Sondra Rodgers Explained

Sondra Rodgers
Birth Name:Fenella Jewell Rodgers
Birth Date:February 3, 1903
Birth Place:Trimble County, Kentucky, U.S.
Death Date:July 22, 1997
Death Place:Los Angeles, California
U.S.
Othername:Sondra Arleaux
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:1944 - 1970 (film)

Sondra Rodgers (born Fenella Jewell Rodgers; 1903–1997) was an American film and television actress.[1]

Early years

Born Fenella Jewell Rodgers,[2] she grew up on the family farm in Trimble County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of J.L. Rodgers and his wife, Lacy Rodgers. When she was 17, she moved to New York and began modeling for a commercial photographer.[3]

Radio

Rodgers left the stage to work in radio in 1934. She was heard often in the United States on broadcasts of Miniature Theater of the Air and on a number of soap operas.[3]

She also worked in radio in Europe. Although she was employed by Radio Luxembourg, she was based in London. Her programs were recorded and shipped to Luxembourg for broadcast. After concluding her work in Europe, she returned to Kentucky and wrote scripts for WLAP in Lexington.

Stage

Rodgers' early acting experience came in New York when she worked (using the name Sondra Arleaux)[4] in stock theater with Jessie Bonstelle. She appeared on Broadway in Riddle Me This (1933).[5]

Rodgers spent time in Europe studying with playwrights, then returned to the United States, where she directed plays at the Pasadena Playhouse with Gilmour Brown as her supervisor.[4]

Later, in Los Angeles, Rodgers acted in plays, including No Time for Comedy, Heaven Can Wait, Cry Havoc, an dFamily Portrait.[3]

Film

Rodgers signed her first film contract, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, in May 1944.[6] Her film debut came in Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944).[7]

Television

Rodgers portrayed Mrs. Appleby in the 1961 episode "A Doctor Comes to Town" of the television series Window on Main Street.. She played the prudish (unnamed) mother of daughters Elmira and Dodie on "Wagon Train" in S1 E18 "The Gabe Carswell Story" which aired 1/14/1958.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1944Marriage Is a Private Affair Nurse Uncredited
1944Lost in a Harem Zaida Uncredited
1945Keep Your Powder Dry WAC Hodgekins
1945Anchors Aweigh Jean Uncredited
1945The Hidden Eye Helen Roberts
1946Up Goes Maisie Uncredited
1946Easy to Wed Attendant
1946Boys' Ranch Mrs. O'Neill Uncredited
1948Tap Roots Shellie Dabney
1951As You Were WAC Captain
1963Tammy and the Doctor First Nurse
1966Country Boy Mrs. Byrd
1970Airport Margaret Rogers - Passenger Uncredited, (final film role)

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Erickson p.385
  2. News: McCollum. Konnie. Trimble County native found fame in Hollywood. 12 February 2018. RoundAbout. July 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20180212035138/http://www.roundaboutmadison.com/InsidePages/ArchivedArticles/2007/0707SondraRodgers.html. 12 February 2018.
  3. News: Ransdell. Gail M.. An Old Kentucky Home Is The Setting. The Courier-Journal. October 2, 1949. Kentucky, Louisville. 77. Newspapers.com. February 11, 2018.
  4. News: Cabins for 300 Negro slaves used to ring the homestead. The Courier-Journal. October 2, 1949. Kentucky, Louisville. 78. Newspapers.com. February 11, 2018.
  5. Web site: ("Sondra Arleaux" search results). Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. 12 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180212024526/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/sondra-arleaux-30092. 12 February 2018.
  6. News: Lure of Hollywood Proves Too Strong. The Pittsburgh Press. May 12, 1944. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. 29. Newspapers.com. February 11, 2018.
  7. News: Screen Newcomer. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 2, 1944. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. 20. Newspapers.com. February 11, 2018.