Shaindel Kalish Explained

Shaindel Kalish
Birth Date:15 January 1910
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Death Place:Chatham County, North Carolina, U.S.
Other Names:Judith Blake
Ann Shepherd
Ann Preston
Shaindel Kalish Freeman
Judith Preston Blake
Ann S. Sheps
Jennie Shaludel Libman
Ann Shepherd Mann
Occupation:Actress
Alma Mater:Goodman Theatre School of Drama
Spouse:
  • Charles K. Sherman
  • Yisrol Paul Mann Libman

Shaindel Kalish (January 15, 1910[1] – November 30, 2002) was an American actress on stage, on old-time radio, and in films. Her first name was sometimes spelled "Scheindel".[2] She was also known at various times as Judith Blake, Ann Shepherd,[3] Ann Preston, Judith Preston Blake, Ann S. Sheps, and Ann Shepherd Mann. She was a victim of the Hollywood Blacklist.[4]

Early years

Born in Chicago, Kalish was the daughter of Yiddish theater producer Abraham Kalish and his wife, Esther Naidith,[5] and she attended Marshall High School.[6]

She participated in dramatic activities with the Institute Players of the Jewish People's Institute,[7] winning first individual prize for women in a competition in 1932.[8] Kalish also attended the Goodman Theatre School of Drama in Chicago.[9]

Stage

In 1933, Kalish had a leading role in Girls in Uniform, presented at the Blackstone Theatre in Chicago. During the play's run, she turned down an opportunity to meet with representatives from the Radio-Keith-Orpheum film company, saying that she preferred to continue acting on stage.[10] After that play, she had the lead in Sixteen, which was also presented at the Blackstone.[11]

Billed as Ann Shepherd, Kalish acted on Broadway in the 1940s. Her plays included Sophie (1944), Truckline Cafe (1946), and All My Sons (1947).[12]

Film

In February 1936, soon after signing a contract with Universal Pictures, Kalish was "being hailed as an Elizabeth Bergner type", and the studio had plans to change her name.[13] By March 30, 1936, she was known as Ann Preston.[14]

Her film debut came when she had the female lead in Parole! (1936),[15] after which she appeared in Magnificent Brute (1936).[5] Later in 1936, she had a new studio and another new name. After she signed with RKO Pictures, officials at that studio changed her name to Judith Blake.[16] At RKO, she had a supporting role in Wanted: Jane Turner (1936).[17]

Radio and television

In 1935, Kalish joined the casts of the radio programs Eyes of Youth,[18] Masquerade[19] and Nickelodeon.[20] She played "most of the heavy parts" in Lights Out,[21] portrayed Betty Fairfield in Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy,[22] and was a member of the casts of The First Nighter Program and Grand Hotel.[23]

Billed as Ann Shepherd, Kalish played the title character in the soap opera Joyce Jordan, Girl Interne.[3] played "Hope Melton Evans" on Big Sister, and portrayed Pearl Sutton on Just Plain Bill. She was also a regular on Everyman's Theater,, Green Valley, U.S.A., and Hilda Hope, M.D.

In the 1970s, she returned to radio to perform in episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.[24] She reprised the role of "Hope Melton Evans" on October 9, 1945 in an experimental CBS television broadcast of Big Sister.[25] On April 18, 1945, she performed in an experimental TV variety program, Women in Wartime, also on CBS.

Kalish made appearances in three episodes ("Salt of the Earth", "The Midway", "Terror in the Streets") of the ABC series Actors Studio. In 1951, she appeared in two episodes ("The Fatal Step", "The Undertaker Calls") of the CBS anthology series Danger. Later, in 1952, she appeared in the premiere episode ("Bury Her Deep") of the WOR-TV New York series Dark Destiny.

