Roberta Semple Salter
Encyclopedia
Roberta Semple Salter was the daughter of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson
and half-sister to Aimee's other child, Rolf McPherson
. Roberta was the original heir to her mother's ministry, which was later taken over by son Rolf.
, where her mother and father, Robert Semple, were doing missionary work. Robert died of dysentery
and malaria
shortly before her birth, and her mother named her Roberta Star — "Roberta" in her father's memory and "Star" because she had brightened what her mother perceived to be a grim future.
Roberta inherited her mother's "brilliant smile," biographer Daniel Mark Epstein
noted in his 1993 book Sister Aimee. She led children's services at her mother's revivals. Roberta also hosted a radio program and wrote a youth column, "Aunt Birdie," for the church newspaper.
while accompanying her mother on a crusade. The young couple married in Singapore
, but the marriage only lasted three years.
By age 24, Roberta had become vice president of her mother's Church of the Foursquare Gospel. A few years later, she sued her mother's attorney for slander. The two-week trial ended with a ruling in the daughter's favor.
Roberta's status as her mother's heir ended when she was removed from the church's leadership in 1937.
Roberta's daughter said her mother and grandmother remained in contact following the legal battle, despite reports to the contrary. Roberta continued to provide financial support to the Church of the Foursquare Gospel, according to her daughter.
Roberta was prevented from attending her mother's funeral in 1944 by military priorities during World War II
. She attempted to fly from New York to Los Angeles for the memorial service at Angelus Temple
and Forest Lawn, but was bumped from the flight in Chicago when seats were appropriated for military personnel.
radio program, Hobby Lobby. She later was hired as researcher for the show, which featured celebrities and their hobbies.
In 1941, Roberta married Harry Salter, music director of Hobby Lobby, and the couple had a daughter. The two later developed radio and television game show
s such as Stop the Music and Name That Tune
.
on January 25, 2007 at age 96. Her death was attributed to natural causes.
Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson , also known as Sister Aimee, was a Canadian-American Los Angeles, California evangelist and media celebrity in the 1920s and 1930s. She founded the Foursquare Church...
and half-sister to Aimee's other child, Rolf McPherson
Rolf McPherson
Dr. Rolf Potter Kennedy McPherson was the pastor of Angelus Temple and president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, serving in that capacity from 1944 to 1988...
. Roberta was the original heir to her mother's ministry, which was later taken over by son Rolf.
Early life
Salter was born in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, where her mother and father, Robert Semple, were doing missionary work. Robert died of dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
and malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
shortly before her birth, and her mother named her Roberta Star — "Roberta" in her father's memory and "Star" because she had brightened what her mother perceived to be a grim future.
Roberta inherited her mother's "brilliant smile," biographer Daniel Mark Epstein
Daniel Mark Epstein
Daniel Mark Epstein is an American poet, dramatist and biographer.Epstein earned his B.A. from Kenyon College...
noted in his 1993 book Sister Aimee. She led children's services at her mother's revivals. Roberta also hosted a radio program and wrote a youth column, "Aunt Birdie," for the church newspaper.
Adulthood
At the age of 21, Roberta fell in love with a ship's purserPurser
The purser joined the warrant officer ranks of the Royal Navy in the early fourteenth century and existed as a Naval rank until 1852. The development of the warrant officer system began in 1040 when five English ports began furnishing warships to King Edward the Confessor in exchange for certain...
while accompanying her mother on a crusade. The young couple married in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, but the marriage only lasted three years.
By age 24, Roberta had become vice president of her mother's Church of the Foursquare Gospel. A few years later, she sued her mother's attorney for slander. The two-week trial ended with a ruling in the daughter's favor.
Roberta's status as her mother's heir ended when she was removed from the church's leadership in 1937.
Roberta's daughter said her mother and grandmother remained in contact following the legal battle, despite reports to the contrary. Roberta continued to provide financial support to the Church of the Foursquare Gospel, according to her daughter.
Roberta was prevented from attending her mother's funeral in 1944 by military priorities during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She attempted to fly from New York to Los Angeles for the memorial service at Angelus Temple
Angelus Temple
Angelus Temple was the central house of worship of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles, California....
and Forest Lawn, but was bumped from the flight in Chicago when seats were appropriated for military personnel.
Commercial broadcasting
Following the trial, Roberta was invited to be a guest on a NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio program, Hobby Lobby. She later was hired as researcher for the show, which featured celebrities and their hobbies.
In 1941, Roberta married Harry Salter, music director of Hobby Lobby, and the couple had a daughter. The two later developed radio and television game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
s such as Stop the Music and Name That Tune
Name That Tune
Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
.
Death
Roberta died in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on January 25, 2007 at age 96. Her death was attributed to natural causes.