''See also

Eleanor Bull Eleanor Bull (c. 1550 – 1596) was an English woman, known for owning the establishment in which Christopher Marlowe, the Elizabethan playwright and poet, was killed in 1593. Life Eleanor (or Elinor) Whitney was daughter of James Whitney and Sy ...

(maiden name Eleanor Whitney)'' Eleanore Whitney (April 12, 1917 – November 1, 1983) was an American film actress and tap dancer. She was born on April 12, 1917, in

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

. A meeting with

Bill Robinson Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (born Luther Robinson; May 25, 1878 – November 25, 1949), was an American tap dancer, actor, and singer, the best known and the most highly paid black entertainer in the United States during the first half of the 20 ...

provided and opportunity for her to perform as a dancer. That led to her touring with Rae Samuels in vaudeville, after which she made personal appearances with

Jack Benny Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky; February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success as a violinist on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century with ...

and performed in vaudeville with Rudy Valee. Whitney was married in 1939 to attorney Frederick Backer. She moved to New York with her husband and did not return to acting.

Filmography

Whitney's filmography, believed to be complete, includes: * ''Oh, Evaline!'' (1935, Short) as Herself * ''

The Big Broadcast of 1936 ''The Big Broadcast of 1936'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Norman Taurog, and is the second in the series of ''Big Broadcast'' movies. The musical comedy starred Jack Oakie, Bing Crosby, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Ethel Merman, The ...

'' (1935) as Herself * ''

Millions in the Air ''Millions in the Air'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Ray McCarey and written by Sig Herzig and Jane Storm. The film stars John Howard, Wendy Barrie, Willie Howard, George Barbier, Benny Baker, Eleanore Whitney and Robert Cumming ...

'' (1935) as Bubbles * ''Screen Snapshots Series 16, No. 1'' (1936, documentary short) as Herself * '' Timothy's Quest'' (1936) as Martha * ''

Three Cheers for Love ''Three Cheers for Love'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Ray McCarey, written by George Marion, Jr., and starring Eleanore Whitney, Robert Cummings, William Frawley, Elizabeth Patterson, Roscoe Karns and John Halliday. It was re ...

'' (1936) as Skippy Dormant * ''

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It runs through the Hollywood, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Thai Town, and Los Feliz districts. Its western terminus is at Sunset Plaza Drive in the Hollyw ...

'' (1936) as Herself * ''

The Big Broadcast of 1937 ''The Big Broadcast of 1937'' is a 1936 Paramount Pictures production directed by Mitchell Leisen, and is the third in the series of ''Big Broadcast'' movies. The musical comedy stars Jack Benny, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bob Burns, Martha R ...

'' (1936) as Dance Specialty * '' Rose Bowl'' (1936) as Cheers Reynolds * ''

College Holiday ''College Holiday'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Jack Benny, George Burns, Gracie Allen and Martha Raye.Fuller-Seeley p.238 It was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Plot A woman hotelier wi ...

'' (1936) as Herself * '' Clarence'' (1937) as Cora Wheeler * '' Turn Off the Moon'' (1937) as Caroline Wilson * ''

Blonde Trouble ''Blonde Trouble'' is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Eleanore Whitney, Johnny Downs and Lynne Overman. Produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it is based on the plot of the 1929 musical ...

'' (1937) as Edna Baker * '' Thrill of a Lifetime'' (1937) as Betty Jane * '' Campus Confessions'' (1938) as Susie Quinn (final film role)

External links

*
Eleanore Whitney
at Virtual History

References

1917 births 1983 deaths American film actresses American female dancers American tap dancers Dancers from Ohio 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American dancers {{US-film-actor-1910s-stub