Personal life

Kalish was married to director Charles K. Freeman, who also was her manager.[26] Later she married actor and director Yisrol Paul Mann Libman. During that marriage, she was known as Jennie Shaludel Libman and Ann Shepherd Mann.[27]

Death

On November 30, 2002, Shepherd died in Chatham County, North Carolina, aged 92. She was then known as Ann Kalish Sheps.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Screen Celebs. February 18, 2019. Reading Times. October 9, 1936. Reading, Pennsylvania. 33. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Radio Girlfriend of 'Jack Armstrong' Dies at 73. February 16, 2019. The Los Angeles Times. January 17, 1987. https://web.archive.org/web/20190216214110/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-01-17/news/mn-4938_1_wheaties. February 16, 2019. live. Los Angeles, Californias.
  3. 'Joyce Jordan' Serial Enters Fourth Year. Radio Varieties. September 1940. 3. 9. 11. February 16, 2019.
  4. Web site: Shepherd, Ann | the Broadcast 41.
  5. Web site: Shepherd, Ann. The Broadcast 41. University of Oregon. February 19, 2019. https://archive.today/20190219014900/https://broadcast41.com/biography/shepherd-ann. February 19, 2019.
  6. News: Star of Future in 'Girls in Uniform'. February 17, 2019. Chicago Tribune. March 18, 1934. Chicago, Illinois. Part 7, p 3. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Activities of Chicago Little Theater Folk. February 17, 2019. Chicago Tribune. February 26, 1933. Chicago, Illinois. Part 7, p 8. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Mrs. M'Cormick Cup Awarded to Jewish Players. February 17, 2019. Chicago Tribune. April 25, 1932. Chicago, Illinois. 14. Newspapers.com.
  9. Three New Faces For Universal Pictures. Universal Weekly. November 9, 1935. 37. 15. 13. February 16, 2019.
  10. News: Shaindel Kalish, Star of Blackstone Play, Declines Movie Bid. February 17, 2019. Chicago Tribune. March 21, 1934. Chicago, Illinois. 23. Newspapers.com.
  11. News: The Stage. February 17, 2019. Chicago Tribune. January 24, 1935. Chicago, Illinois. 15. Newspapers.com.
  12. Web site: Ann Shepherd. Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. February 18, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190218033925/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ann-shepherd-398369. February 18, 2019.
  13. News: Schallert. Edwin. 'Maedchen in Uniform' Considered for Film Debut of Shaindel Kalish. February 18, 2019. The Los Angeles Times. February 11, 1936. Los Angeles, California. 15. Newspapers.com.
  14. News: Peak. Mayme Ober. Reel Life in Hollywood. February 18, 2019. The Boston Globe. March 30, 1936. Boston, Massachusetts. 7. Newspapers.com.
  15. News: Actress Who Won Fame Over Radio Now in Pictures. February 18, 2019. The Los Angeles Times. June 25, 1936. Los Angeles, California. 21. Newspapers.com.
  16. News: Girl Gets New Name and Role. February 18, 2019. The Los Angeles Times. September 3, 1936. Los Angeles, California. 13. Newspapers.com.
  17. News: Wanted: Jane Turner. February 18, 2019. Democrat and Chronicle. November 22, 1936. New York, Rochester. 86. Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Eyes of Youth. February 18, 2019. Variety. September 18, 1935. 66.
  19. News: Gay. Chuck. Listenin' in. February 17, 2019. Dayton Daily News. September 9, 1935. Dayton, Ohio. 9. Newspapers.com.
  20. News: Today's Radio Highlights. February 17, 2019. The Burlington Free Press. Associated Press. August 29, 1935. Burlington, Vermont. 15. Newspapers.com.
  21. News: Lights Out. February 18, 2019. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 17, 1935. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 19. Newspapers.com.
  22. Book: Terrace. Vincent. Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. 1999. McFarland & Company, Inc.. 978-0-7864-4513-4. 167.
  23. News: Preston. Ann. This Land of Opportunity. February 19, 2019. Picturegoer Weekly. October 3, 1936. 15.
  24. Book: Payton. Gordon. Grams. Martin Jr.. The CBS Radio Mystery Theater: An Episode Guide and Handbook to Nine Years of Broadcasting, 1974-1982. 2015. McFarland. 978-0-7864-9228-2. 76, 80, 143, 172.
  25. Book: Terrace. Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. 2011. McFarland & Company, Inc.. Jefferson, N.C.. 978-0-7864-6477-7. 103–04. 2nd.
  26. News: Flashes. February 18, 2019. Wisconsin State Journal. October 13, 1935. Madison, Wisconsin. 20. Newspapers.com.
  27. Book: United States Congress House Committee on Un-American Activities. Hearings. 1958. 2506. February 19, 2019.

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