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Edith Motridge

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Edith Motridge
Edith Motridge in 1936
Personal information
Full nameEdith Segal Motridge
National team United States
Born(1913-07-30)July 30, 1913
San Francisco, California
DiedNovember 1, 2007(2007-11-01) (aged 94)
Fairbanks Ranch, California
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubLos Angeles Athletic Club

Edith Segal Motridge (July 30, 1913 – November 1, 2007), also known by her married name Edith Polster[1] or as Edith Motridge Segal,[2][3] was an American competitive swimmer who represented the United States in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. After her competitive swimming career, she was most well-known as Esther Williams' stand-in when filming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movies, although she also had minor roles in movies such as Cynthia and The Cobweb.

Early life

Motridge was born in San Francisco on July 30, 1913,[4] later attending Hollywood High School and the University of Southern California. Due to Hollywood High School not having a girls' swim team, she trained with the boys' team, and later with the Los Angeles Athletic Club.[1]

Competitive swimming career

Motridge posted a time of 1:19.6 and placed fourth in the women's 100-meter backstroke final at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[5][6] She was also the US champion in the 100m backstroke in 1939[6] with a time of 1:18.9.[7] Along with Esther Williams, she set the national record in either the 300m or 300-yard medley in 1939.[a]

Movie career

After Motridge's competitive swimming career, she worked on movies at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as Esther Williams' stunt double and stand-in.[6][11][12] She worked on all swimming movies made by MGM.[1]

Motridge's acting career separate from Williams, mostly consisting of minor roles, began in 1945 as a background character in Without Love.[13] She went on to play a role in The Harvey Girls in 1946,[14] then played a teacher in the 1947 film Cynthia.[15] She played a nurse in 1955's The Cobweb;[16] in 1956, she had an acting role in The Swan.[17]

Personal life

Motridge married Leonard Polster, an investment company executive, in 1968[18] or 1969;[1] they moved to Fairbanks Ranch in 1983.[6][19] They had three children and four grandchildren.[1] Throughout their partnership they were involved in philanthropic efforts,[1] including a Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation scholarship[20] started in the late 1980s[21] which gives $25,000-$30,000 scholarships to students in North County, California.[19]

Motridge died on November 1, 2007, at her home in Fairbanks Ranch.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Some sources state 300 yards,[8] others state 300 meters.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Polster, Edith Motridge". Los Angeles Times. November 6, 2007. p. B11.
  2. ^ "U.S. Women Make Strong Showing". The Gazette and Daily. August 12, 1936. p. 10.
  3. ^ "American Stars Win Honors In Swimming Tests". Reno Gazette-Journal. August 13, 1936. p. 14.
  4. ^ "Edith Motridge". Olympedia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "Olympedia – 100 metres Backstroke, Women". Olympedia. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d "Edith MOTRIDGE Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Youngsters Dominate Women's Swim Meet". Santa Barbara News-Press. July 30, 1939. p. 16.
  8. ^ Beach & Pool. Beach and Pool Publishing Corporation. 1940. p. 6. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Martin, W. E. J. (December 3, 1950). "Stand-In a Big Factor in Film Output Today". Buffalo Courier Express. pp. 95–96.
  10. ^ Marsh, Irving T.; Ehre, Edward (1945). Best Sports Stories. Sporting News. p. 368. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "First Spectacular of Fall To Be Williams Water Show". Columbia Daily Tribune. September 29, 1956. p. 11.
  12. ^ Donnelly, Marea (August 8, 2016). "From cripple to star: How Australian-born diver Annette Kellerman became a 'pinnacle of physical feminine perfection'". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "June Subs Freund". Evening Star-News. December 14, 1944. p. 6.
  14. ^ Heffernan, Harold (March 13, 1945). "Hollywood Motion Picture Stars to See Themselves Auctioned Off—in Effigy". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 17.
  15. ^ Churchill, Reba; Churchill, Bonnie (November 28, 1946). "Hollywood Diary". Valley Times. p. 15.
  16. ^ "Edith Comes Out Onto Dry Land". Los Angeles Mirror. January 20, 1955. p. 28.
  17. ^ "Three Stand-ins Get Breaks in "The Swan"". The Los Angeles Times. April 28, 1956. p. 12.
  18. ^ Who's Who in the West 2000-2001 (27 ed.). Marquis Who's Who. 2001. p. 496. ISBN 9780837909301. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Clubs". North County Times. December 29, 1999. p. 7.
  20. ^ Groch, Laura (August 3, 2017). "Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation awards scholarships". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  21. ^ Knox, Julie (May 31, 1999). "Couple establishes student scholarship fund". North County Times. p. 19.
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