Alice Ghostley
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After Alice went to the University of Oklahoma to study theater and singing, she then moved to New York City, where her first job was as an usher at the Imperial Theatre for $11.88 a week. At her 648th audition she was accosted by "G", who persuaded her, that what she really was, was a comedienne. The two of them begun doing comedy in small venues when she was spotted by Imogene Coca. Imogene told Leonard Sillman about her, and he put her in his annual revue ''New Faces'' of 1952. They played Broadway for a year, and then toured to Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Oddly enough, two of the other aspiring members of the revue that year were [[Paul Lynde]] and [[Eartha Kitt]]. The tour was so successful, that "New Faces" was made into a Cinemascope production. | After Alice went to the University of Oklahoma to study theater and singing, she then moved to New York City, where her first job was as an usher at the Imperial Theatre for $11.88 a week. At her 648th audition she was accosted by "G", who persuaded her, that what she really was, was a comedienne. The two of them begun doing comedy in small venues when she was spotted by Imogene Coca. Imogene told Leonard Sillman about her, and he put her in his annual revue ''New Faces'' of 1952. They played Broadway for a year, and then toured to Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Oddly enough, two of the other aspiring members of the revue that year were [[Paul Lynde]] and [[Eartha Kitt]]. The tour was so successful, that "New Faces" was made into a Cinemascope production. | ||
| − | About 1953 Alice met and married Italian-born actor Felice Antonio Orlandi, who had been born in 1924 in Avezzano, Italy. They remained married until his death. | + | <table><tr><td>About 1953 Alice met and married Italian-born actor Felice Antonio Orlandi, who had been born in 1924 in Avezzano, Italy. They remained married until his death. |
Although Alice had many roles on television and film, she never was cast in a starring position. She is most remembered today for her television roles as "Alice" on ''Mayberry, R.F.D.'', as "Esmerelda" on ''Bewitched'' and as "Bernice Clifton" on ''Designing Women'' | Although Alice had many roles on television and film, she never was cast in a starring position. She is most remembered today for her television roles as "Alice" on ''Mayberry, R.F.D.'', as "Esmerelda" on ''Bewitched'' and as "Bernice Clifton" on ''Designing Women'' | ||
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Her character "Esmerelda" was introduced when [[Marion Lorne]], the actress who played "Aunt Clara" died and the studio wanted another comedic-actress to be introduced to the series to replace her. | Her character "Esmerelda" was introduced when [[Marion Lorne]], the actress who played "Aunt Clara" died and the studio wanted another comedic-actress to be introduced to the series to replace her. | ||
| − | Her husband Felice died in 2003, and Alice died at her home in Studio City, California on 21 Sep 2007 from colon cancer and strokes. | + | Her husband Felice died in 2003, and Alice died at her home in Studio City, California on 21 Sep 2007 from colon cancer and strokes.</td><td>http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2006/71/7489936_114223478208.jpg Felice Orlandi</td></tr></table> |
===Primary Sources for 1=== | ===Primary Sources for 1=== | ||
