Vivian Fridell

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

Vivian Fridell
Born
Vivian Naomi Fridell

(1912-10-15)October 15, 1912
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedAugust 20, 1998(1998-08-20) (aged 85)
Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin
OccupationActress
Spouses
  • Gerritt James de Gelieke
  • Benjamin Solomon
Children1

Early years

Fridell was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] 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,[5] and she produced and wrote programs while she was there.[6] She was a member of the Wisconsin Players[7] and president of Phi Mu sorority.[8]

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.[5] 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[9] in June 1945.[10] She also starred on Road of Life,[11] Wife vs. Secretary,[12] and The Affairs of Anthony.[13]

After Fridell left acting, she taught drama to teenage students from her home in Glencoe, Illinois.[9]

Personal life and death

Fridell was married to Gerritt James de Gelieke,[14] 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.[15] She later married Benjamin Solomon, and they had a daughter. She died on August 20, 1998, in her home in Wilmette, Illinois, aged 85.[9]

References
  1. "Radio Royalty". The Star Press. Indiana, Muncie. August 5, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Vivian Fridell Will Marry Architect". Wisconsin State Journal. October 13, 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  3. "(untitled brief)". Radio Wave. Oklahoma, Tulsa. May 14, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved January 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Radio Riddle Answer". Washington Court House Record-Herald. November 5, 1937. p. 13. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Phil Kalar to launch W-G-N series Tuesday". Chicago Tribune. September 30, 1934. p. 60. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Vivian Fridell in Backstage Wife, Two Other New Programs On WIBA". The Capital Times. June 13, 1937. p. 20. Retrieved January 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "3 Entries in Drama Finals Here Tonight". The Capital Times. March 24, 1943. p. 6. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Phi Mu Elects". The Capital Times. February 9, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Breslin, Meg McSherry (August 25, 1998). "Vivian F. Solomon, 'Backstage Wife'". Chicago Tribune. p. 8-Section 2. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Let Prof. Do-It". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). New York, Melville. April 13, 1946. p. 7. Retrieved February 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "New 'Carol' on 'Road of Life'". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. December 21, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved February 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Three popular shows shift on W-G-N tomorrow". Chicago Tribune. August 1, 1937. p. 42. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "In WTCN Drama Roles". Star Tribune. November 20, 1938. p. 31. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Owen, Kent (March 1, 1937). "Along Radio Lane". The Journal Times. Wisconsin, Racine. p. 11. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "'Backstage Wife' Has Weekend Career Here". Wisconsin State Journal. September 12, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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