Mary Hatcher

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Mary Hatcher is an American singer and actress whose screen career spanned the years from 1946 to 1951. During that time she appeared in eight films, mostly in credited roles and several times as leading lady.

At the time of Mary's birth, her father Frank was employed by the Polk Company, a large citrus canning firm owned by Ralph Polk Sr. When the company relocated to Tampa, Florida, the Hatcher family followed. Mary grew up in Tampa, attending Gorrie Elementary and Woodrow Wilson Junior High, where she often sang at student assemblies.

Her father's employer Ralph Polk was impressed with young Mary's singing talent, and provided funds so that she could obtain professional voice training. In 1937 at age 8, she began music lessons with Frank Grasso, a popular Florida band leader who was also musical director at Tampa's WFLA radio. Before long, she was singing for local radio broadcasts. Her first public performance was a singing engagement at Tampa's Latin-American Fiesta in 1940.

During the early months of World War II, Mary sang at a number of events in Tampa to raise money for British War Relief. In 1941 her mother took her to New York City, where she performed at Carnegie Hall.