George Fayne
Encyclopedia
Georgia "George" Fayne is a character in the popular Nancy Drew Mystery Stories
series. She is one of Nancy's best friends and cousin of Bess Marvin
. Her real name is Georgia, although no one calls her that except her parents. (This is a change made in the 1980s; one volume, The Clue in the Old Stagecoach
in 1960, mentioned her real name as Georgia on the title page, but this was altered after the first few printings. In the original novels her name was just George, named for her grandfather, with, depending on the ghostwriter, a chain of either boys or girls ahead of her.) She has short black hair and brown eyes. She is an athletic tomboy, and is not easily scared when involved in Nancy's sleuthing. Her boyfriend is first a friend of Ned Nickerson's named Buck Rodman; she later dates Burt Eddleton. She and Bess were introduced to readers in The Secret at Shadow Ranch
. In the Nancy Drew Girl Detective Series
, she has a little brother named Scott. In the original version of The Ringmaster's Secret
, she has a nephew, indicating there are other siblings. A change in ghostwriters in 1933 resulted in George and her cousin Bess both being indicated as only children; their siblings, if there are any, are omitted from a will where their names are read. This can be explained in the text by assumption that they were the only children of their mothers known to their benefactor personally(The Sign of the Twisted Candles
). With Nancy, they encountered an elderly man who was a distant relation, and showed friendliness and compassion toward him and another unknown relative, a teenage girl, and as such may have received favor in the will not given to other relatives within their families and who might have been unknown personally to the benefactor, Mr. Asa Sidney.
Actresses Jean Rasey
and Susan Buckner
portrayed George in the The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
TV series of the late 1970s. The original characterization was a combination of the sleuthing pal George and the timid Bess, and Jean Rasey wore her hair long. The character evolved somewhat but remained less forceful than the George of the book series. The producers of Nancy Drew: The Mystery in Hollywood Hills (2007) cast Kay Panabaker
in the role of George.
In the original series, George is a somewhat forward girl, and often less than proper in her demeanor and mannerisms. This, combined with a propensity toward clumsiness or danger-prone behavior, results in the title of "George the Terrible" among adult collectors of the series. She is clearly feminine, though, despite her dress and mannerisms--when criticizing Bess for shopping habits, she is reminded she purchased several dresses, stockings, and a hat herself, and she shows concern for keeping her new silver pumps free of scuffs from clumsy dancing partners. Her character becomes less outspoken in later volumes and in revised stories, but is still prone to accidents as the series progresses, usually due to her blind determination and tunnel vision; charging ahead she often falls into holes, water, ponds, or turns an ankle, sidelining her at times, forcing more active participation from Bess in aiding Nancy. In the 1940s, The Secret in the Old Attic
states that she cuts her hair short, but only as much as the current styles permit. George is described as wearing dresses and skirts into the 1950s, but ones which are tailored and simple in appearance. Nancy, Bess, and George all participate in a variety of outdoors and sports activities, including horseback riding, swimming, hiking, golf, sailing, and tennis. She is depicted as having less talent in the arts as her friends, and may serve as a dancing school receptionist or a crew member in their theater group instead of taking part in performing arts. Showing that even George can be intimidated, The Clue of the Velvet Mask
shows a psychologically battered George; she is kidnapped while posing as Nancy, drugged, and threatened by a gang of ruthless, dangerous criminals, who not only commit robberies but drug and physically assault Nancy and her friends repeatedly; George overcomes her mania in time to step forward and save her friends in the psychological moment. By the mid 1960s, she has learned judo, and helps Nancy when the boys aren't around to defend the trio of female friends by using her martial arts as self defense. By the 1970s, her character is endearing, and she wins many athletic competitions. In the 1980s, she is still athletic, but less of a tomboy, and by the time of the paperback series, is responsible, holding a part-time job in several of the stories. Interior illustration artists Ruth Sanderson and Paul Frame depict the character with bobbed, permed hair, simpler than her friends but not really short in comparison. This version of the character also essentially dresses the same as Bess and Nancy, with the preppy dominated skirts, clogs, and polo shirts of the decade. George is much more adventurous than her cousin, but has evolved entirely away from the rude girl of the earliest stories, and is responsible, often kept out of the action by prior athletic commitments or by part-time jobs; she is the only one of the three main female characters who works independently, instead of securing jobs temporarily to investigate clues. Theorists state that George and Bess form opposite personalities in female adolescence, with Nancy as a combination of the extremes to balance the feminine ideal, a formula found in other female trio fiction (Charlie's Angels
; Mary Tyler Moore Show; The Powerpuff Girls
).
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories
The Nancy Drew Mystery Stories was the long-running "main" Nancy Drew series, published between 1930 and 2003. Initially, titles were published by Grosset & Dunlap, but with #57 publication switched to Simon & Schuster. Most people consider these first 56 to be the original series and consider the...
series. She is one of Nancy's best friends and cousin of Bess Marvin
Bess Marvin
Elizabeth "Bess" Marvin is a character in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. She is one of Nancy Drew's best friends, along with George Fayne, who is Bess' cousin. Bess and George are introduced to readers in the 1931 novel,The Secret at Shadow Ranch. Bess was originally described as having...
. Her real name is Georgia, although no one calls her that except her parents. (This is a change made in the 1980s; one volume, The Clue in the Old Stagecoach
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach is the thirty-seventh volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1960 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The actual author was ghostwriter Harriet Stratemeyer Adams.-Plot summary:...
in 1960, mentioned her real name as Georgia on the title page, but this was altered after the first few printings. In the original novels her name was just George, named for her grandfather, with, depending on the ghostwriter, a chain of either boys or girls ahead of her.) She has short black hair and brown eyes. She is an athletic tomboy, and is not easily scared when involved in Nancy's sleuthing. Her boyfriend is first a friend of Ned Nickerson's named Buck Rodman; she later dates Burt Eddleton. She and Bess were introduced to readers in The Secret at Shadow Ranch
The Secret at Shadow Ranch
The Secret of Shadow Ranch is the fifth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1931 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, and was ghostwritten by Mildred Wirt Benson...
