Ralph Dumke

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Ralph Dumke
Born
Ralph Ernest Dumke

(1899-07-25)July 25, 1899
South Bend, Indiana, US
DiedJanuary 4, 1964(1964-01-04) (aged 64)
Sherman Oaks, California, US
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame
Years active1934–1961
Spouse(s)Greta Leona Edner (1924–1964) (his death)
Children2

Ralph Ernest Dumke (July 25, 1899 – January 4, 1964) was an American comedian and actor who had an active career from the early 1920s up until his death in 1964. He rose to fame as part of a comedy duo with Ed East, performing nationally in vaudeville on the B. F. Keith Circuit from 1922-1932 and then headlining the nationally popular daily afternoon radio program "Sisters of the Skillet" on NBC Radio. In the 1940s Dumke worked as a character actor in Broadway musicals, and from 1949- 1964 he worked in American television and film.

Biography[]

Born in South Bend, Indiana, Dumke graduated from the University of Notre Dame where he was a varsity football player.[1] He began his career in Chicago as a vaudeville entertainer in the early 1920s as part of a comedy duo with Ed East entitled "The Mirthquakers".[1] The two men became stars on the B. F. Keith Circuit on which they toured for ten years.[1] A capstone of "The Mirthquakers" performance run was being one of the leading acts for the opening of Radio City Music Hall on December 27, 1932.[1]

The Duke and East comedy duo were also pioneers in early radio broadcasts in New York City and Chicago in the late 1920s and early 1930s.[2] They became national radio stars on old-time radio, hosting the daily 15 minute afternoon comedy and music program "Sisters of the Skillet" for NBC Radio from 1930-1937 in which they performed comedy sketches, jokes, and humorous musical numbers.[1] [3]:305 Dumke later portrayed the role of Captain Walt, the host of Hook 'n' Ladder Follies on NBC (1943-1944).[3]

In 1942 Duke made his Broadway debut as Hercules in the original production of Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers's By Jupiter.[1] He returned to Broadway numerous times during the 1940s, appearing as General Bardini in The Merry Widow (1943-1944), Calchas in Helen Goes to Troy (1944), the Duke of Maddeloni in The Maid as Mistress (1944), Joe Horn in Sadie Thompson (1944-1945), Dapper Dan Pepper in Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston (1945), and Cap'n Andy in Show Boat (1946-1947).[2][1] He also appeared in several productions with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, including The Chocolate Soldier and Rosalinda.[2]

On American television, Dumke starred as Captain Billy Bryant in the CBS-TV variety show Captain Billy's Showboat (1948)[4] and was one of the hosts of ABC-TV's Movieland Quiz (1948).[4]:719-720 He also made guest appearances on several programs during the 1950s and 1960s, including The Bob Cummings Show, I Love Lucy, December Bride, Waterfront, My Little Margie, Perry Mason, and The Andy Griffith Show.[2]

Personal life[]

He was married to Greta Leona Edner from 1925 until his death.[2] They had two children.[2]

On January 4, 1964, Dumke died of "a sudden heart seizure" at his home at age 64.[5]

Partial filmography[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "RALPH DUMKE, 64, PERFORMER, DEAD: Former Radio Star Was on Stage, in Films and on TV". The New York Times. January 6, 1964. p. 47.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Death Takes Veteran Actor Ralph Dumke". Los Angeles Times. January 6, 1964. p. F7.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  5. ^ "Services for Ralph Dumke Scheduled This Afternoon". The Van Nuys News. California, Van Nuys. January 7, 1964. p. 4. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access

External links[]

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