by Hans J. Wollstein
biography
Brought to Hollywood in 1929 by RKO studio head William Le Baron, vivacious Helen Kaiser became one of the many Broadway luminaries to strike out in the burgeoning talking picture industry. Kaiser came with a long list of achievements that included a stint with the McGarry Stock Co., a headlining turn in the Ziegfeld Follies, and a co-starring role in the hugely successful Rio Rita. She repeated her role as Mrs. Bean in the equally successful screen version of Rio Rita (1929) but was completely overshadowed by the musical's stars, the zany comedy duo of Wheeler and Woolsey. After a supporting role as one of the hostesses in Dance Hall (1929), she wisely returned to Broadway.