. In the Nancy Drew Girl Detective Series
Girl Detective
Girl Detective is a series replacing the long-running Nancy Drew mysteries series, which had been running since 1930, first from Grosset & Dunlap and latterly from Simon & Schuster...
, she has a little brother named Scott. In the original version of The Ringmaster's Secret
The Ringmaster's Secret
The Ringmaster's Secret is the thirty-first volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1953 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The actual author was ghostwriter Harriet Stratemeyer Adams....
, she has a nephew, indicating there are other siblings. A change in ghostwriters in 1933 resulted in George and her cousin Bess both being indicated as only children; their siblings, if there are any, are omitted from a will where their names are read. This can be explained in the text by assumption that they were the only children of their mothers known to their benefactor personally(The Sign of the Twisted Candles
The Sign of the Twisted Candles
The Sign of the Twisted Candles is the ninth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1933 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene.-Plot summary:...
). With Nancy, they encountered an elderly man who was a distant relation, and showed friendliness and compassion toward him and another unknown relative, a teenage girl, and as such may have received favor in the will not given to other relatives within their families and who might have been unknown personally to the benefactor, Mr. Asa Sidney.
Actresses Jean Rasey
Jean Rasey
Jean Rasey is an American actress.Rasey attended the American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco under scholarship for three years. She appeared in the theatrical production "Cyrano de Bergerac" starring Marc Singer, Marsha Mason and Peter Donat...
and Susan Buckner
Susan Buckner
Susan Buckner is an American film and television actress. Prior to her acting career she was crowned Miss Washington in 1971 and in September went on to become a Miss America top ten finalist , eventually losing to Miss Ohio, Laurel Lea Schaefer. Her acting career is sprinkled with supporting roles...
portrayed George in the The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries is a television series which aired for three seasons on ABC...
TV series of the late 1970s. The original characterization was a combination of the sleuthing pal George and the timid Bess, and Jean Rasey wore her hair long. The character evolved somewhat but remained less forceful than the George of the book series. The producers of Nancy Drew: The Mystery in Hollywood Hills (2007) cast Kay Panabaker
Kay Panabaker
Stephanie Kay Panabaker , better known as Kay Panabaker, is an American film and television actress. She is the younger sister of fellow actress Danielle Panabaker.-Early years:...
in the role of George.
In the original series, George is a somewhat forward girl, and often less than proper in her demeanor and mannerisms. This, combined with a propensity toward clumsiness or danger-prone behavior, results in the title of "George the Terrible" among adult collectors of the series. She is clearly feminine, though, despite her dress and mannerisms--when criticizing Bess for shopping habits, she is reminded she purchased several dresses, stockings, and a hat herself, and she shows concern for keeping her new silver pumps free of scuffs from clumsy dancing partners. Her character becomes less outspoken in later volumes and in revised stories, but is still prone to accidents as the series progresses, usually due to her blind determination and tunnel vision; charging ahead she often falls into holes, water, ponds, or turns an ankle, sidelining her at times, forcing more active participation from Bess in aiding Nancy. In the 1940s, The Secret in the Old Attic
The Secret in the Old Attic
The Secret in the Old Attic is the twenty-first volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1944 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The actual author was ghostwriter Mildred Wirt Benson.- Plot summary - 1944 edition :...
states that she cuts her hair short, but only as much as the current styles permit. George is described as wearing dresses and skirts into the 1950s, but ones which are tailored and simple in appearance. Nancy, Bess, and George all participate in a variety of outdoors and sports activities, including horseback riding, swimming, hiking, golf, sailing, and tennis. She is depicted as having less talent in the arts as her friends, and may serve as a dancing school receptionist or a crew member in their theater group instead of taking part in performing arts. Showing that even George can be intimidated, The Clue of the Velvet Mask
The Clue of the Velvet Mask
The Clue of the Velvet Mask is the thirtieth volume in the original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was Mildred Benson's final ghostwrite for the series, which was subject to major revision prior to publication...
shows a psychologically battered George; she is kidnapped while posing as Nancy, drugged, and threatened by a gang of ruthless, dangerous criminals, who not only commit robberies but drug and physically assault Nancy and her friends repeatedly; George overcomes her mania in time to step forward and save her friends in the psychological moment. By the mid 1960s, she has learned judo, and helps Nancy when the boys aren't around to defend the trio of female friends by using her martial arts as self defense. By the 1970s, her character is endearing, and she wins many athletic competitions. In the 1980s, she is still athletic, but less of a tomboy, and by the time of the paperback series, is responsible, holding a part-time job in several of the stories. Interior illustration artists Ruth Sanderson and Paul Frame depict the character with bobbed, permed hair, simpler than her friends but not really short in comparison. This version of the character also essentially dresses the same as Bess and Nancy, with the preppy dominated skirts, clogs, and polo shirts of the decade. George is much more adventurous than her cousin, but has evolved entirely away from the rude girl of the earliest stories, and is responsible, often kept out of the action by prior athletic commitments or by part-time jobs; she is the only one of the three main female characters who works independently, instead of securing jobs temporarily to investigate clues. Theorists state that George and Bess form opposite personalities in female adolescence, with Nancy as a combination of the extremes to balance the feminine ideal, a formula found in other female trio fiction (Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
; Mary Tyler Moore Show; The Powerpuff Girls
The Powerpuff Girls
The Powerpuff Girls is an American animated television series created by animator Craig McCracken and produced by Hanna-Barbera for Cartoon Network...
).