Elspeth Eric
{{Short description|American actress (1907–1993)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Elspeth Eric
| image = File:Elspeth Eric 1943.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Elspeth Eric in 1943
| birth_name = Elspeth Thexton Eric
| birth_date = {{birth date|1907|9|15}}{{Citation needed |date=June 2020}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1993|6|15|1907|9|15}}
| death_place = Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
| other_names =
| occupation = Actress
| alma_mater = Wellesley College
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
| known_for = Acting in radio dramas
}}
Elspeth Thexton Eric (September 15, 1907 – June 15, 1993){{cite web|title=Library|url=http://www.jruuc.org/library|website=James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation|accessdate=March 29, 2016}} was an American actress in old-time radio, "usually cast as the other woman in soaps and serials".DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-2834-2}}. P. 90.
Early years
The daughter of a doctor,{{cite news|title=Takes role of Girl Interne in Radio Play|newspaper=The Evening News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741484/the_evening_news/|agency=The Evening News|date=August 28, 1939|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=22|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Elspeth Thexton Eric was born in Chicago, Illinois.{{cite journal|title=Elspeth Eric|journal=Radio and Television Mirror|date=August 1949|volume=32|issue=3|page=72|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/40s/49/Mirror-1949-Aug-OCR-Page-0075.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016}} She attended Bradford Academy{{cite journal|title=What Do You Want To Know?|journal=Radio and Television Mirror|date=October 1939|volume=12|issue=6|page=62|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/30s/39/Mirror-1939-Oct-OCR-Page-0070.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016}} and graduated from Wellesley College with a double major in economics and English literature. After hearing tales of woe about "girls who had tried to crash the great White Way and failed, she enrolled in a business school and left word with her friends in New York to let her know when a job was to be had there."{{cite news|title=Business Course Brought Elspeth Eric to the Stage|newspaper=Brooklyn Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4737355/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=April 28, 1940|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=48|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 24, 2016}} {{Open access}}
She garnered some acting experience in summer stock theatre and moved back to New York, where she worked at various jobs for five years while she tried to find work as an actor. During those years, "She was a switchboard operator, waitress, governess, hostess in a cocktail lounge, publicity writer, model, cook, parlor maid, social secretary to a social secretary, stenographer and book saleswoman."
Radio
Eric's initial work on radio came in Big Sister and Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories.{{cite news|title='Joyce Jordan' Takes New Time|newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742112/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=September 22, 1939|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=30|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Her roles on radio programs included those shown in the table below.
Other programs on which Eric appeared included The Haunting Hour,{{cite news|title=The Haunting Hour|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-Radio-Daily-IDX/RD-50/Radio-Daily-1950-Jul-4-Page-0018.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016|agency=Radio Daily|date=August 23, 1950}} The FBI in Peace and War,{{cite news|title=Housing Racket|newspaper=The Bridgeport Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745432/the_bridgeport_telegram/|agency=The Bridgeport Telegram|date=September 22, 1954|location=Connecticut, Bridgeport|page=94|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Abbott Mysteries,Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-5149-4}}. P. 10. Ever Since Eve,{{r|sies|page1=220}} Front Page Farrell,{{r|sies|page1=245}} Quick as a Flash,{{r|sies|page1=536}} Rosemary,{{r|sies|page1=567}} Mommie and the Men,{{cite news|title=Domestic Comedy Series Heard On WHP Daily, 7 P.M.|newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742697/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=August 25, 1945|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=15|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Inner Sanctum Mystery,{{cite news|title=Frank, Gloria In Radio Roles|newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742639/the_decatur_daily_review/|agency=The Decatur Daily Review|date=May 22, 1945|location=Illinois, Decatur|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Bulldog Drummond,{{cite news|title=Spine Tingler|newspaper=The Eugene Guard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742371/the_eugene_guard/|agency=The Eugene Guard|date=May 4, 1941|location=Oregon, Eugene|page=9|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Manhattan at Midnight,{{cite news|title=(untitled brief)|newspaper=Belvidere Daily Republican |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742240/belvidere_daily_republican/|agency=Belvidere Daily Republican|date=August 8, 1940|location=Illinois, Belvidere|page=5|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Green Valley, U.S.A.,{{cite news|title=(photo caption)|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741794/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=February 25, 1944|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=19|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Gang Busters, 21st Precinct,{{cite news|last1=Oliver|first1=Wayne|title=Actress Prefers Radio To TV Jobs|newspaper=The Progress-Index |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741683/the_progressindex/|agency=The Progress-Index|date=February 18, 1955|location=Virginia, Petersburg|page=17|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} Grand Central Station,{{cite news|title=Elspeth Eric on "Grand Central Station: Aided By Broadway Cast|newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741602/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=June 17, 1944|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=15|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} and Mr. District Attorney.{{cite news|title=Takes Dramatic Roles|newspaper=The Evening News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741549/the_evening_news/|agency=The Evening News|date=February 4, 1942|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}
Stage
Eric gained early acting experience with the Woodstock Summer Theatre. In 1932, she acted in the troupe at the Westchester Playhouse at Mount Kisco, New York.{{cite news|title=New Play at Mt. Kisco|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741952/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=August 26, 1932|location=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}
Her Broadway credits include The Live Wire, Snafu, Margin for Error, Too Many Heroes, and Dead End.{{cite web|title=Elspeth Eric search|url=http://www.playbill.com/searchpage/search?q=Elspeth+Eric&sort=Relevance&shows=on&qasset=00000150-ac7e-d16d-a550-ec7e13ca0000|website=Playbill|accessdate=March 26, 2016}}
Television
Eric had the role of Lil Monte in the Road of Life soap opera, which was broadcast on TV and radio in 1955, with the same cast. She also appeared in "His Name Was Death," an episode of Robert Montgomery Presents (March 18, 1957),{{cite news|title=(TV listing)|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745601/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/|agency=The San Bernardino County Sun|date=March 18, 1957|location=California, San Bernardino|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} "Young Man Adam," an episode of Studio One (December 29, 1952),{{cite news|title=(TV listing)|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745382/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=December 29, 1952|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=19|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} {{Open access}} and "The Unfraid," an episode of The Web (November 23, 1952).{{cite news|title=(TV listing)|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745326/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=November 23, 1952|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=35|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}
In a 1955 newspaper article, Eric indicated her preference for working in radio. "There are no ulcers in radio," she said.{{cite news|last1=Oliver|first1=Wayne|title=Radio, TV Highlights|newspaper=The Evening Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745481/the_evening_independent/|agency=The Evening Independent|date=February 17, 1955|location=Ohio, Massillon|page=25|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} The reporter noted, "She reports her eight radio shows a week are easier than one a week on TV, and leave her more time to herself."
Later years
In the late 1970s, Eric wrote over 100 scripts for CBS Radio Mystery Theater and The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater.{{cite news|title=Classic tales told in weekend radio series|newspaper=The Bakersfield Californian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745727/the_bakersfield_californian/|agency=Bakersfield Californian|date=January 31, 1977|location=California, Bakersfield|page=22|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} One of her scripts, "The Black Room," was published (in "novelized" form) in a book, along with two other stories from CBSRMT. Strange Tales From CBS Radio Mystery Theater was published in 1976 by Popular Library.{{cite news|last1=Navarro|first1=Linda|title=Station Break|newspaper=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745805/colorado_springs_gazettetelegraph/|agency=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph|date=November 13, 1976|location=Colorado, Colorado Springs|page=62|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}
Death
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://cbsrmt.thelongtrek.com/misc/Strange%20Tales_smaller.pdf Cover, back cover, and title page of "Strange tales from CBS Radio mystery theater"], accessed November 14, 2021.
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eric, Elspeth}}
Category:American radio actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:Wellesley College alumni
Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)