Kay Aldridge
Encyclopedia
Kay Aldridge was an American
model
and actress. She is best known for playing feisty and frequently-imperiled heroines
in black and white serials
during the 1940s.
. As a model she was seen on the covers of magazines such as Life
, Ladies' Home Journal
, Redbook
and Look
in the 1930s. Her film career began in 1937 with an uncredited role in Vogues of 1938
. In the following couple of years she had a number of minor and largely decorative roles while credited as Katherine Aldridge. It was reported that she was among the actresses screen tested for the part of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind
.
The roles for which she became best known began in 1942 with the serial Perils of Nyoka
, made by the company Republic Pictures
, which specialised in serials
of the type that had dramatic cliffhanger scenes at the end of each episode. Now credited as Kay Aldridge she played the character Nyoka Gordon who confronts a host of villains while seeking her father who was lost on an expedition in Africa. Further classic serial heroine roles followed with titles such as Daredevils of the West
in 1943
and Haunted Harbor
in 1944
. She retired from acting in 1945.
Aldridge was married three times: Arthur Cameron from 1945 to 1954; to Richard Derby Tucker from 1956 until his death in 1979; and lastly to Harry Nasland until his death in 1988. In her later years she lived in Camden, Maine
, and was locally a renown hostess, often sitting ten or more folk at dinner, and regaling them with stories and laughter. She was exceptionally kind and gracious, often inviting travelers from downtown Camden, to her home to see the spectacular view of Penobscot Bay and Curtis Island. The view, and Kay, was a premier highlight of any visit to the Midcoast, if you were lucky to get an invite.
Her oldest daughter, Melissa Brumder of New York, died just before Kay. She died while on the telephone, telling a ribald joke to her son-in-law, an Italian diplomat, of a heart attack while in hospital in Rockport, Maine
. She was survived by a daughter, Carey Cameron Ferrero; two sons, Scott and Arthur Cameron (Arthur now deceased); a stepdaughter, Minnie Tucker Biggs, and two stepsons, Richard and Samuel Tucker.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and actress. She is best known for playing feisty and frequently-imperiled heroines
Damsel in distress
The subject of the damsel in distress, or persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world literature, art, and film. She is usually a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a hero to achieve her rescue. She has become a stock character of fiction,...
in black and white serials
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
during the 1940s.
Life and work
She was born Katharine Gratten Aldridge in Tallahassee, FloridaTallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
. As a model she was seen on the covers of magazines such as Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
, Ladies' Home Journal
Ladies' Home Journal
Ladies' Home Journal is an American magazine which first appeared on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States...
, Redbook
Redbook
Redbook is an American women's magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.-History:...
and Look
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
in the 1930s. Her film career began in 1937 with an uncredited role in Vogues of 1938
Vogues of 1938
Vogues of 1938 is a 1937 musical film distributed by United Artists, directed by Irving Cummings, written by Bella Spewack and Sam Spewack, and starring by Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett...
. In the following couple of years she had a number of minor and largely decorative roles while credited as Katherine Aldridge. It was reported that she was among the actresses screen tested for the part of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...
.
The roles for which she became best known began in 1942 with the serial Perils of Nyoka
Perils of Nyoka
Perils of Nyoka is a 1942 Republic Movie serial directed by William Witney. It starred Kay Aldridge as Nyoka the Jungle Girl, a character who first appeared in the Edgar Rice Burroughs-inspired serial "Jungle Girl."-Plot:...
, made by the company Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
, which specialised in serials
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
of the type that had dramatic cliffhanger scenes at the end of each episode. Now credited as Kay Aldridge she played the character Nyoka Gordon who confronts a host of villains while seeking her father who was lost on an expedition in Africa. Further classic serial heroine roles followed with titles such as Daredevils of the West
Daredevils of the West
Daredevils of the West is a Republic Movie serial.Daredevils of the West is a lightning-fast-paced Western cliffhanger serial released by Republic Pictures in 1943 starring Allan Lane and Kay Aldridge...
in 1943
1943 in film
The year 1943 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 3 - 1st missing persons telecast * February 20 - American film studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor films....
and Haunted Harbor
Haunted Harbor
Haunted Harbor is a Republic Movie serial, based on the novel by Ewart Adamson.-Cast:*Kane Richmond as Jim Marsden*Kay Aldridge as Patricia Harding*Roy Barcroft as Carter *Clancy Cooper as Yank*Marshall J...
in 1944
1944 in film
The year 1944 in film involved some significant events, including the wholesome, award-winning Going My Way plus popular murder mysteries such as Double Indemnity, Gaslight and Laura.-Events:*July 20 - Since You Went Away is released....
. She retired from acting in 1945.
Aldridge was married three times: Arthur Cameron from 1945 to 1954; to Richard Derby Tucker from 1956 until his death in 1979; and lastly to Harry Nasland until his death in 1988. In her later years she lived in Camden, Maine
Camden, Maine
Camden is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,254 at the 2000 census. The population of the town more than triples during the summer months, due to tourists and summer residents. Camden is a famous summer colony in the Mid-Coast region of Maine...
, and was locally a renown hostess, often sitting ten or more folk at dinner, and regaling them with stories and laughter. She was exceptionally kind and gracious, often inviting travelers from downtown Camden, to her home to see the spectacular view of Penobscot Bay and Curtis Island. The view, and Kay, was a premier highlight of any visit to the Midcoast, if you were lucky to get an invite.
Her oldest daughter, Melissa Brumder of New York, died just before Kay. She died while on the telephone, telling a ribald joke to her son-in-law, an Italian diplomat, of a heart attack while in hospital in Rockport, Maine
Rockport, Maine
Rockport is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,209 at the 2000 census. Rockport is a popular tourist destination and art colony.-History:...
. She was survived by a daughter, Carey Cameron Ferrero; two sons, Scott and Arthur Cameron (Arthur now deceased); a stepdaughter, Minnie Tucker Biggs, and two stepsons, Richard and Samuel Tucker.
Further reading
- Merrill T McCord, Perils of Kay Aldridge: life of the serial queen, pub. Alhambra Publishers, (1979, Washington, D.C)