Rolly Bester
Encyclopedia
Rolly Goulko Bester
was an American
actress, and later an advertising
executive. She was the wife of science fiction
author Alfred Bester
.
as Rolly Goulko. She performed in several Broadway
productions before World War II
. Through 1956, she had numerous roles on radio, including that of Lois Lane
on The Adventures of Superman
. On that series, which ran from 1940 to 1951, Lois Lane's character debuted in episode seven and was voiced by Bester. After three appearances, she was succeeded in the role by actress Helen Choate. Bester also was heard on The Big Story
, The Chase, The Fat Man
, The Spinner of Yarns, Tales of Tomorrow, Words at War and X Minus One
.
She also appeared in episodes of radio's Cavalcade of America
series, including in the role of Mrs. Benny in Us Pilgrims, the story of the first Thanksgiving (airing November 24, 1947) and as Mrs. Jones in The King of Nantucket (airing March 27, 1951).
(1950) and the 1954-55 Sherlock Holmes
television series.
agency Ted Bates & Co.
, located at 666 Fifth Avenue
in New York City.
She was married to science fiction
author Alfred Bester
for 48 years, from September 16, 1936 until her death from cancer in 1984 at the age of 66. After the Besters moved from New York, they lived on Geigel Hill Road in Ottsville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
.
was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, and later an advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
executive. She was the wife of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester was an American science fiction author, TV and radio scriptwriter, magazine editor and scripter for comic strips and comic books...
.
Career
Rolly Bester, sometimes credited as Rollie Bester, was born 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...
as Rolly Goulko. She performed in several 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...
productions before 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...
. Through 1956, she had numerous roles on radio, including that of Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
on The Adventures of Superman
The Adventures of Superman (radio)
The Adventures of Superman was a long running radio serial that originally aired from 1940 to 1951, adapted from the DC Comics character. ....
. On that series, which ran from 1940 to 1951, Lois Lane's character debuted in episode seven and was voiced by Bester. After three appearances, she was succeeded in the role by actress Helen Choate. Bester also was heard on The Big Story
The Big Story (radio/TV)
The Big Story was a radio and television crime show which dramatized the true stories of real-life newspaper reporters. The only continuing character was the narrator, Bob Sloane. Produced by Barnard J. Prockter, the shows were scripted by Gail Ingram, Arnold Pearl and Max Ehrlich. Tom Victor and...
, The Chase, The Fat Man
The Fat Man (radio)
The Fat Man, a popular radio show during the 1940s and early 1950s was a detective drama based on characters by Dashiell Hammett. It starred J...
, The Spinner of Yarns, Tales of Tomorrow, Words at War and X Minus One
X Minus One
X Minus One was a half-hour science fiction radio drama series broadcast from April 24, 1955 to January 9, 1958 in various timeslots on NBC.-Overview:...
.
She also appeared in episodes of radio's Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented a musical, such as an adaptation of Show Boat, and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially broadcast on radio from 1935 to 1953, and later on...
series, including in the role of Mrs. Benny in Us Pilgrims, the story of the first Thanksgiving (airing November 24, 1947) and as Mrs. Jones in The King of Nantucket (airing March 27, 1951).
Films and television
Bester appeared in the film With These HandsWith These Hands
With These Hands is a 1950 documentary film directed by Jack Arnold. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Produced by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the film used actors to recreate the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and compare working conditions...
(1950) and the 1954-55 Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
television series.
Advertising
She later became a vice president, casting director and supervisor at the advertisingAdvertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
agency Ted Bates & Co.
Ted Bates (executive)
Theodore Lewis "Ted" Bates was an American advertising executive who founded a worldwide advertising agency that bears his name: Ted Bates Inc...-Biography:...
, located at 666 Fifth Avenue
666 Fifth Avenue
666 Fifth Avenue is a 41-story office building on Fifth Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets in New York City.-Tishman ownership:The Tishman family via Tishman Realty and Construction built the tower in 1957. It was designed by Carson & Lundin and the building was called the Tishman Building...
in New York City.
She was married to science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester was an American science fiction author, TV and radio scriptwriter, magazine editor and scripter for comic strips and comic books...
for 48 years, from September 16, 1936 until her death from cancer in 1984 at the age of 66. After the Besters moved from New York, they lived on Geigel Hill Road in Ottsville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
.
Sources
- Grams, Martin Jr.Martin Grams, Jr.Martin Grams, Jr. is a radio historian who has written extensively on radio, television and films. The son of magician Martin Grams, Sr. and librarian Mary Pat Grams, he was educated at South Eastern School District in York County, Pennsylvania and graduated from Kennard Dale High School in Fawn...
, The History of the Cavalcade of America (self-published, April 1, 1999); ISBN 0-7392-0138-7/ISBN 978-0739201381