Shaindel Kalish

Shaindel Kalish (January 15, 1910[1] – November 30, 2002)[2] was an American actress on stage, on old-time radio, and in films. Her first name was sometimes spelled "Scheindel".[3][4] She was also known at various times as Judith Blake,[5] Ann Shepherd,[6] Ann Preston,[7] Judith Preston Blake, Ann S. Sheps, and Ann Shepherd Mann.[2] She was a victim of the Hollywood Blacklist.[8][9]

Shaindel Kalish
BornJanuary 15, 1910
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 30, 2002 (aged 92)
Chatham County, North Carolina, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesJudith Blake
Ann Shepherd
Ann Preston
Shaindel Kalish Freeman
Judith Preston Blake
Ann S. Sheps
Jennie Shaludel Libman
Ann Shepherd Mann
Alma materGoodman Theatre School of Drama
OccupationActress
Spouse(s)Charles K. Sherman
Yisrol Paul Mann Libman
Parent(s)Abraham Kalish
Esther Naidith

Early years

Born in Chicago, Kalish was the daughter of Yiddish theater producer Abraham Kalish and his wife, Esther Naidith,[2] and she attended Marshall High School.[10]

She participated in dramatic activities with the Institute Players of the Jewish People's Institute,[11] winning first individual prize for women in a competition in 1932.[12] Kalish also attended the Goodman Theatre School of Drama in Chicago.[13]

Stage

In 1933, Kalish had a leading role in Girls in Uniform, presented at the Blackstone Theatre in Chicago. During the play's run, she turned down an opportunity to meet with representatives from the Radio-Keith-Orpheum film company, saying that she preferred to continue acting on stage.[14] After that play, she had the lead in Sixteen, which was also presented at the Blackstone.[15]

Billed as Ann Shepherd, Kalish acted on Broadway in the 1940s. Her plays included Sophie (1944), Truckline Cafe (1946), and All My Sons (1947).[16]

Film
Kalish (as Ann Preston, 1936)

In February 1936, soon after signing a contract with Universal Pictures, Kalish was "being hailed as an Elizabeth Bergner type", and the studio had plans to change her name.[17] By March 30, 1936, she was known as Ann Preston.[7]

Her film debut came when she had the female lead in Parole! (1936),[18] after which she appeared in Magnificent Brute (1936).[2] Later in 1936, she had a new studio and another new name. After she signed with RKO Pictures, officials at that studio changed her name to Judith Blake.[5] At RKO, she had a supporting role in Wanted: Jane Turner (1936).[19]

Radio and television

In 1935, Kalish joined the casts of the radio programs Eyes of Youth,[20] Masquerade[21] and Nickelodeon.[22] She played "most of the heavy parts" in Lights Out,[23] portrayed Betty Fairfield in Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy,[24] and was a member of the casts of The First Nighter Program and Grand Hotel.[25]

Billed as Ann Shepherd, Kalish played the title character in the soap opera Joyce Jordan, Girl Interne.[6] played "Hope Melton Evans" on Big Sister,[24]:40 and portrayed Pearl Sutton on Just Plain Bill.[24]:186 She was also a regular on Everyman's Theater,[24]:111, Green Valley, U.S.A.,[24]:139 and Hilda Hope, M.D.[24]:151

In the 1970s, she returned to radio to perform in episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.[4] She reprised the role of "Hope Melton Evans" on October 9, 1945 in an experimental CBS television broadcast of Big Sister.[26] On April 18, 1945, she performed in an experimental TV variety program, Women in Wartime, also on CBS.[26]:1190

Kalish made appearances in three episodes ("Salt of the Earth", "The Midway", "Terror in the Streets") of the ABC series Actors Studio. In 1951, she appeared in two episodes ("The Fatal Step", "The Undertaker Calls") of the CBS anthology series Danger.[27] Later, in 1952, she appeared in the premiere episode ("Bury Her Deep") of the WOR-TV New York series Dark Destiny.[28]

Personal life

Kalish was married to director Charles K. Freeman, who also was her manager.[29] Later she married actor and director Yisrol Paul Mann Libman. During that marriage, she was known as Jennie Shaludel Libman and Ann Shepherd Mann.[8]

Death

On November 30, 2002, Shepherd died in Chatham County, North Carolina, aged 92. She was then known as Ann Kalish Sheps.[2]

References
  1. "Screen Celebs". Reading Times. Reading, Pennsylvania. October 9, 1936. p. 33. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Shepherd, Ann". The Broadcast 41. University of Oregon. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  3. "Radio Girlfriend of 'Jack Armstrong' Dies at 73". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Californias. January 17, 1987. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  4. Payton, Gordon; Grams, Martin, Jr. (2015). The CBS Radio Mystery Theater: An Episode Guide and Handbook to Nine Years of Broadcasting, 1974-1982. McFarland. pp. 76, 80, 143, 172. ISBN 9780786492282.
  5. "Girl Gets New Name and Role". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 3, 1936. p. 13. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "'Joyce Jordan' Serial Enters Fourth Year". Radio Varieties. 3 (9): 11. September 1940. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  7. Peak, Mayme Ober (March 30, 1936). "Reel Life in Hollywood". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 7. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. United States Congress House Committee on Un-American Activities (1958). Hearings. p. 2506. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  9. https://broadcast41.com/biography/shepherd-ann
  10. "Star of Future in 'Girls in Uniform'". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. March 18, 1934. p. Part 7, p 3. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Activities of Chicago Little Theater Folk". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. February 26, 1933. p. Part 7, p 8. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Mrs. M'Cormick Cup Awarded to Jewish Players". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. April 25, 1932. p. 14. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Three New Faces For Universal Pictures". Universal Weekly. 37 (15): 13. November 9, 1935. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  14. "Shaindel Kalish, Star of Blackstone Play, Declines Movie Bid". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. March 21, 1934. p. 23. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "The Stage". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. January 24, 1935. p. 15. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Ann Shepherd". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  17. Schallert, Edwin (February 11, 1936). "'Maedchen in Uniform' Considered for Film Debut of Shaindel Kalish". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 15. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Actress Who Won Fame Over Radio Now in Pictures". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. June 25, 1936. p. 21. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Wanted: Jane Turner". Democrat and Chronicle. New York, Rochester. November 22, 1936. p. 86. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Eyes of Youth". Variety. September 18, 1935. p. 66. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  21. Gay, Chuck (September 9, 1935). "Listenin' in". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. p. 9. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Today's Radio Highlights". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. Associated Press. August 29, 1935. p. 15. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Lights Out". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 17, 1935. p. 19. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  25. Preston, Ann (October 3, 1936). "This Land of Opportunity". Picturegoer Weekly. p. 15. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  26. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 103–04. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  27. "CTVA US Anthology - "Danger" (CBS) Season 1 (1950-51)". ctva.biz. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
  28. "Dark Destiny". ctva.biz. 1952. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
  29. "Flashes". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. October 13, 1935. p. 20. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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