gunsmoke, and The Twilight Zone. In film she gave her most memorable performances in productions including Psycho, Operation Petticoat, and Spencer's Mountain.
Read the incredible story behind the familiar face and voice that until now has never been told. Virginia's is a story of great tragedy, resilience, and perseverance far more compelling than that of any character she ever portrayed. Discover the great lady behind the hundreds of unforgettable characters she gave our world. Through the pages of this biography, I invite you to meet legendary actress Virginia Gregg.
The Voice of Villainy: The Betty Lou Gerson Story
She voiced one of Disney’s most infamous villainesses. With her husky timbre and most unforgettable cackle, Betty Lou Gerson terrified an entire generation as Disney’s original “Cruella de Vil” in One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961). Betty used her whiskey-soaked voice to give us an innovative portrait of elegant villainy beyond entertainment’s stereotypical “old hag” antagonists in radio, film, and television. She had a prolific radio career in both Chicago and Hollywood before the silver screen and was featured in many popular television series in the 1950s and 1960s such as Perry Mason, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Hazel. Though “Cruella” is perhaps her most recognized role, she also performed in other beloved film classics including Cinderella (1950), Mary Poppins (1964), and Cats Don’t Dance (1997).
The great irony of Betty’s story is that while her voice frightened audiences through nearly all mediums, off mic, she was in fact no villainess at all. Betty traversed through some of the most volatile eras in American history, while overcoming many personal tragedies of her own. She was among twentieth century entertainment pioneers and an iconic voice of feminism.
Learn the compelling story of Betty Lou Gerson as the “voice of villainy.”
Mrs. Radio: The Cathy Lewis Story
Cathy Lewis was one of the most dynamic and sought-after voices in American radio. Her early years as a jazz orchestra vocalist with Kay Kyser, Herbie Kay, and Ray Noble helped cultivate her unique vocal quality that regally transitioned to a radio acting career. For over twenty years she was considered one of radio’s cornerstone females in acclaimed supporting and leading roles of all genres. After she married actor, producer, and director Elliot Lewis in 1943, the talented duo quickly became recognized coast to coast as “Mr. and Mrs. Radio” until their shocking split in 1958.
Though Cathy was a prolific pioneer in one of America’s earliest and most beloved media, she also appeared in many films and popular television series throughout her career. She made her film debut in a number of 1940s’ noirs such as Kid Glove Killer (1942) and The Story of Molly X (1949). She also had a popular recurring role on the television series Hazel in the 1960s as well as many memorable guest appearances on Route 66, Death Valley Days, and Wagon Train.
As the better half of an Old Hollywood power couple, Cathy’s career was fixed in the glamorous Hollywood night life with cocktail parties, headlines, and smoky Jaguar rides down Sunset Blvd., but behind the microphone and tabloids, she experienced tremendous heartache. Read the dramatic life story of how a small-town Washington state girl became the world’s first “Mrs. Radio.”
Some Small Nobility: The Biography of Joan Banks Lovejoy
Joan Banks Lovejoy was a radio, film, and television actress known for supporting roles in some of the world’s most legendary series such as I Love Lucy, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, and Bewitched. Joan was the wife of actor Frank Lovejoy, and together they made a powerhouse Hollywood couple of the glamorous Golden Era before his sudden, untimely death.
Joan’s extraordinary dramatic career began in New York and took her to the heights of Tinseltown spanning some of the most critical decades of American history and American media. Her dreams of becoming a professional actress were first realized over the radio waves of the 1930s, as she became one of the most prolific radio queens of the medium’s prime in shows such as Mary Foster, The Editor’s Daughter, The Whistler, Escape, My Friend, Irma, and Suspense. After radio faded, Joan transitioned to film and television, where she artistically contributed to some of the most beloved works of the twentieth century including Cry Danger (1951), Return to Peyton Place (1961), Make Room for Daddy, Private Secretary, and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.
