Betty Wragge

Elizabeth Wragge (September 22, 1918 - October 2002)[1][2] was an actress who appeared on more than 10,000 old-time radio programs[3] in addition to working in other media. She was sometimes billed as Elizabeth Wragge.

Betty Wragge with her husband Walter Brooke, 1953

Early years

Wragge was born in New York City.[2] Her mother was a star in opera in Holland.[4] Wragge graduated from the Professional Children's School, after which she attended the David Mannes School of Music.[5] She was a model before she began working in radio.[6]

Radio

In 1927, Wragge appeared in Gold Spot Pals, an NBC program that may have been the first commercial program that used child actors.[7] She also acted as a child on other programs, including Mary and Bob's True Stories, an anthology series on which she portrayed Mary.[8] Perhaps her best known role on radio was portraying Peggy Young Trent, sister of the title character in the soap opera Pepper Young's Family.[7] She also acted on other programs of that era, including Lux Radio Theatre, March of Time, Texaco Star Theatre, and We the People.[9]

Stage

Wragge's Broadway credits (billed as Elizabeth Wragge) included Up the Line (1926), The Silver Box (1927), and Dead End (1935).[10] She also toured in musical troupes[7] and acted in local and regional theaters, including the Allenberry Playhouse.[3]

Film

When she was 3 years old, Wragge acted in the silent film Yolanda.[11] As an adult, she did dubbing for Italian films.[7]

Television

On television, Wragge had running parts on The Brighter Day, Love of Life, and The Secret Storm. She also appeared on Armstrong Circle Theatre,[3] and in the "Flight Thirteen" episode of Fireside Theatre on January 2, 1951.[12]

Personal life

In January 1951, Wragge married actor Walter Brooke.[13]

References
  1. "Paid Notice: Deaths WRAGGE, ELIZABETH". The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  2. 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. Pp. 289-290.
  3. "Betty Wragge Stars In 'No, No, Nanette'". Sunday News. Pennsylvania, Lancaster. August 22, 1976. p. 37. Retrieved 27 June 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Ranson, Jo (June 4, 1936). "Radio Dial Log". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. p. 27. Retrieved September 21, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Dahl, Lucille (January 1953). "Two women am I" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. 39 (2): 26–27, 88–89. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  6. "(untitled brief)". Carroll Daily Herald. Iowa, Carroll. August 3, 1936. p. 5. Retrieved September 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Cox, Jim (1999). The Great Radio Soap Operas. McFarland. p. 168. ISBN 9781476604145. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  8. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  9. "Information Booth" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 30 (4): 72. September 1948. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  10. "("Elizabeth Wragge" search results)". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  11. Service, R.F. (April 14, 1936). "Right Out Of The Air". Carroll Daily Herald. Iowa, Carroll. p. 4. Retrieved September 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Hawes, William (2015). Live Television Drama, 1946-1951. McFarland. p. 294. ISBN 9781476608495. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  13. Ball, Elizabeth (January 1954). "Three steps to Heaven". Radio-TV Mirror. 41 (2): 36, 66. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
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