Ruby Dandridge

Ruby Jean Dandridge (née Butler; March 3, 1900 – October 17, 1987) was an American actress from the early 1900s through to the late 1950s. Dandridge is best known for her role on the radio show '' Amos 'n Andy'', in which she played Sadie Blake and Harriet Crawford, and on radio's '' Judy Canova Show'', in which she played Geranium. She is recognized for her role in the 1959 movie ''A Hole in the Head'' as Sally.

Early life

Born Ruby Jean Butler in Wichita, Kansas, on March 3, 1900, she was one of four children. Dandridge's parents were Nellie Simon, a maid, and George Butler, who was a janitor, grocer and entertainer. Dandridge's father was also "a famous minstrel man."

Career

In 1937, Dandridge played one of the witches in what an article in ''The Pittsburgh Courier'' called a "sepia representation" of ''Macbeth'' in Los Angeles. California. The production began on July 8 at the Mayan Theater. Five years later, she appeared in a production of '' Hit the Deck'' at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, California. One of Dandridge's earliest appearances (uncredited, as were many of the minor roles she played) was as a native dancer in '' King Kong'' (1933). In other films, she played Dabby in ''Tap Roots'' (1948), the housekeeper in '' Three Little Girls in Blue'' (1946), Mrs. Kelso in '' Cabin in the Sky'' (1943) and Violet in '' Tish'' (1942). Dandridge played Oriole on both radio and TV versions of ''The Beulah Show'',Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 37. and Geranium in '' The Judy Canova Show'', and was a regular cast member on ''Tonight at Hoagy's''. She is heard as Raindrop on Gene Autry's Melody Ranch (August 1949 - April 1951). For one season (1961-1962), Dandridge played the maid on the television version of '' Father Knows Best''.

Other business

In 1955, Dandridge and her business partner Dorothy Foster bought land in Twentynine Palms, California, with plans to construct a subdivision of 250 homes. Also in the 1950s, Dandridge formed a nightclub act that played in clubs around Los Angeles. A review of her act cited her "flashes of effervescent showmanship" and stated "What Ruby lacks in her voice, she invariably makes up for it with her winsome personality."

Personal life, death and legacy

On September 30, 1919, she married Cyril Dandridge. Dandridge moved with her husband to Cleveland, Ohio, where her daughter, actress Vivian Dandridge (1921–1991) was born. Her second daughter, Academy Award-nominated actress Dorothy Dandridge, was born there in 1922, five months after Ruby and Cyril divorced. It is noted that after her divorce, Dandridge became involved with her companion Geneva Williams, who reportedly overworked the children and punished them harshly. Dandridge attended her daughter Dorothy's funeral in 1965.

On October 17, 1987, Dandridge died of a heart attack at a nursing home in Los Angeles, California. She was interred next to Dorothy at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. In the 1999 film '' Introducing Dorothy Dandridge'', Ruby is portrayed by Loretta Devine.

Filmography

;Features:
*'' King Kong'' (1933) - Native Dancer (uncredited)
*''Black Moon'' (1934) - Black House Servant (uncredited)
*''Midnight Shadow'' (1939) - Mrs. Lingley
*''The Night Before the Divorce'' (1942) - One of Roselle's Fans (uncredited)
*'' Gallant Lady'' (1942) - Sarah
*'' Tish'' (1942) - Violet (uncredited)
*'' The War Against Mrs. Hadley'' (1942) - Maid (uncredited)
*'' Broken Strings'' (1942) - Dancer (uncredited)
*'' A Night for Crime'' (1943) - Alice Jones - Cook (uncredited)
*'' Cabin in the Sky'' (1943) - Mrs. Kelso
*''Corregidor'' (1943) - Hyacinth
*'' Melody Parade'' (1943) - Ruby
*''I Dood It'' (1943) - Mammy, in the Show (uncredited)
*'' Never a Dull Moment'' (1943) - Daisy (uncredited)
*''Hat Check Honey'' (1944) - Ophelia (uncredited)
*''Ladies of Washington'' (1944) - Nellie (uncredited)
*''Carolina Blues'' (1944) - Josephine (uncredited)
*'' Can't Help Singing'' (1944) - Henrietta (uncredited)
*'' The Clock'' (1945) - Milk Customer (uncredited)
*'' Junior Miss'' (1945) - Rheba
*'' Saratoga Trunk'' (1945) - Turbaned Vendor (uncredited)
*'' Inside Job'' (1946) - Ivory (uncredited)
*'' Three Little Girls in Blue'' (1946) - Mammy (uncredited)
*'' Home in Oklahoma'' (1946) - Devoria
*'' Dead Reckoning'' (1947) - Hyacinth
*''The Arnelo Affair'' (1947) - Maybelle - Parkson's Maid
*'' My Wild Irish Rose'' (1947) - Della
*''Tap Roots'' (1948) - Dabby
*''Father Is a Bachelor'' (1950) - Lily (uncredited)
*''A Hole in the Head'' (1959) - Sally

;Short subjects:
*'' Flop Goes the Weasel'' (1943) - Mammy Hen (voice, uncredited)
*''Screen Snapshots: The Judy Canova Show'' (1946) - Geranium, Radio Show Character
*''Silly Billie'' (1948) - Maid

;Television:
*''The Beulah Show'' (1952–1953) - Oriole
*'' The Amos 'n' Andy Show'' (1951-1953) - supporting roles in at least four different episodesRuby Dandridge filmography at IMDb
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References

External links

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Ruby Dandridge gravestone indicating 1900 as year of birth

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dandridge, Ruby
African-American actresses
American film actresses
American radio actresses
American television actresses
1900 births
1987 deaths
LGBT actresses
LGBT African Americans
LGBT people from Kansas
Actresses from Kansas
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Actors from Wichita, Kansas
20th-century African-American people
20th-century American actresses
20th-century African-American women
20th-century LGBT people