Vicki Cummings Explained

Vicki Cummings
Birth Date:February 15, 1914
Birth Place:Northampton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Yearsactive:1931–1962
Occupation:Actress
Othername:Vickie Charles

Vicki Cummings (February 15, 1914 - November 30, 1969) was an American musical comedy actress whose depictions of "sophisticated, sharp-tongued women" drew praise from critics.[1] She was billed as Vickie Charles for a while in the 1940s. Her obituary in Time magazine said that Cummings was "noted for her sardonic wit" and that "On and off the stage, she had a voice as brassy as Ethel Merman's and a tongue as agile as Dorothy Parker's".[2]

Early years

Cummings was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, on February 15, 1914.[3] She described herself as "a very imaginative child" who dreamed of being a princess in fairy tales. She added, "My abilities just seemed to lie in the direction of the stage."

Career

Cummings's New York stage debut came in Here Goes the Bride (1931). Peter Arno, a friend of her family, talked her into taking an understudy role for that production, but she ended up playing the lead. After that experience, she took lessons in acting, dancing, and singing because she wanted to be more involved with the theater.[4] In 1935 Cummings had the prima donna role in the Pacific Coast production of Anything Goes.[5] She also performed at the Muny Opera in Gentlemen Unafraid and Wild Violets.

Cummings's Broadway credits include Furnished Rooms (1934), Orchids Preferred (1937), The Time, the Place and the Girl (1942), The Voice of the Turtle (1943), Mrs. Kimball Presents (1944), Lady in Danger (1945), For Love or Money (1947), Oh, Mr. Meadowbrook! (1948), Mr. Barry's Etchings (1950), A Phoenix Too Frequent / Freight (1950), Buy Me Blue Ribbons (1951), Hook n' Ladder (1952), I've Got Sixpence (1952), Mid-Summer (1953), Lunatics and Lovers (1954), The Hot Corner (1956), and How to Make a Man (1961). Billed as Vicki Charles, she was in Sunny River[6] (1941).[7]

Cumming's radio debut occurred on station KPO in San Francisco on July 30, 1935.[8] She later appeared on Theatre Guild on the Air[9] and other shows. She performed on more than 200 television programs, including The Silver Theatre,[10] Ford Theatre,[11] Leave It to the Girls,[12] Holiday Hotel,[13] Robert Montgomery Presents.[14] and Television Playhouse.[15]

Critical response

Critics' comments about Cummings's performances included the following:

Personal life and death

Cummings married actor William Gibberson in 1948. She died on November 30, 1969, in her apartment in New York City.

Recognition

Cummings received the Aegis Club's Best Supporting Actress Award in 1953 as a result of her work in Mid-Summer.

Papers

Cummings's papers are at the New York Public Library. The archive includes clippings, photographs, programs, and other documents related to her career.[20]

Notes and References

  1. News: Vicki Cummings, Actress, 50, Dies: Musical Comedy Performer Chose Sardonic Roles . April 24, 2024 . The New York Times . December 2, 1969 . 55. subscription .
  2. December 12, 1969 . Milestones: Dec. 12, 1969 . Time . April 30, 2024 .
  3. Web site: Vicki Cummings . Internet Broadway Database . The Broadway League . April 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190809092211/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/vicki-cummings-36860 . August 9, 2019 . live.
  4. News: Hynds . Reed . Vicki Cummings became actress through chance . April 25, 2024 . The St. Louis Star and Times . May 26, 1938 . 3. .
  5. News: Vicki Cummings Flies to Hollywood . April 27, 2024 . Daily News . August 22, 1935 . https://archive.today/20240427191546/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-vicki-cummings/146169780/ . April 27, 2024 . California, Los Angeles . 16. .
  6. News: Kilgallen . Dorothy . Voice of Broadway . April 30, 2024 . The Miami News . December 11, 1941 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430152017/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news/146352530/ . April 30, 2024 . 24. .
  7. Web site: Vicki Charles . Internet Broadway Database . The Broadway League . April 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118083735/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/vicki-charles-105947 . January 18, 2021 . live.
  8. News: Jean Ellington and John Teel Duchin Winners . April 27, 2024 . The San Francisco Examiner . July 30, 1935 . 26. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Philharmonic Will Feature Sibelius Work . May 3, 2024 . Richmond Times Dispatch . December 17, 1950 . https://archive.today/20240503151235/https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/146531490/ . May 3, 2024 . 20-D. .
  10. December 11, 1949 . 6 . Talent Showsheet (Continued) . Ross Reports . May 6, 2024 .
  11. November 20, 1949 . 5 . Talent Showsheet . Ross Reports . May 6, 2024 .
  12. November 20, 1949 . 6 . Talent Showsheet (Continued) . Ross Reports . May 6, 2024 .
  13. News: Television Features Tonight . May 3, 2024 . The Buffalo News . June 5, 1950 . https://archive.today/20240503150342/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news/146531037/ . May 3, 2024 . 8. .
  14. News: Television Programs . May 3, 2024 . The Baltimore Sun . June 5, 1950 . 6. .
  15. News: Today's Radio And Television Programs . April 30, 2024 . The Commercial Appeal . December 31, 1950 . Tennessee, Memphis . 35. .
  16. October 29, 1951 . The Theater: Condition Unchanged . Time . April 30, 2024 .
  17. News: Bridle . Augustus . New 'Blithe Spirit' at Royal . April 30, 2024 . Toronto Star . January 23, 1945 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430155947/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/146354938/ . April 30, 2024 . 4. .
  18. News: Gentry . Charles . Wilson Play Excellent . April 30, 2024 . The Detroit Times . March 13, 1945 . https://archive.today/20240430160505/https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-evening-times/146355426/ . April 30, 2024 . C-7. .
  19. News: Carmody . Jay . Busiest Star Today Also One of Brightest . May 3, 2024 . The Sunday Star . August 21, 1949 . https://archive.today/20240503135659/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-vicki-cummings/146527718/ . May 3, 2024 . District of Columbia, Washington . C-6. .
  20. Web site: Vicki Cummings papers: 1931-1967 . Archives and Manuscripts . The New York Public Library . April 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925235326/http://archives.nypl.org/the/22479 . September 25, 2015 . live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Vicki Cummings".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.