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Lillian Randolph

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Lillian Randolph
Randolph in 1952
Born
Castello Randolph

(1898-12-14)December 14, 1898[1]
Knoxville, Tennessee,U.S.
DiedSeptember 12, 1980(1980-09-12)(aged 81)
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1931–1980
Spouse(s)Jack Chase
Edward Sanders
​
​
(m.1951;div.1953)​

?McKee[a]
Children2, includingBarbara Randolph
RelativesAmanda Randolph(sister)

Lillian Randolph(December 14, 1898 – September 12, 1980) was an American actress and singer, a veteran ofradio,film,andtelevision.She worked in entertainment from the 1930s until shortly before her death. She appeared in hundreds ofradio shows,motion pictures,short subjects,andtelevision shows.

Randolph is most recognized for appearing inIt's a Wonderful Life(1946),Magic(1978), and her final onscreen project,The Onion Field(1979). She prominently contributed her voice to the characterMammy Two Shoesin nineteenTom and Jerrycartoonsreleased between 1940 and 1952.

Early life and education

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Randolph's 1939 advertisement
Randolph as Annie inIt's a Wonderful Lifein 1946
From left to right: Randolph as Beulah,Ernest Whitmanas Bill, andRuby Dandridgeas Oriole inBeulah,c. 1952–53
Lillian Randolph as Birdie on TV'sThe Great Gildersleevein 1955

Randolph was bornCastello RandolphinKnoxville, Tennessee,the daughter of aMethodistminister and a teacher.[3][4][5]She was the younger sister of actressAmanda Randolph.[b][8][9]

Career

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Radio

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Randolph began her professional career singing on local radio inClevelandandDetroit.[4][8]AtWXYZinDetroit,[10]she was noticed byGeorge W. Trendle,station owner and developer ofThe Lone Ranger.He got her into radio training courses, which paid off in roles for local radio shows. Randolph was tutored by a white actor for three months on racial dialect prior to obtaining any radio roles.[11]

In 1936, she moved on toLos Angelesto work onAl Jolson's radio show,[12]onBig Town,on theAl Pearceshow,[13]and to sing at the Club Alabam[14]there.[4][8][15]

Actress

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Randolph and her sister Amanda were continually looking for roles to make ends meet. In 1938, she opened her home toLena Horne,who was in California for her first movie role inThe Duke Is Tops(1938); the film was so tightly budgeted, Horne had no money for a hotel.[16]

Randolph opened her home duringWorld War IIwith weekly dinners and entertainment for service people in theLos Angelesarea throughAmerican Women's Voluntary Services.[17][18]

Randolph played the role of the maid Birdie Lee Coggins inThe Great Gildersleeve,aradio comedyand subsequent films,[19]and as Madame Queen on theAmos 'n' Andyradio show and television show from 1937 to 1953.[19][20]She was cast in theGildersleevejob on the basis of her wonderful laugh.[21]Upon hearing theGildersleeveprogram was beginning, Randolph made a dash toNBC.She tore down the halls; when she opened the door for the program, she fell on her face. Randolph was not hurt and she laughed, which got her the job.[8]She also portrayed Birdie in the television version ofThe Great Gildersleeve.[22]

In 1955, Lillian was asked to perform the Gospel song, "Were You There"on the television version of theGildersleeveshow. The positive response from viewers resulted in a Gospel album by Randolph onDootone Records.[23][24][25]She found the time for the role of Mrs. Watson onThe Baby Snooks Showand Daisy onThe Billie Burke Show.[26][27]

Her best known film roles were those of Annie inIt's a Wonderful Life(1946) and Bessie inThe Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer(1947).[28][29]

TheWest Adamsdistrict ofLos Angeleswas once home to lawyers and tycoons, but during the 1930s, many residents were either forced to sell their homes or take in boarders because of the economic times. The bulk of the residents who were earlier members of the entertainment community had already moved to places such asBeverly HillsandHollywood.In the 1940s, members of the African-American entertainment community discovered the charms of the district and began purchasing homes there, giving the area the nickname "Sugar Hill".Hattie McDanielwas one of the first African-American residents. In an attempt to discourage African-Americans from making their homes in the area, some residents resorted to adding covenants to the contracts when their homes were sold, either restricting African-Americans from purchasing them or prohibiting them from occupying the houses after purchase.[30]Lillian and her husband, boxerJack Chase,[31]were victims of this type of discrimination.[32]

In 1946, the couple purchased a home on West Adams Boulevard with a restrictive covenant that barred them from moving into it.[33]The US Supreme Court declared the practice unconstitutional in 1948.[30]After divorcing Chase, Randolph married railroaddining carserver Edward Sanders, in August 1951.[3]The couple divorced in December 1953.[34]

Like her sister, Amanda, Lillian was also one of the actresses to play the part ofBeulahon radio. Randolph assumed the role in 1952 when Hattie McDaniel became ill; that same year, she received an "Angel" award from the Caballeros, an African-American businessmen's association, for her work in radio and television for 1951.[35]She played Beulah until 1953, when Amanda took over for her.[36]

