Florence Ravenel (March 18, 1896 – December 18, 1975)"Deaths". Screen Actor. April 1976. p. 35.Doyle, Billy H. (1999). The Ultimate Directory of Silent and Sound Era Performers: A Necrology of Actors and Actresses. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press. p. 453. . also known as Florence Ray,Sies, Leora M.; Sies, Luther F. (2003). The Encyclopedia of Women in Radio, 1920-1960. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 236. . was an American stage, radio and film actress, perhaps best known for her work on the radio series The Court of Missing Heirs,Modell, Norman (February 8, 1941). "Radio Talent: Chicago". The Billboard. p. 7. and on the TV sitcom The Farmer's Daughter."Television Highlights". The Edmonton Journal. May 22, 1964. p. 50.

Early life and career Born in Michigan, but raised primarily in Brooklyn, New York,"Florence Ravanel: A Youthful Aspirant for a Theatrical Career Who Sensed the Importance of Dramatic Stock Training". The Billboard. December 20, 1924. p. 26. Ravenel attended Hunter College and the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre."Rialto Players to Offer Mystery Play; Florence Ravenel". The Journal Times. September 29, 1928. p. 8.

Stage Ravenel made her professional dramatic debut—billed as Florence Ravanel—in the fall of 1923 with the William Augustin Players in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Of her performance in Avery Hopwood's Fair and Warmer, Billboard reported, "Florence Ravanel made a hit as Laura Bartlett". Shortly thereafter, Ravenel found more lucrative employment with the Al Luttringer Players. Towards the end of a three-week engagement with that troupe at the Music Hall Theatre in Akron, Ohio (featuring The Cat and the Canary, Getting Gertie's Garter, Guy Bolton's Polly, Preferred, and My Irish Cinderella"New Stock Company Pleases With First Show at Music Hall; Players Have Plenty of Ability and Personality in Season's Initial Offering". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 9, 1924. p. 15."Music Hall Crowds Like Mystery Play". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 19, 1924. p. 22.Sands, W. F. (September 30, 1924). "Large Crowd Pleased by Irish Comedy Drama at Music Hall". The Beacon Journal. p. 15.), The Beacon Journal singled out Ravenel's contribution, noting that the actress had tackled "hard roles and won praise from her audience.""Plays Hard Roles in Plays at Music Hall". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 27, 1924. p. 2.

Between 1925 and 1927, Ravenel appeared in stock company revivals of Lightnin' (portraying Mildred Buckley, "and doing it with a certain charm"),"Stock Actors Are Pleasing in 'Lightnin'". The Ithaca Journal. November 3, 1925. p. 9. Parlor, Bedroom and Bath as Angelica Irving"Comedy Drives Away Worries at the Lyceum". The Ithaca Journal. November 6, 1925. p. 5. (a role previously played onscreen by Kathleen Kirkham,"'Parlor, Bedroom and Bath' Offers Sheer Nonsense, Sheer Joy and Sheer Pajamas". Tulsa World. August 6, 1920. p. 7. and subsequently by Dorothy Christy"Empire". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. January 18, 1932. p. 2.) and, as Madeleine, in the Goodman-Knoblock adaptation of Robert Keable's Simon Called Peter."Plays in Brooklyn: The Fulton". Brooklyn Times Union. January 11, 1927. p. 14. Also in 1927, she appeared "to splendid advantage" alongside Jack Davis and William Rath as Keala Leilani in the premiere of Tropical Love, a South Seas-set melodrama staged at the Majestic Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois."'Tropical Love' Is Well Received Here". Waukegan News-Sun. October 24, 1927. p. 4. At that same venue the following month, Ravenel was the main attraction in Anita Loos' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, "giv[ing] an absorbing performance of the part—i.e. Lorelei Lee—which was played by June Walker in New York""Amusements: At The Majestic". November 16, 1927. p. 4.

As of February 1928, Ravenel appears to have taken up residence in Chicago, Illinois, where her membership in that city's Associate Players was advertised in the Southtown Economist."Open All Year: National Theatre". The Southtown Economist. February 28, 1928. p. 5. In March, the company's production of Avery Hopwood's The Alarm Clock featured Ravenel as Mrs. Dunsmore."News of the Theaters in Southtown: 'The Alarm Clock'". The Southtown Economist. March 27, 1928. p. 8. That summer, Ravenel toured with Jeanne Eagels' company in a vaudeville recreation of scenes from Eagels' recent vehicle, The Cardboard Lover."Miss Eagels at Orpheum Today". The San Francisco Examiner. August 11, 1928. p. 13."Stock Notes". The Billboard. September 22, 1928. p. 33. The following year, she gave a well-received performance as Arlette in a revival of Seventh Heaven staged by the Guy and Eloda Beach stock company in La Crosse, Wisconsin."'Seventh Heaven' Proves Unusually Fine Production". The La Crosse Tribune. January 21, 1929. p. 5.

