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Betsy Gay

Betsy Gay

Born: 1929-02-02 • Waterford, Connecticut, USA

Betsy Gay (February 2, 1929 — June 13, 2025) was an American actress and yodeler, perhaps best known as Alfalfa's girlfriend Effie in the Our Gang Comedies.

Gay appeared in films, television, and radio shows. Her film career mostly consisted of bit-parts during the Golden Age of Hollywood, such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), Our Gang Follies of 1938 (1937) and Mystery Plane (1939). Her final role was in 1943.

Throughout her singing career, Gay worked alongside the likes of Dale Evans, Stuart Hamblen, and Tex Williams. She won a yodelling competition in California two years in a row in the mid-1940s. She had several music recordings with labels such as Capitol Records and Decca Records.

Filmography
What's Buzzin', Cousin? poster
What's Buzzin', Cousin?
1943 • Saree (uncredited)
How Spry I Am poster
How Spry I Am
1942 • Young Girl (uncredited)
Bachelor Daddy poster
Bachelor Daddy
1941 • Girl at Movie (uncredited)
At the Circus poster
At the Circus
1939 • Circus Midget (uncredited)
The Zero Hour poster
The Zero Hour
1939 • Orphan (uncredited)
Mystery Plane poster
Mystery Plane
1939 • Young Betty Lou
Came the Brawn poster
Came the Brawn
1938 • Effie, Girl Behind Darla
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer poster
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
1938 • Susie Harper (uncredited)
Our Gang Follies of 1938 poster
Our Gang Follies of 1938
1937 • Blonde Alfalfa Fangirl (uncredited)
It Happened in Hollywood poster
It Happened in Hollywood
1937 • Sis (uncredited)
When You're in Love poster
When You're in Love
1937 • Performing Arts Student (uncredited)
Arbor Day poster
Arbor Day
1936 • Dancing Girl
The Pinch Singer poster
The Pinch Singer
1936 • Broadway Number Performer