In 1954, Randolph had her own daily radio show in Hollywood, where those involved in acting were featured.[37]In the same year, she became the first African American on the board of directors for the Hollywood chapter of theAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists.[38]

InWilliam HannaandJoseph Barbera'sTom and Jerrycartoons at theMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studioduring the 1940s and early 1950s, she was uncredited forvoicingthe maid character,Mammy Two Shoes.The character's last appearance in the cartoons was inPush-Button Kittyin September 1952. MGM, Hanna-Barbera and Randolph had been under fire from theNAACP,which called the role a stereotype. Activists had been complaining about the maid character since 1949. The character was written out entirely. Many of these had a white actress (June Foray) redubbing the character in American TV broadcasts and in the DVD collections.[39]

This was not the only time Randolph received criticism. In 1946,Ebonypublished a story critical of her role of Birdie onThe Great Gildersleeveradio show. Randolph and Sam Moore, a scriptwriter on the program, provided a rebuttal to them in the magazine.[4][40]Lillian Randolph believed these roles were not harmful to the image or opportunities of African-Americans. Her reasoning was that the roles themselves would not be discontinued, but the ethnicity of those in them would change.[41]

In 1956, Randolph and her choir, along with fellowAmos 'n' Andytelevision show cast membersTim Moore,Alvin Childress,andSpencer Williamsset off on a tour of the US as "The TV Stars ofAmos 'n' Andy".However,CBSclaimed it was an infringement of its rights to the show and its characters. The tour soon came to an end.[42]

By 1958, Lillian, who started out as a blues singer, returned to music with a nightclub act.[43]

Randolph was selected to playBill Cosby's character's mother in his 1969 television series,The Bill Cosby Show.[8]She later appeared in several featured roles onSanford and SonandThe Jeffersonsin the 1970s. She also taught acting, singing and public speaking.[44]

Randolph made a guest appearance on a 1972 episode of the sitcomSanford and Son,entitled "Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride" as Aunt Hazel, an in-law of the Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) character who humorously gets a cake thrown in her face, after which Fred replies "Hazel, you never looked sweeter!".[45]HerAmos 'n' Andyco-star,Alvin Childress,also had a role in this episode.[46][47]She played Mabel inJacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough(1975) and also appeared in the television miniseries,Roots(1977),[48]Magic(1978) andThe Onion Field(1979).[49]

In March 1980, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.[50]

Randolph's daughter, Barbara, grew up watching her mother perform. At age eight, Barbara had already made her debut inBright Road(1953) withHarry BelafonteandDorothy Dandridge.[51]

Choosing to adopt her mother's maiden name,Barbara Randolphappeared in her mother's nightclub acts, including with Steve Gibson and the Red Caps, and had a role inGuess Who's Coming to Dinnerin 1967.[52][53]She decided to follow a singing career.[54][55][56]

Death

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Randolph died ofcancerat Arcadia Methodist Hospital inArcadia, Californiaon September 12, 1980.[57][58][59]She is buried inForest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).Her sister, Amanda, is buried beside her.[5]