Radio In 1933, Ravenel was promoted from the ranks of KYW staffers to host the station's daily noontime dance program featuring Rex Maupin's orchestra. Beginning in the fall of 1937, Ravenel was heard, alongside Jack Brinkley, Elizabeth Reller, Dorothy Day, Henry Saxe, John Goldsworthy, Bob Middleton, and others in The Court of Missing Heirs."Are You a Missing Heir? This Program May Interest You". Chicago Tribune. October 10, 1937 pt. 3, p. 8. She was also featured as Mrs. Sniffer on Arnold Grimm's Daughter."Questions and Answers". Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star. May 22, 1938. p. 12-D. On January 30, 1943, Ravenel was one of the few non-singing performers heard in Chicago Theater of the Air'''s production of Victor Herbert's Sweethearts."Theater of Air Will Present 'Sweethearts'". Chicago Tribune. January In 1948, Ravenel, Parley Baer, Jerry Farber and announcer Patrick McGeehan were among those featured on the Catholic program, The Hour of St. Francis."Hour of St. Francis: Drama of World's Richest Poor Man on 160 Stations; Third Order Station". The Tidings. December 3, 1948. p. 22. Beginning in 1951, she co-starred with Lamont Johnson, Raymond Burr and Ruth Swanson in The Pendleton Story, produced by the Armed Forces Radio Service, described as the service's "first family series for overseas release."Palmer, Zuma (April 27, 1951). "Radio-Television: Eisenhower Favored by Correspondent for the Presidency". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 22.

Between 1950 and 1952, Ravenel also appeared in at least two episodes each of Dr. Christian and NBC Theater,Palmer, Zuma (August 26, 1950). "Radio-Television: Defense Secretary Gives an Accounting". p. 18.Palmer, Zuma (January 24, 1951). "Radio-Television: Important Client for New TV Firm". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 26.Sellers, Barbara (July 11, 1951). "Radio-Television: A Study of TV's Impact on People". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 22.Palmer, Zuma (October 8, 1952). "Radio-Television: New NBC Studios Get Good Send-Off". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 10. most notably in the latter's production of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, starring Virginia Christine and featuring Ravenel as Aunt Julie.

Film and television In the fall of 1951, Ravenel joined 12 fellow former radio actors in the cast of Arch Oboler's The Twonky.Walters, Tommie (December 14, 1951). "In Tune With the Times". Victoria Daily Times. p. 27.

Making a brief return to the stage in 1956, Ravenel appeared with Naomi Stevens and many others in what The Hollywood Reporter's Marvin Smith judged a much-improved revival of Sumner Locke Elliott's unsuccessful Broadway comedy, Buy Me Blue Ribbons'', providing an ideal showcase for the show's star, a young Paul Smith.

Filmography Film + Year Title Role Notes 1952 Love Is Better Than Ever Mother uncredited 1953 By the Light of the Silvery Moon Gossip 1953 The Twonky Nurse uncredited 1955 Violent Saturday Miss Shirley uncredited 1955 I'll Cry Tomorrow Stage Mother uncredited 1958 Going Steady Mrs. Potter 1961 All in a Night's Work Matron uncredited 1965 Zebra in the Kitchen Town Gossip uncredited 1966 The Ghost and Mr. Chicken Minor role uncredited

Television Year Title Role Notes 1952 Big Town Episode: "Father and Son" 1952 I Married Joan Episode: "Jitterbug" 1953 I Married Joan Mrs. Miller Episode: "Little Girl" 1953 Schlitz Playhouse Eunice (uncredited) Episode: "The Governess" 1955 The Mickey Rooney Show Maggie Episode: "Scoop Mulligan" 1956 The Adventures of Superman Mrs. Cooper - Landlady Episode: "Jimmy the Kid" 1956 Star Stage Episode: "The Man in the Black Robe" 1956 Studio 57 Caroline Episode: "Little Miss Bedford""Saturday, September 29". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 23, 1956. p. TV8. 1957 Official Detective Mrs. Richards Episode: "Take Him Alive" 1960 The Millionaire Mrs. Tenney (as Florence Ravenal) Episode: "Millionaire Margaret Stoneham" 1961 Day in Court NA Episode: NA 1961 Day in Court NA Episode: NA 1962 The Brighter Day NA Episode: NA 1963 The Farmer's Daughter Cook Episode: "The Speechmaker" 1964 The Farmer's Daughter Cook (as Florence Ravenal) Episode: "Mrs. Golden's Opportunity" 1964 The Farmer's Daughter Millie Episode: "Nobody's Perfect" 1964 The Farmer's Daughter Cook Episode: "Rendezvous for Two" 1964 The Farmer's Daughter Cook (as Florence Ravenal) Episode: "The Waiting Game" 1965 My Three Sons Woman Episode: "Monsters and Junk Like That"

Personal life and death On December 18, 1975, Ravenel died at age 79 in Los Angeles of undisclosed causes, predeceased by her mother.Morgan, F. Langdon (September 26, 1936). "Chi Air Notes". The Billboard. p. 10.

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