In Joan’s career and personal life, she experienced arresting dimensions of triumph and defeat. As an actress, wife, mother, and eventual widow, Joan’s story shows the collision of feministic humanity and classic Hollywood glory. Joan’s story is one of love, acclaim, heartache, sacrifice, and “some small nobility.” In this biographic work, learn more about one of Hollywood’s most lauded character actresses in behind-the-scenes details of a gothic-glamour era gone by.
How far would you go to reclaim your life and defy the expectations of a world determined to keep you in the shadows?
Corners of the Sea is a gripping tale inspired by the true story of "Bill," a seaman who perished in the tragic sinking of the SS Atlantic, only to have their true identity revealed posthumously as Thea Brawley Shaw. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of post-Civil War America, this novel follows Thea, a woman of privilege from Boston, who, disillusioned by her deceitful husband, Union Captain Cyril Shaw, embarks on a daring escape after uncovering his sinister plot to steal her inheritance. Disguised as a male seaman, Thea boards a freighter bound for Liverpool, navigating perilous seas and forming unlikely alliances, all while being pursued by her vengeful husband. As Thea's journey leads her to the doomed SS Atlantic, her courage and selflessness shine through in a final act of heroism. Believed to have sacrificed herself to save others, Thea's true identity as a woman is revealed in the aftermath of the disaster. Surviving against all odds, she finds love with Raymond Field, a distinguished attorney she met aboard the ship, and together they rebuild their lives in New York, adopting the young boy Thea had saved during the tragedy. Corners of the Sea is a powerful story of resilience, love, and the triumph of the human spirit, as Thea Brawley Shaw defies the confines of her gender and circumstance to chart her own destiny amidst the unforgiving corners of the sea.
Echoes of the Woods: The Biography of Paula Winslowe, the Voice Behind Bambi's Mother invites you into the captivating life of the woman who voiced one of cinema's most beloved characters. Over 80 years after its release, Walt Disney's Bambi remains a poignant cultural touchstone, introducing generations to themes of love, loss, and the fragility of life.
From her roots in rural North Dakota to her rise as a Hollywood actress, Paula Winslowe's journey mirrors the bittersweet narrative of Bambi. Her iconic role as Bambi's mother, alongside her husband John Sutherland's contributions to the film, solidified their legacy in cinematic history.
This biography intertwines Paula's life with the enduring impact of her character, exploring how both stories resonate with audiences today. Discover the untold parallels between Paula Winslowe and the beloved character she voiced, and experience how their stories continue to touch hearts worldwide.
Lead Thou Me On tells the compelling story of one of Titanic’s most unsung heroines.
Britain’s Lady Noël Leslie, Countess of Rothes was one of the 325 first class passengers to board the luxury ocean liner on April 10, 1912. Four nights into the voyage, infamous disaster struck when The White Star’s flagship collided with an iceberg in the Atlantic, sending all aboard into panic.
The few lifeboats Titanic carried were frantically dispatched from the top deck amid the mass hysteria of frightened passengers of all classes. With a massive gash in the side of her hull from the iceberg, the celebrated show ship began to take on the Atlantic’s frigid water and sink deeper and deeper under the enveloping sea’s surface. White Star Line staffers gave women and children priority in the frenzied loading of lifeboats.
Able Seaman Thomas William “Tom” Jones was given charge of lifeboat number eight as it was filled to half capacity with a few more than thirty passengers. Tom needed a second seaman to steer the lifeboat’s tiller, and Britain’s Countess of Rothes with her pearls and fur coat under her life jacket was chosen for the arduous job.
The hymn “Lead Thou Me On” became much more than lyrics that night, as the Countess relied on God to see fellow survivors to safety. Beyond the doomed voyage of Titanic, Lady Noël had a fascinating and Christ-honoring life that is being told for the first time through full-length biography.
An empowering look at one of pop culture's most enduring feminist icons, The Wicked Witch of the West. Over 125 years after her introduction, the Wicked Witch of the West remains an icon of popular culture. Known by many names-from “The Wicked Witch of the West” to Evillene, Elphaba, and Theodora-she consistently defies expectations and wields her power unapologetically. At the heart of her everlasting appeal is her embodiment of feminist ideals that resonate today.
