Florence Freeman (actress)
Florence Freeman | |
|---|---|
 Florence Freeman (Ellen Brown) from the radio daytime drama Young Widder Brown | |
| Born | July 29, 1911 |
| Died | April 25, 2000 (aged 88) |
| Other names | Florence Freeman Berman |
| Alma mater | Wells College New York State College for Teachers Columbia University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | Acting in soap operas on radio |
Florence Freeman (July 29, 1911 – April 25, 2000) was an actress in old-time radio. She was known as a "soap opera queen" for her work in daytime serial dramas.[1]
Early years
Freeman was born in New York City and grew up in Albany, New York.[2] One of her earliest performances came when she was six and gave a recitation of a poem at a World War rally.[3] In high school, she won a medal for dramatics.[4]
Freeman attended Wells College,[5] where she was Campus Queen,[4] New York State College for Teachers, and Columbia University[5] preparing to become a teacher. She taught English before becoming an actress.[6]
Radio
Freeman's initial job in radio came in 1933 as the result of a challenge. After a friend dared her "to make good as a radio actress", Freeman applied — and was hired —[7] at WOKO in Albany, New York.[4] She went on to become a member of the casts of a number of serials in old-time radio, including being "the heroine of not one but two serials that ran more than a decade."[8]
In 1949, Freeman won the "Your Favorite Daytime Serial Actress" award from Radio Mirror magazine.[9] Her roles on some programs are indicated in the table below.
| Program | Role |
|---|---|
| Dot and Will | Dot Horton[10] |
| Jane Arden | Betty Harrison[10]: 172 |
| Love and Learn | Sue Blake[11] |
| The Open Door | Lisa Arnold[12] |
| Pepper Young's Family | Connie[13] |
| Valiant Lady | Joan Blaine[10]: 346 |
| Wendy Warren and the News | Wendy Warren[14] |
| A Woman of America | Prudence Dane Barker[15] |
| Young Widder Brown | Ellen Brown[16] |
She was also a regular on Maxwell House Show Boat,[17] John's Other Wife,[18]: 351 Abie's Irish Rose,[18] Are You a Missing Heir?[19] and Love and Learn.[20]
Stage
Before Freeman began her career in radio, she acted in summer stock theater.[5]
Personal life
Freeman was married to Rabbi Samuel A. Berman[21] of Temple Beth-El in Jersey City, New Jersey, they had three children. Her husband died in 1998.[22]
Death
Freeman died April 25, 2000, aged 88, in Grant Park, Illinois.[1]
External links
References
- ^ a b Cox, Jim (2007). Radio Speakers: Narrators, News Junkies, Sports Jockeys, Tattletales, Tipsters, Toastmasters and Coffee Klatch Couples Who Verbalized the Jargon of the Aural Ether from the 1920s to the 1980s--A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6086-1. pp. 104-105.
- ^ "Florence Freeman" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 32 (1): 70. June 1949. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ "Radio Royalty". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Texas, Corpus Christi. September 1, 1937. p. 16. Retrieved April 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Young Widder Brown" (PDF). Tune In. October 1944. p. 39. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ a b c Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940–1941. Variety, Inc. p. 939.
- ^ DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. p. 99.
- ^ Luther, Paul (April 11, 1947). "Inside Radio". Cumberland Evening Times. Maryland, Cumberland. p. 7. Retrieved April 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cox, Jim (2003). Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers. McFarland & Company. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-7864-1631-8. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Radio Mirror Awards" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 31 (5): 28. April 1949. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. p. 103.
- ^ "Thursday, July 29, 1937" (PDF). Radio Mirror. 8 (5): 50. September 1937. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ Vale, Virginia (October 14, 1943). "Star Dust: Stage, Screen, Radio". The Terril Record. Iowa, Terril. p. 6. Retrieved April 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Studio Notes". The Evening News. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. January 31, 1938. p. 14. Retrieved April 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ ""Wendy Warren and the News" Makes CBS-WHP Debut on Monday at 3 P.M." Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. June 21, 1947. p. 19. Retrieved April 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Notes on 580". The Fresno Bee The Republican. California, Fresno. September 7, 1945. p. 10. Retrieved April 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kinnear, Carolee (May 29, 1945). "Radio and Records". The News-Herald. Pennsylvania, Franklin. p. 3. Retrieved April 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Alicoate, Charles A., Ed. (1959). Radio Annual and Television Year Book (PDF). New York City: Radio Daily Corp. p. 1117.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. p. 110.
- ^ Lesser, Jerry (July 11, 1942). "Radio Talent: New York". Billboard. p. 8. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ ""Love and Learn" Serial To Begin Monday Morning". Ogden Standard-Examiner. Utah, Ogden. February 7, 1937. p. 13. Retrieved April 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths BERMAN, FLORENCE". New York Times. May 3, 2000. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
- ^ Gerhard, Inez (September 16, 1954). "Star-Lites". Delphos Daily Herald. Ohio, Delphos. p. 8. Retrieved April 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
