Grace Matthews
Grace Matthews | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 3, 1910 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | May 15, 1995 (aged 84) Mount Kisco, New York, US |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse | Court Benson (1940-?) |
| Children | 1 daughter [1] 1 son |
Grace Matthews (September 3, 1910 – May 15, 1995) was a Canadian actress in the era of old-time radio and the early years of television. She is perhaps best known for portraying Margo Lane in the radio program The Shadow.
Early years
[edit]Matthews was born in Toronto, Canada, on September 3, 1910.[2] She graduated from the University of Toronto[3] and from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.[4]
Radio
[edit]Matthews played Margo Lane in The Shadow 1946-1949.[5] Lane was described in the program's scripts as the faithful companion of Lamont Cranston, alter ego of The Shadow. A February 5, 1987, article in the Milwaukee Journal reported Matthews' confusion about the programs: "The plots were so complicated I often had difficulty figuring them out. After the show, I'd go home and ask my husband ... to explain what had happened."[6]
| Program | Role |
|---|---|
| Big Sister | Ruth Wayne[7] |
| The Brighter Day | Liz[8] |
| Hilltop House | Julie Erickson[9] |
| Road of Life | Carson McVicker[10] |
Matthews was the lead actress on American Portrait,[11] Soldier's Wife and The Story of Dr. Susan,[12] and she appeared often on Armstrong's Theatre of Today.[10] She was active in Canadian radio for about five years before she began working on radio in the United States.[13] In later years, she was heard in some episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.[14]
Stage
[edit]Matthews' theatrical work included stock theater in Manitoba, Canada, and Ontario, Canada,[2] summer stock activities in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and the production of Dame Nature by the Theatre Guild in New York City.[15]
In Canada, Matthews was active in the Hart House Theatre[2] and the John Holden Players.[16]
Television
[edit]Matthews was seen in Road of Life, As the World Turns as Grace Baker #2, and The Guiding Light as Claudia Dillman. She also spent three years in London, England, acting in programs on ITV and the BBC.[2]
Recognition
[edit]Matthews' work as an actress on radio in Canada in 1944 earned her three national awards — The Major Genera La Fleche Trophy, Canadian Broadcaster magazine's Beaver Award and a top rating in a poll by Canadian newspapers.[17] She also won the Beaver Award (for "Distinguished Service to Canadian Radio") in 1940.[18]
Personal life
[edit]Matthews married announcer and actor Court Benson in October 1940.[19] They had a daughter, Andrea, and a son, Paul.[10]
Death
[edit]Matthews died May 15, 1995, in Mount Kisco, New York.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Radio Interview "Whatever Became of the Shadow" Richard Lamparski
- ^ a b c d e 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. 186.
- ^ "Grace Matthews". Radio and Television Mirror. 34 (3): 74. August 1950. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ Vale, Virginia (April 17, 1947). "Star Dust". Big Piney Examiner. Wyoming, Big Piney. Western Newspaper Union. p. 5. Retrieved July 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Sterling, Christopher H. (ed.) (2004). Encyclopedia of Radio. Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 1-57958-249-4. P. 1252.
- ^ "Shadow". The Milwaukee Journal. Wisconsin, Milwaukee. February 5, 1987. p. 110. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ "Big Sister--In Living Portraits". Radio Mirror. 28 (5): 25. October 1947. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ "Toward a Brighter Day". TV Radio Mirror. 46 (2): 62–63. July 1956. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ "In Living Portraits -- Hilltop House". Radio and Television Mirror. 32 (4): 34–35. September 1949. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ a b c Haller, Marie (February 1953). "Grace Matthews' Road of Life" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. 39 (3): 34–35, 68. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ "Production" (PDF). Broadcasting. April 28, 1946. p. 68. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ Cox, Jim (1999). The Great Radio Soap Operas. McFarland. p. 35. ISBN 9780786438655. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ "Main Street" (PDF). Radio Daily. April 16, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 142–143. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
- ^ "Radio Chatter". Janesville Daily Gazette. Wisconsin, Janesville. September 10, 1946. p. 4. Retrieved July 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Welcome Back". The Winnipeg Tribune. Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba. January 23, 1937. p. 27. Retrieved July 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hammerston, Claude (May 17, 1949). "Mostly Biographical". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ O'Neill, Mildred (March 6, 1946). "Women in Radio" (PDF). Radio Daily. p. 6. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ Shermet, Hazel (October 1949). "All Three of Us" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 32 (5): 54, 84–86. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
