Ain’t no stopping her now

Kenneth Ma

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Watching television has never been one of Pauline

Hague’s favorite pastimes.But being on television is a different story.

The 95-year-old great-grandmother has been busy appearing in numerous

television commercials this year, even as most people her age are quietly

enjoying retirement.

“I think I’m in my second childhood,” an enthusiastic Hague said. “I

have heard of these people who watch TV all day long, and I shudder.

You’ve got to be creative and contribute something to the world and

life.”

So far this year, the Huntington Beach resident has appeared in a in

national commercial for AT&T; and regional commercials for SCAN, a senior

health care plan, and Meijer, a Midwestern department store chain. She

has also done a commercial for Mercedes-Benz, which is scheduled to run

in October.

Last year, Hague appeared on a bicycle atop the Golden Gate Bridge in

an international print advertisement for Adobe Software.

In the commercials, Hague has portrayed a range of characters, from

sweet older woman to a feisty grandma. And she looks 20 years younger

with her enchanting smile, healthy skin and groomed hair.

Her daughter, Paula Robins, said her mother is able to remain so

active because of a healthy vegetarian diet, regular exercise, keeping

her mind active and keeping away from cigarettes and alcohol.

“I was thrilled because I enjoy seeing her develop such wonderful and

diverse characters,” Robins said.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1905, Hague began her stage acting career

as a teenager, having been influenced by a theatrical family. She

performed in live stage productions until 1929, when she married Morton

Hague.

The couple first settled in Chicago but eventually moved to the San

Francisco area. The couple had three children. Throughout her marriage,

Hague took care of her children and taught classical piano.

In 1977, she decided to moved to Huntington Beach to be closer to her

daughter after her husband’s death the previous year.

Throughout the 1980s, Hague became involved in theatrical productions

in Orange County. She appeared in plays such as “The Contractor” and “My

Fair Lady.”

These days, Hague has focused her attention on television commercials

and teaching students at the Braille Institute in Anaheim about the life

of Louis Braille.

She is developing a musical and narrative program about the life of

Braille, a Frenchman who invented the coded written language for the

blind. Hague said she plans to play music in the program from the early

to mid-1800s, which is when Braille lived. Because of a busy schedule,

Hague decided to stop giving piano lessons this year. Although she is not

sure how long her stint on television will last, Robins said her mother

has never been happier.