{{Short description|American actress (1907–1993)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Elspeth Eric | image = File:Elspeth Eric 1943.jpg | alt = | caption = Elspeth Eric in 1943 | birth_name = Elspeth Thexton Eric | birth_date = {{birth date|1907|9|15}}{{Citation needed |date=June 2020}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1993|6|15|1907|9|15}} | death_place = Manhattan, New York City, U.S. | other_names = | occupation = Actress | alma_mater = Wellesley College | known_for = Joyce Jordan, M.D. | spouse = | children = | parents = }} '''Elspeth Thexton Eric'''<ref name=jruuc/> (September 15, 1907 – June 15, 1993)<ref name="jruuc">{{cite web|title=Library|url=http://www.jruuc.org/library|website=James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation|accessdate=March 29, 2016}}</ref> was an American actress in old-time radio, "usually cast as the other woman in soaps and serials".<ref name=rs>DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-2834-2}}. P. 90.</ref>
==Early years== The daughter of a doctor,<ref>{{cite news|title=Takes role of Girl Interne in Radio Play|newspaper=The Evening News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741484/the_evening_news/|agency=The Evening News|date=August 28, 1939|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=22|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> Elspeth Thexton Eric was born in Chicago, Illinois.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Elspeth Eric|journal=Radio and Television Mirror|date=August 1949|volume=32|issue=3|page=72|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/40s/49/Mirror-1949-Aug-OCR-Page-0075.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> She attended Bradford Academy<ref>{{cite journal|title=What Do You Want To Know?|journal=Radio and Television Mirror|date=October 1939|volume=12|issue=6|page=62|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/30s/39/Mirror-1939-Oct-OCR-Page-0070.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and graduated from Wellesley College<ref name=rs/> with a double major in economics and English literature. After hearing tales of woe about "girls who had tried to crash the great White Way and failed, she enrolled in a business school and left word with her friends in New York to let her know when a job was to be had there."<ref name="bde">{{cite news|title=Business Course Brought Elspeth Eric to the Stage|newspaper=Brooklyn Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4737355/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=April 28, 1940|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=48|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 24, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>
She garnered some acting experience in summer stock theatre and moved back to New York, where she worked at various jobs for five years while she tried to find work as an actor.<ref name=bde/> During those years, "She was a switchboard operator, waitress, governess, hostess in a cocktail lounge, publicity writer, model, cook, parlor maid, social secretary to a social secretary, stenographer and book saleswoman."<ref name=bde/>
==Radio== Eric's initial work on radio came in ''Big Sister'' and ''Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories''.<ref>{{cite news|title='Joyce Jordan' Takes New Time|newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742112/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=September 22, 1939|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=30|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> Her roles on radio programs included those shown in the table below. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Program !! Role |- | ''Betty and Bob''|| Jane Hartford<ref>{{cite journal|title=What Do You Want to Know? |journal=Radio and Television Mirror |date=May 1940 |volume=14 |issue=1 |page=60 |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/40s/40/Mirror-1940-May-OCR-Page-0062.pdf2 |accessdate=March 27, 2016 }}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- | ''Big Sister''|| Diane Carvell<ref>{{cite journal|title=Say Hello To -|journal=Radio and Television Mirror|date=August 1942|volume=18|issue=4|page=60|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/40s/42/Mirrorr-1942-Aug-OCR-Page-0067.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- | ''Central City'' || Emily Olson<ref name=rs/> |- | ''The Falcon''|| Nancy<ref name=rp>Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4513-4}}. Pp. 112-113.</ref> |- | ''Joyce Jordan, Girl Interne'' || Joyce Jordan<ref>{{cite news|last1=Reed|first1=Ted|title=Radio: 'Ghost of Benjamin Sweet' Tonight's Columbia Play|newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4737265/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=August 3, 1939|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=15|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 24, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> |- | ''Lorenzo Jones'' || Irma Barker<ref>{{cite news|title=Cast Changes|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Stations/Station-Album-IDX/IDX/WOW/WOW-1946-02-OCR-Page-0006.