Florence Freeman (actress) explained

Florence Freeman
Birth Date:29 July 1911
Birth Place:New York City, New York
Death Place:Grant Park, Illinois
Other Names:Florence Freeman Berman
Occupation:Actress
Alma Mater:Wells College
New York State College for Teachers
Columbia University
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.

Freeman attended Wells College, 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. 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
Love and Learn Sue Blake[11]
The Open Door Lisa Arnold[12]
Pepper Young's Family Connie[13]
Valiant Lady Joan Blaine
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, 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.

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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. 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. . pp. 104-105.
  2. Florence Freeman. Radio and Television Mirror. June 1949. 32. 1. 70. 28 April 2016.
  3. News: Radio Royalty. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. September 1, 1937. Texas, Corpus Christi. 16. Newspapers.com. April 26, 2016.
  4. News: Young Widder Brown. 28 April 2016. Tune In. October 1944. 39.
  5. Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940–1941. Variety, Inc. p. 939.
  6. DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. . p. 99.
  7. News: Luther. Paul. Inside Radio. Cumberland Evening Times. April 11, 1947. Maryland, Cumberland. 7. Newspapers.com. April 25, 2016.
  8. Book: Cox, Jim. Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers. 27 April 2016. 2003. McFarland & Company. 978-0-7864-1631-8. 117.
  9. Radio Mirror Awards. Radio and Television Mirror. April 1949. 31. 5. 28. 28 April 2016.
  10. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. . p. 103.
  11. Thursday, July 29, 1937. Radio Mirror. September 1937. 8. 5. 50. 28 April 2016.
  12. News: Vale. Virginia. Star Dust: Stage, Screen, Radio. The Terril Record. October 14, 1943. Iowa, Terril. 6. Newspapers.com. April 25, 2016.
  13. News: Studio Notes. The Evening News. January 31, 1938. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. 14. Newspapers.com. April 26, 2016.
  14. News: "Wendy Warren and the News" Makes CBS-WHP Debut on Monday at 3 P.M.. Harrisburg Telegraph. June 21, 1947. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. 19. Newspapers.com. April 25, 2016.
  15. News: Notes on 580. The Fresno Bee The Republican. September 7, 1945. California, Fresno. 10. Newspapers.com. April 26, 2016.
  16. News: Kinnear. Carolee. Radio and Records. The News-Herald. May 29, 1945. Pennsylvania, Franklin. 3. Newspapers.com. April 25, 2016.
  17. Book: Alicoate. Charles A., Ed.. Radio Annual and Television Year Book. 1959. Radio Daily Corp.. New York City. 1117.
  18. Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. . p. 110.
  19. News: Lesser. Jerry. Radio Talent: New York. 27 April 2016. Billboard. July 11, 1942. 8.
  20. News: "Love and Learn" Serial To Begin Monday Morning. Ogden Standard-Examiner. February 7, 1937. Utah, Ogden. 13. Newspapers.com. April 26, 2016.
  21. News: Paid Notice: Deaths BERMAN, FLORENCE. 29 October 2016. New York Times. May 3, 2000.
  22. News: Gerhard. Inez. Star-Lites. Delphos Daily Herald. September 16, 1954. Ohio, Delphos. 8. Newspapers.com. April 25, 2016.

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