Vivian Fridell Explained

Birth Name:Vivian Naomi Fridell
Birth Date:15 October 1912
Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Place:Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Alma Mater:University of Wisconsin
Spouse:
  • Gerritt James de Gelieke
  • Benjamin Solomon
Children:1

Vivian Naomi Fridell[1] (October 15, 1912[2] - August 20, 1998) was an American actress who worked on radio.

Early years

Fridell was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her father was a Swedish actor, and three of her uncles were entertainers in Sweden.[3] Fridell operated an adding machine in a Milwaukee bank before she went to college.[4] She graduated from the University of Wisconsin's radio school, and she produced and wrote programs while she was there.[5] She was a member of the Wisconsin Players[6] and president of Phi Mu sorority.[7]

Career

One of Fridell's earliest jobs in radio was working as announcer on a three-day-a-week, 15-minute musical program on WGN in Chicago.[8] She had the lead role of Mary Noble in the radio soap opera Backstage Wife from the show's debut in 1935 until production of the program moved from Chicago to New York in June 1945.[9] She also starred on Road of Life,[10] Wife vs. Secretary,[11] and The Affairs of Anthony.[12]

After Fridell left acting, she taught drama to teenage students from her home in Glencoe, Illinois.

Personal life and death

Fridell was married to Gerritt James de Gelieke,[13] a representative for Johns-Manville. Their home was in Madison, Wisconsin, but she spent five days a week in Chicago with her work on radio.[14] She later married Benjamin Solomon, and they had a daughter. She died on August 20, 1998, in her home in Wilmette, Illinois, aged 85.[15]

Notes and References

  1. News: Radio Royalty . January 31, 2023 . The Star Press . August 5, 1937 . Indiana, Muncie . 5. Newspapers.com.
  2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/406370698/?clipping_id=121813774 "Vivian Fridell Will Marry Architect"
  3. News: (untitled brief) . January 30, 2023 . Radio Wave . May 14, 1936 . Oklahoma, Tulsa . 3. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Radio Riddle Answer . January 31, 2023 . Washington Court House Record-Herald . November 5, 1937 . 13. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Vivian Fridell in Backstage Wife, Two Other New Programs On WIBA . January 30, 2023 . The Capital Times . June 13, 1937 . 20. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: 3 Entries in Drama Finals Here Tonight . January 29, 2023 . The Capital Times . March 24, 1943 . 6. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Phi Mu Elects . January 29, 2023 . The Capital Times . February 9, 1933 . 7. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Phil Kalar to launch W-G-N series Tuesday . January 29, 2023 . Chicago Tribune . September 30, 1934 . 60. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Let Prof. Do-It . February 1, 2023 . Newsday (Suffolk Edition) . April 13, 1946 . New York, Melville . 7. Newspapers.com.
  10. News: New 'Carol' on 'Road of Life' . February 1, 2023 . The Times . December 21, 1943 . Louisiana, Shreveport . 7. Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Three popular shows shift on W-G-N tomorrow . January 31, 2023 . Chicago Tribune . August 1, 1937 . 42. Newspapers.com.
  12. News: In WTCN Drama Roles . January 31, 2023 . Star Tribune . November 20, 1938 . 31. Newspapers.com.
  13. News: Owen . Kent . Along Radio Lane . January 31, 2023 . The Journal Times . March 1, 1937 . Wisconsin, Racine . 11. Newspapers.com.
  14. News: 'Backstage Wife' Has Weekend Career Here . January 31, 2023 . Wisconsin State Journal . September 12, 1937 . 1. Newspapers.com.
  15. News: Breslin . Meg McSherry . Vivian F. Solomon, 'Backstage Wife' . January 29, 2023 . Chicago Tribune . August 25, 1998 . 8-Section 2. Newspapers.com.

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