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016|agency=WOW News Tower|date=February 1, 1946}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- | ''Road of Life''|| Beth Lambert<ref>{{cite news|title=Radio Roundup|newspaper=Cumberland Evening Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745261/cumberland_evening_times/|agency=Cumberland Evening Times|date=December 16, 1948|location=Maryland, Cumberland|page=29|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref><br>Lil Monet<ref name="tvrm">{{cite journal|title=Road of Life|journal=TV Radio Mirror|date=April 1955|volume=43|issue=5|page=27|url=https://archive.org/stream/radiotv00macf#page/n363/mode/1up|accessdate=March 28, 2016}}</ref> |- | ''The Second Mrs. Burton''|| Lillian Anderson<ref>{{cite journal|title=(photo caption)|journal=Radio Mirror|date=February 1948|volume=29|issue=3|page=52|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Mirror-IDX/IDX/40s/48/Mirror-1948-Feb-OCR-Page-0062.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- | ''Valiant Lady'' || Eleanor Richards<ref>{{cite news|title=Valiant Lady|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-Radio-Guide-IDX-Site/IDX/1942/Movie-Radio-Guide-1942-09-19-OCR-Page-0008.pdf|accessdate=March 27, 2016|agency=Movie-Radio Guide|date=September 19, 1942|page=6}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- | ''Young Doctor Malone''|| Marsha<ref>{{cite news|title=Young Dr. Malone|newspaper=Globe-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741744/the_mason_city_globegazette/|agency=The Mason City Globe-Gazette|date=December 19, 1956|location=Iowa, Mason City|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref><br>Lucia Standish<ref>{{cite journal|title=What's New|journal=Radio-TV Mirror|date=March 1952|volume=37|issue=4|page=22|url=https://archive.org/stream/radiotvmirror00macf#page/n237/mode/1up/search/%22Elspeth+Eric%22|accessdate=March 28, 2016}}</ref> |}
Other programs on which Eric appeared included ''The Haunting Hour'',<ref>{{cite news|title=The Haunting Hour|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-Radio-Daily-IDX/RD-50/Radio-Daily-1950-Jul-4-Page-0018.pdf|access-date=March 27, 2016|agency=Radio Daily|date=August 23, 1950}}</ref> ''The FBI in Peace and War'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Housing Racket|newspaper=The Bridgeport Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745432/the_bridgeport_telegram/|agency=The Bridgeport Telegram|date=September 22, 1954|location=Connecticut, Bridgeport|page=94|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Abbott Mysteries'',<ref name="sies">Sies, Luther F. (2014). ''Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-5149-4}}. P. 10.</ref> ''Ever Since Eve'',{{r|sies|page1=220}} ''Front Page Farrell'',{{r|sies|page1=245}} ''Quick as a Flash'',{{r|sies|page1=536}} ''Rosemary'',{{r|sies|page1=567}} ''Mommie and the Men'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Domestic Comedy Series Heard On WHP Daily, 7 P.M.|newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742697/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=August 25, 1945|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=15|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Inner Sanctum Mystery'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Frank, Gloria In Radio Roles|newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742639/the_decatur_daily_review/|agency=The Decatur Daily Review|date=May 22, 1945|location=Illinois, Decatur|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Bulldog Drummond'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Spine Tingler|newspaper=The Eugene Guard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742371/the_eugene_guard/|agency=The Eugene Guard|date=May 4, 1941|location=Oregon, Eugene|page=9|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Manhattan at Midnight'',<ref>{{cite news|title=(untitled brief)|newspaper=Belvidere Daily Republican |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4742240/belvidere_daily_republican/|agency=Belvidere Daily Republican|date=August 8, 1940|location=Illinois, Belvidere|page=5|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Green Valley, U.S.A.'',<ref>{{cite news|title=(photo caption)|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741794/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=February 25, 1944|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=19|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Gang Busters'', ''21st Precinct'',<ref name=pi>{{cite news|last1=Oliver|first1=Wayne|title=Actress Prefers Radio To TV Jobs|newspaper=The Progress-Index |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741683/the_progressindex/|agency=The Progress-Index|date=February 18, 1955|location=Virginia, Petersburg|page=17|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Grand Central Station'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Elspeth Eric on "Grand Central Station: Aided By Broadway Cast|newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741602/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=June 17, 1944|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=15|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> and ''Mr. District Attorney''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Takes Dramatic Roles|newspaper=The Evening News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741549/the_evening_news/|agency=The Evening News|date=February 4, 1942|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>
