Pauline, Mary's maid

[shimp scrampi]

This is an odd character, not very popular as far as I can gauge. Sort of a "Rochester" figure for Mary. Was Pauline consistently played by one performer? And, if so, who was it? She sounds different in some episodes.

[Scott]

I think Butterfly McQueen played the maid.

My question is..... If Mary got such low wages from Jack; How could she afford to have a maid?

[Gerry O.]

Butterfly McQueen played Mary's maid in some of the WWII-era episodes. Her character's name was "Butterfly", and because Miss McQueen was a familiar character actress in films ("Gone With The Wind", etc.), it seems as if the character was expected to really catch on with listeners (sort of a female Rochester)....and apparently she didn't.

A season or so later Butterfly was replaced by Mary's new maid Pauline. In Pauline's earliest appearances, she was kind of silly and dumb, and spoke with a nasal voice. I'm not sure who played this early version of Pauline, but it sounds like it COULD have been Sara Berner, but again I'm not sure.

Later on (and going into the 1950's episodes), Pauline was played by Doris Singleton (who also played Carolyn Appleby on "I LOVE LUCY").
This later Pauline wasn't really silly or dumb....she more or less played it "straight", but at times she would join Mary in knocking Jack behind his back!

[shimp scrampi]

Thanks for the info on "Pauline". It is tough to rationalize the necessity of a supporting character (Pauline) for a supporting character (Mary), the whole premise is kind of illogical.

As far as how Mary could afford a maid on Jack's salary, in the episode I was listening to that inspired the topic, Pauline asks the same question. Mary's answer is "My mother writes for Bob Hope".