Starter of this subject: Ted Hering
Last post in this subject: 6/19/2000
Messages in this subject: 4
| Ted Hering | 6/19/2000 4 replies |
| According to AP, radio actress Elinor Nathan -- who voiced the part of Ruby, the wife on Amos on "AMOS 'N' ANDY" from 20 years -- died at age 89. Nathan began acting in radio programs in 1933 under the name Elinor Harriot. She signed on as Ruby in 1935 and stayed until the show left the air in 1955. She also voiced the baby, the six-year-old-girl, and Mrs. Kingfish on the show. Nathan retured from radio in 1955 and went on to serve two terms on the Beverly Hills Board of Education. |
| Elizabeth McLeod | 6/19/2000 3 replies |
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Elinor was the last surviving performer (aside from organist Gaylord Carter) to have worked on the 15-minute serial version of A&A. She played Ruby Taylor Jones in a very refined, dignified manner -- the character was probably the first college-educated black woman to be depicted in a radio drama.
Ruby had been a key character in the series from the beginning, but she hadn't been heard on the air up until her wedding to Amos -- broadcast on Christmas Night, 1935. After the wedding, Ruby was heard quite often during 1936-1937, especially after the birth of daughter Arbadella in October 1936. In one tense storyline during this period, Ruby became convinced that the hospital had switched her baby for someone else's, and panicked -- until Amos was able to calm her down. This was probably planned as a longer storyline than it turned out to be -- but it was abruptly cut off after two episodes, probably because of complaints from hospitals! The six-year-old girl mentioned in the obituary was an orphan child taken in by Andy during the fall of 1936 -- a storyline which pointed out how envious, deep down, Andy was of Amos' stable family life, and how despite his bluster he would have liked to have been a family man himself. Elinor's work in 1937 as "Mrs. Kingfish" marked the introduction of the character who would later evolve into Sapphire. Actress Harriette Widmer, who was also heard as Madame Queen, also handled this part for a time before Ernestine Wade joined the show in 1939. |
| pat bonner | 9/23/2000 1 replies |
| great synopsis of ms. nathan's career in A&A. i'm just of an age to remember ms. wade as sapphire, on radio and tv. by the way, is ernestine with us? |
| Jim Stokes | 9/23/2000 0 replies |
Interesting posts.  The tragedy is that the women supporting cast were never credited on the shows. I was foolishly led to believe that A&A did ALL the voices, as I child. I believe in credit when due actors. June Foray, the very talented lady best known as the voice of Rocky, the Flying Squirrel, was never credited for her work with Mel Blanc in his cartoons. We were again somehow led to believe that Mel Blanc did ALL the voices in "his" cartoons. NO SO.
Jim Stokes |
| Jim Stokes | 9/23/2000 0 replies |
| Humm. For some reason, this message board will not post my reply. I will try once more. It is a pity that the women actors on A&A were not credited. OTR may have |