Maisie

Maisie Ravier is a popular fictional character, the leading character of ten films (1939–1947) and a radio show, The Adventures of Maisie (broadcast 1945–1947, 1949–1953). She was played by actress Ann Sothern (1909–2001). The concept for the Maisie series came from the story Dark Dame by Wilson Collison. Sothern said in an interview that the series was originally planned with Jean Harlow as the star. After a string of other films failed to attract audiences, Sothern left RKO Radio Pictures and signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, making her first film for MGM in 1939. She was cast in Maisie as Mary Anastasia O'Conno, a brassy but kindhearted Brooklyn burlesque dancer who went by the stage name of Maisie Ravier. Maisie brought Sothern her first real success. A string of sequels followed, beginning with Congo Maisie (1940) and continuing until Undercover Maisie (1947). Reviewing Swing Shift Maisie (1943), Time praised Sothern and described her as "one of the smartest comediennes in the business".