In The Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon, Lona Bailey explores the radical feministic undertones of one of the most enduring characters in popular culture. Introduced in 1900 through L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch has captivated generations as both a symbol of fear and empowerment. More than just a villain, she embodies rebellion and resistance, refusing to conform to the roles historically assigned to women.
This book traces her transformation over the past century, highlighting how she has evolved through countless adaptations from The Wizard of Oz to the film adaptation of Wicked while maintaining her core identity as a powerful, defiant figure. To understand why the Witch remains captivating more than a century after her creation, Bailey delves into the radical feminism underlying her character and examines how she has been reinterpreted since her debut.
From the suffrage movement to the fight for reproductive rights, and from the #MeToo movement to ongoing battles against gender stereotypes, the Witch symbolizes the struggles and triumphs women face. Her presence transcends mere performance; she serves as a reminder that the fight for justice, equality, and autonomy is ongoing. By exploring the Witch's feminist evolution, readers will gain insight into why her character continues to resonate with generations of women.
A revealing biography for film and true crime fans, shedding new light on Susan Cabot’s Hollywood career and the sensational tragedy that overshadowed her legacy.
Susan Cabot was a popular B-list movie actress in the 1940s-1950s whose grisly slaying perhaps gained her more notoriety than her on-screen and on-stage accomplishments. Susan had a significant acting career ultimately cheapened by the media circus surrounding her death.
The role for which Susan was most recognized was Wasp Woman, Janice Starlin, the president of a cosmetics corporation who experiments with a youth serum made from the extract of wasps that proves to have deadly side effects—not unlike the experimental injections that contributed to her own real-life slaughter in 1986 at the hands of her son, Tim.
Susan was essentially tried and convicted of her own murder due to the overbearing mother narrative purported by Tim’s defense attorney team and the media. This biography broadens the narrative of Susan Cabot, detailing her legacy from a fresh perspective beyond the coils of her last years and brutal murder. It also explores the sociopolitical implications of victim-blaming, mother blame, and toxic masculinity that led to the skewing of Susan’s life and death.
Susan’s side of the story has never been told... until now.
Ann B. Davis had a long career in drama and television, spanning over forty years. However, it is for her portrayal of “Alice Nelson,” the beloved housekeeper on The Brady Bunch that Ann will be best remembered.
The 1960s and 70s were a time of social upheaval, and viewers were looking for a show with a sense of normalcy. They found it in Sherwood Schwartz’s show about the “idealized” family life—with Alice Nelson at the heart, providing a source of comfort, stability, and humor for all members of the “Brady Bunch.” The Brady Bunch remains a cherished show for multiple generations because of its timeless lessons and family values.
Off-screen, Ann was a humble figure who valued friendships and family above fame. However, she felt a gap in her heart—a dissatisfaction with the pressing demands fame put on her after her huge success with The Brady Bunch. She only felt truly fulfilled when she began to realize God was the only One she needed.
Ann B. Davis dedicated much of her later life to her faith, living with Bishop William Frey’s community in Texas until her passing in 2014. Her unconventional life after becoming a Christian—choosing faith over fame, living in a religious community, and dedicating herself to serving others—set her apart in Hollywood and continues to inspire those seeking a life of purpose beyond worldly success.
In The Press
About The Wicked Witch of the West:
“A riveting analysis of one of the most fearful and beloved characters in our national psyche.”
―Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
About The Voice of Villainy:
"For years, Dr. Lona Bailey has dedicated herself to researching and writing about Betty Lou Gerson’s life. Her book unveils Gerson’s meteoric rise from an unknown voice actress to one of Disney’s most iconic villains. With a combination of in-depth interviews and archival research, Dr. Bailey presents a comprehensive, captivating look at the life and career of this legendary star."
-The Los Angeles Tribune
See Dr. Bailey on MJ Wolf's Author Spotlight segment