==Stage== Eric gained early acting experience with the Woodstock Summer Theatre.<ref name=rs/> In 1932, she acted in the troupe at the Westchester Playhouse at Mount Kisco, New York.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Play at Mt. Kisco|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4741952/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=August 26, 1932|location=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>
Her Broadway credits include ''The Live Wire'', ''Snafu'', ''Margin for Error'', ''Too Many Heroes'', and ''Dead End''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elspeth Eric search|url=http://www.playbill.com/searchpage/search?q=Elspeth+Eric&sort=Relevance&shows=on&qasset=00000150-ac7e-d16d-a550-ec7e13ca0000|website=Playbill|accessdate=March 26, 2016}}</ref>
==Television== Eric had the role of Lil Monte in the ''Road of Life'' soap opera, which was broadcast on TV and radio in 1955, with the same cast.<ref name=tvrm/> She also appeared in "His Name Was Death," an episode of ''Robert Montgomery Presents'' (March 18, 1957),<ref>{{cite news|title=(TV listing)|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745601/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/|agency=The San Bernardino County Sun|date=March 18, 1957|location=California, San Bernardino|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> "Young Man Adam," an episode of ''Studio One'' (December 29, 1952),<ref>{{cite news|title=(TV listing)|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745382/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=December 29, 1952|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=19|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} {{Open access}}</ref> and "The Unfraid," an episode of ''The Web'' (November 23, 1952).<ref>{{cite news|title=(TV listing)|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745326/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=November 23, 1952|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=35|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>
In a 1955 newspaper article, Eric indicated her preference for working in radio. "There are no ulcers in radio," she said.<ref name="ei">{{cite news|last1=Oliver|first1=Wayne|title=Radio, TV Highlights|newspaper=The Evening Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745481/the_evening_independent/|agency=The Evening Independent|date=February 17, 1955|location=Ohio, Massillon|page=25|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> The reporter noted, "She reports her eight radio shows a week are easier than one a week on TV, and leave her more time to herself."<ref name=ei/>
==Later years== In the late 1970s, Eric wrote over 100 scripts for ''CBS Radio Mystery Theater'' and ''The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Classic tales told in weekend radio series|newspaper=The Bakersfield Californian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745727/the_bakersfield_californian/|agency=Bakersfield Californian|date=January 31, 1977|location=California, Bakersfield|page=22|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> One of her scripts, "The Black Room," was published (in "novelized" form) in a book, along with two other stories from CBSRMT. ''Strange Tales From CBS Radio Mystery Theater'' was published in 1976 by Popular Library.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Navarro|first1=Linda|title=Station Break|newspaper=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4745805/colorado_springs_gazettetelegraph/|agency=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph|date=November 13, 1976|location=Colorado, Colorado Springs|page=62|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 26, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>
==Death== Eric died of cancer in Manhattan in 1993, aged 85.<ref name=jruuc/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://cbsrmt.thelongtrek.com/misc/Strange%20Tales_smaller.pdf Cover, back cover, and title page of ''"Strange tales from CBS Radio mystery theater"''], accessed November 14, 2021.
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eric, Elspeth}} Category:1907 births Category:1993 deaths Category:American radio actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:American television actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:Wellesley College alumni Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Category:American radio writers Category:American women radio writers