Grace Matthews

Grace Matthews (September 3, 1910 – May 15, 1995) was an actress in the era of old-time radio and the early years of television. She is perhaps best known for portraying Margo Lane in the radio program The Shadow.

Grace Matthews
BornSeptember 3, 1910
Toronto, Canada
DiedMay 15, 1995, age 84
Mount Kisco, New York, US
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
OccupationActress
Spouse(s)Court Benson (1940-?)
Children1 daughter [1]
1 son

Early years

Matthews was born in Toronto, Canada, on September 3, 1910.[2] She graduated from the University of Toronto[3] and from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.[4]

Radio

Matthews played Margo Lane in The Shadow 1946-1949.[5] Lane was described in the program's scripts as the faithful companion of Lamont Cranston, alter ego of The Shadow. A February 5, 1987, article in the Milwaukee Journal reported Matthews' confusion about the programs: "The plots were so complicated I often had difficulty figuring them out. After the show, I'd go home and ask my husband ... to explain what had happened."[6]

ProgramRole
Big SisterRuth Wayne[7]
The Brighter DayLiz[8]
Hilltop HouseJulie Erickson[9]
Road of LifeCarson McVicker[10]

Matthews was the lead actress on American Portrait,[11] Soldier's Wife and The Story of Dr. Susan,[12] and she appeared often on Armstrong's Theatre of Today.[10] She was active in Canadian radio for about five years before she began working on radio in the United States.[13] In later years, she was heard in some episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.[14]

Stage

Matthews' theatrical work included stock theater in Manitoba, Canada, and Ontario, Canada,[2] summer stock activities in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and the production of Dame Nature by the Theatre Guild in New York City.[15]

In Canada, Matthews was active in the Hart House Theatre[2] and the John Holden Players.[16]

Television

Matthews was seen in Road of Life, As the World Turns as Grace Baker #2, and The Guiding Light as Claudia Dillman. She also spent three years in London, England, acting in programs on ITV and the BBC.[2]

Recognition

Matthews' work as an actress on radio in Canada in 1944 earned her three national awards — The Major Genera La Fleche Trophy, Canadian Broadcaster magazine's Beaver Award and a top rating in a poll by Canadian newspapers.[17] She also won the Beaver Award (for "Distinguished Service to Canadian Radio") in 1940.[18]

Personal life

Matthews married announcer and actor Court Benson in October 1940.[19] They had a daughter, Andrea, and a son, Paul.[10]

Death

Matthews died May 15, 1995, in Mount Kisco, New York.[2]

References
  1. Radio Interview "Whatever Became of the Shadow" Richard Lamparski
  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. P. 186.
  3. "Grace Matthews". Radio and Television Mirror. 34 (3): 74. August 1950. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. Vale, Virginia (April 17, 1947). "Star Dust". Big Piney Examiner. Wyoming, Big Piney. Western Newspaper Union. p. 5. Retrieved July 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Sterling, Christopher H. (ed.) (2004). Encyclopedia of Radio. Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 1-57958-249-4. P. 1252.
  6. "Shadow". The Milwaukee Journal. Wisconsin, Milwaukee. February 5, 1987. p. 110. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  7. "Big Sister--In Living Portraits". Radio Mirror. 28 (5): 25. October 1947. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. "Toward a Brighter Day". TV Radio Mirror. 46 (2): 62–63. July 1956. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. "In Living Portraits -- Hilltop House". Radio and Television Mirror. 32 (4): 34–35. September 1949. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  10. Haller, Marie (February 1953). "Grace Matthews' Road of Life" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. 39 (3): 34–35, 68. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  11. "Production" (PDF). Broadcasting. April 28, 1946. p. 68. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  12. Cox, Jim (1999). The Great Radio Soap Operas. McFarland. p. 35. ISBN 9780786438655. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  13. "Main Street" (PDF). Radio Daily. April 16, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  14. Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 142–143. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  15. "Radio Chatter". Janesville Daily Gazette. Wisconsin, Janesville. September 10, 1946. p. 4. Retrieved July 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Welcome Back". The Winnipeg Tribune. Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba. January 23, 1937. p. 27. Retrieved July 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Hammerston, Claude (May 17, 1949). "Mostly Biographical". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  18. O'Neill, Mildred (March 6, 1946). "Women in Radio" (PDF). Radio Daily. p. 6. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  19. Shermet, Hazel (October 1949). "All Three of Us" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 32 (5): 54, 84–86. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
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