Partial filmography

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Notes

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  1. ^There was also a fourth husband – Lillian Randolph McKee[2]
  2. ^Steve Gibson, with his Rhythm and Blues group, The Five Red Caps, was said to be a brother. However, this cannot be substantiated.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^Bob McCann,Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television,2022, p. 277
  2. ^Ellenberger, Alan R. (2001).Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory.McFarland. pp. 95–96.ISBN978-0-7864-0983-9.
  3. ^abRadio Actress Lillian Randolph Seeks Divorce.Jet. March 5, 1953.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  4. ^abcd"Lillian Randolph".BlackPast.org. December 29, 2008.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  5. ^abWilson, Scott (2016).Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. (2 volume set).McFarland. p. 613.ISBN978-1476625997.RetrievedJanuary 25,2017.
  6. ^"The Five Red Caps".Singers.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  7. ^New York Beat.Jet. December 31, 1953.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  8. ^abcdeWitbeck, Charles (September 1, 1969)."Madame Queen Joins Cosby".The Evening Independent.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  9. ^Rea, E. B. (January 10, 1948)."Does Radio Give Our Performers a Square Deal?".The Afro American.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  10. ^"Billy Mitchell Now On The Air".The Afro American. August 22, 1931.RetrievedOctober 22,2010.
  11. ^Barlow, William, ed. (1998).Voice over: the making of Black radio.Temple University Press. p.334.ISBN1566396670.
  12. ^"Copy of promotional material for Al Jolson's radio show".museumoffamilyhistory.RetrievedOctober 22,2010.
  13. ^Jovien, Harold (April 2, 1940)."Via Your Dial".The Afro American.RetrievedJanuary 16,2011.
  14. ^"Club Alabam".Eighth & Wall. Archived fromthe originalon September 23, 2015.RetrievedDecember 27,2010.
  15. ^Steinhauser, Si (May 24, 1942)."Girls Can't Qualify For Announcing Jobs, Says Network Leader".The Pittsburgh Press.RetrievedNovember 13,2010.
  16. ^Bogle, Donald, ed. (2006).Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood.One World/Ballantine. p. 432.ISBN0345454197.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  17. ^"Network and Local Radio Listings".The Sunday Sun. January 4, 1942.RetrievedJanuary 16,2011.
  18. ^Rea, E.B. (March 16, 1943)."Encores and Echoes".Baltimore Afro-American.RetrievedMarch 17,2011.
  19. ^abFanning, Will (April 23, 1958)."A Color Peacock To Shore Show; Notes".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedNovember 13,2010.
  20. ^BCL (October 1, 1945). "Riding the Airwaves". Milwaukee Journal.
  21. ^Shaffer, Rosalind (December 23, 1945)."Canny Judgment Boosted 'The Great Gildersleeve'".St. Petersburg Times.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  22. ^Forecast.Jet. April 29, 1954.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  23. ^"Theatrical Whirl".The Afro American. March 3, 1956.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  24. ^"Theatrical Whirl".The Afro American. April 7, 1956.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  25. ^Edwards, Dave, Callahan, Mike, Eyries, Patrice."Dootone/Dooto Album Discography".BSN Pubs.RetrievedNovember 13,2010.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^"Newcomers With Snooks".The Milwaukee Journal (magazine section).September 15, 1946. p. 12.
  27. ^Dunning, John(1998).On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio(Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 89.ISBN978-0-19-507678-3.RetrievedAugust 29,2019.
  28. ^"Lillian Randolph, a film and television jewel".African-American Registry. Archived fromthe originalon October 28, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 27,2010.
  29. ^McCann, Bob, ed. (2009).Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television.McFarland. p. 461.ISBN978-0786437900.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  30. ^ab"West Adams History".westadamsheightssugarhill.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  31. ^Springs, Toledo."Chasing Jack Chase: Part 5 – Fade to Black".thesweetscience. Archived fromthe originalon September 3, 2010.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  32. ^"Lillian Randolph and husband Jack Chase".Los Angeles Public Library. Archived fromthe originalon October 9, 2011.RetrievedJuly 30,2011.
  33. ^"Actress Fights Home Covenants".Baltimore Afro-American. September 14, 1946.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  34. ^Actress Lillian Randolph Divorces Mate.Jet. December 17, 1953.RetrievedOctober 17,2010.
  35. ^"Lillian Randolph".Baltimore Afro-American. May 17, 1952.RetrievedJanuary 16,2011.
  36. ^Lillian Randolph Sets Busy Pace On Radio.Jet. April 10, 1952.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  37. ^People.Jet. October 28, 1954.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  38. ^Entertainment.Jet. April 15, 1954.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  39. ^Lehman, Christopher P., ed. (2009).The Colored Cartoon.University of Massachusetts Press. p. 152.ISBN978-1558497795.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  40. ^"Letters and Pictures To The Editor".Ebony.April 1946.
  41. ^MacDonald, J. Fred."Don't Touch That Dial!: radio programming in American life, 1920–1960".jfredmacdonald.RetrievedOctober 20,2010.
  42. ^Clayton, Edward T. (October 1961).The Tragedy of Amos 'n' Andy.Ebony.RetrievedSeptember 27,2010.
  43. ^New York Beat.Jet. May 1, 1958.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  44. ^Kisner, Ronald E., ed. (April 6, 1978).Marla Gibbs: TV Maid for The Jeffersons.Jet.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  45. ^"Sarasota Herald-Tribune TV Week".Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 5, 1972.RetrievedOctober 22,2010.
  46. ^Television.Jet. January 27, 1972.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  47. ^"Alvin Childress onSanford and Son".Washington Afro-American. May 25, 1976.RetrievedOctober 16,2010.
  48. ^Lucas, Bob, ed. (January 27, 1977).Roots Of Blacks Shown In Eight Days Of TV Drama.Jet.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  49. ^"Deaths Elsewhere".Toledo Blade. September 15, 1980.RetrievedSeptember 20,2010.[permanent dead link]
  50. ^Black Film Hall of Fame Inducts 7.Jet. March 20, 1980.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  51. ^Like Mother, Like Daughter.Jet. September 25, 1952.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  52. ^Robinson, Louie, ed. (May 23, 1968).Film Boost For Star's Daughter.Jet.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  53. ^"Lillian and Barbara Randolph at Allen's Tin Pan Alley".The Spokesman-Review. July 29, 1958.RetrievedOctober 22,2010.
  54. ^Barbara Randolph Seeks Record Stardom.Jet. December 29, 1960.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  55. ^"Barbara Randolph".IMDb.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  56. ^Goldberg, Marv."Marv Goldberg's R & B Notebook – Back to the Red Caps".Goldberg, Marv.RetrievedFebruary 4,2011.
  57. ^"Lillian Randolph, 65; Movie and TV Actress".The New York Times.Associated Press. September 17, 1980. p. D 27.ProQuest121111763.RetrievedDecember 4,2020.
  58. ^"People and Places".Star-News. September 16, 1980.RetrievedSeptember 20,2010.
  59. ^Census.Jet. October 9, 1980.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  60. ^McCann, Bob (December 21, 2009).Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television.McFarland.ISBN9780786458042.
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