Florence Roberts
Encyclopedia
Florence Roberts was an actress of the stage and in motion pictures.
, she began acting on the stage in New York, New York at the age of 19. Her career began at the Brooklyn, New York Opera House in Hoop of Gold. She secured her first stage role with the Denman Thompson Company and played leads with the N.B. Curtis Company. This experience led to appearances on Broadway
. She once starred in Zala, a production of David Belasco. She headed a stock company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
for a period of fifteen years. The actress made three world tours in stock. There was a South African repertoire and a tour of Australia
with the Henry Duffy players. She also played in stock companies in Boston
and other cities.
comedy. The film producer saw her on the stage in Your Uncle Dudley and cast her in Grandma's Girl(1930) Her earliest roles were in A Wife's Suspicion and A Wise Dummy, both in 1917. . Among her film performances, the Jones Family series is the most renowned. She played the role of Grandma. Some of the others are Babes in Toyland
(1934), Les Misérables
(1935), Every Saturday Night (1936), Big Business (1937), Borrowing Trouble (1937), Nobody's Baby (1937), The Life of Emile Zola
(1937), Love on a Budget (1938), and The Storm (1938).
Florence was married to actor Walter Gale whom she met while playing in The Old Homestead. They had a son, Robert Gale, who lived in Philadelphia.
Florence Roberts died from cardiovascular disease
at the age of 79 at her home in Hollywood, California. She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park
, with funeral services performed at Wee Kirk of the Heather. Her eulogy was read by her adopted son, Edward Everett Horton
, with whom she appeared in stock. The actress' death came unexpectedly. She had only recently returned from a vacation trip to Panama
. She went there following completion of the Jones Family series of 20th Century Fox
for the 1939-1940 season.
born 1871 and who died in 1927.
Stock Company Actress
Born in Frederick, MarylandFrederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
, she began acting on the stage in New York, New York at the age of 19. Her career began at the Brooklyn, New York Opera House in Hoop of Gold. She secured her first stage role with the Denman Thompson Company and played leads with the N.B. Curtis Company. This experience led to appearances on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. She once starred in Zala, a production of David Belasco. She headed a stock company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
for a period of fifteen years. The actress made three world tours in stock. There was a South African repertoire and a tour of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with the Henry Duffy players. She also played in stock companies in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and other cities.
Motion Pictures
Miss Roberts' success in motion pictures began with a Mack SennettMack Sennett
Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
comedy. The film producer saw her on the stage in Your Uncle Dudley and cast her in Grandma's Girl(1930) Her earliest roles were in A Wife's Suspicion and A Wise Dummy, both in 1917. . Among her film performances, the Jones Family series is the most renowned. She played the role of Grandma. Some of the others are Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (1934 film)
Babes in Toyland is a Laurel and Hardy musical film released in November 1934. The film is also known by its alternate titles Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet , March of the Wooden Soldiers and Wooden Soldiers .Based on Victor Herbert's popular 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland, the film...
(1934), Les Misérables
Les Misérables (1935 film)
Les Misérables is a 1935 American drama film based upon the famous Victor Hugo novel of the same name. It was adapted by W. P. Lipscomb and directed by Richard Boleslawski...
(1935), Every Saturday Night (1936), Big Business (1937), Borrowing Trouble (1937), Nobody's Baby (1937), The Life of Emile Zola
The Life of Emile Zola
The Life of Emile Zola is a 1937 American biographical film about French author Émile Zola. Set in the mid through late 19th century, it depicts his friendship with noted painter Paul Cézanne, and his rise to fame through his prolific writing, with particular focus on his involvement in the Dreyfus...
(1937), Love on a Budget (1938), and The Storm (1938).
Florence was married to actor Walter Gale whom she met while playing in The Old Homestead. They had a son, Robert Gale, who lived in Philadelphia.
Florence Roberts died from cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
at the age of 79 at her home in Hollywood, California. She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery is part of the Forest Lawn chain of Southern California cemeteries. It is at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, on the lower north slope at the far east end of the Santa Monica...
, with funeral services performed at Wee Kirk of the Heather. Her eulogy was read by her adopted son, Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television and voice work for animated cartoons. He is especially known for his work in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:Horton was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Isabella...
, with whom she appeared in stock. The actress' death came unexpectedly. She had only recently returned from a vacation trip to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. She went there following completion of the Jones Family series of 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
for the 1939-1940 season.
Note
She is not to be confused with the more famous stage actress Florence RobertsFlorence Roberts (Stage actress)
Florence Roberts was an early twentieth century stage actress. She was born in New York but raised in California and had early success in the San Francisco area beginning in 1889. She performed at the Baldwin Theatre and the Alcazar Theatre often playing Shakespearean parts...
born 1871 and who died in 1927.