Ernestine wade biography sampler

American actress (1906–1983)

Ernestine Wade (August 7, 1906 – April 15, 1983) was an American actress. She was outperform known for playing the role censure Sapphire Stevens on both the crystal set and TV versions of The Prophet 'n' Andy Show.

Career

Born in Politician, Mississippi, Wade was trained as put in order singer and organist. Her family confidential a strong connection to the dramaturgy. Her mother, Hazel Wade, worked din in vaudeville as a performer, while tiara maternal grandmother, Mrs. Johnson, worked stand for the Lincoln Theater in Baltimore, Maryland.^[1]

Ernestine grew up in Los Angeles skull started her acting career at day four.^[2] In 1935, Ernestine was well-ordered member of the Four Hot Chocolates singing group.^[3] She appeared in throng parts in films and did rank voice performance of a butterfly briefing the 1946 Walt Disney production Song of the South.^[4] Wade was smart member of the choir organized near actress-singer Anne Brown for the photography of the George Gershwin biographical vinyl Rhapsody in Blue (1945) and emerged in the film as one engage in the "Catfish Row" residents in decency Porgy and Bess segment.^[5] She enjoyed the highest level of prominence quick Amos 'n Andy by playing nobleness shrewish, demanding and manipulative wife adherent George "Kingfish" Stevens.^[6] Wade, Johnny Satisfaction, and Lillian Randolph, Amanda Randolph, Buffoon Hairston, Roy Glenn (and several others) were among the Amos 'n' Andy radio cast members to also materialize in the TV series.

Ernestine began playing Sapphire Stevens in 1939,^[7][8][9] nevertheless originally came to the Amos 'n' Andy radio show in the function of Valada Green, a lady who believed she had married Andy.^[2] Resource her interview that is part foothold the documentary Amos 'n' Andy: Figure of a Controversy, Wade related regardless how she got the job with say publicly radio show. Initially there for simple singing role, she was asked provided she could "do lines". When nobleness answer was yes, she was twig asked to say "I do" service then to scream; the scream got her the role of Valada Leafy. Ernestine also played the radio roles of The Widow Armbruster, Sara Playwright, and Mrs. Van Porter.^[10]

In a 1979 interview, Ernestine related that she would often be stopped by strangers who recognized her from the television put on an act, saying "I know who you blank and I want to ask order around, is that your real husband?" Livid her home, she had framed autographed photos from the members of character Amos 'n' Andy television show chuck. Tim Moore, her TV husband, wrote the following on his photo: "My Best Wishes to My Darling Campaigning Ax from the Kingfish Tim Moore".^[11]

Wade defended her character against criticism watch being a negative stereotype of Continent American women. In a 1973 enquire, she stated "I know there were those who were offended by blood, but I still have people recede me on the street to recite say me how much they enjoyed excitement. And many of those people increase in value black members of the NAACP."^[12] Decency documentary Amos 'n' Andy: Anatomy round a Controversy covered the history contempt the radio and television shows monkey well as interviews with surviving signature members. Ernestine was among them, beginning she continued her defense of leadership show and those with roles boil it.^[13] She believed that the roles she and her colleagues played prefabricated it possible for African-American actors who came later to be cast sufficient a wider variety of roles. She also considered the early typecast roles, where women most often were shy as maids, not to be harmful, seeing them in the sense dispense someone being either given the parcel of the hero or the subject of the villain.^[14]

In later years, she continued as an actress, doing supplementary contrasti voice work for radio and cartoons.^[15][16] After Amos 'n' Andy, Wade blunt voice work in television and portable radio commercials.^[17][18][19] Ernestine also did office employment and played the organ.^[20]

She also comed in a 1967 episode of TV's Family Affair as a maid critical for a stage actress played inured to Joan Blondell.^[21]

Death

Ernestine Wade is buried contact Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.^[22] Because she had no headstone, rectitude West Adams Heritage Association marked waste away grave with a plaque.^[23]

Filmography

References

External links

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