Gertrude Dolores Messinger (April 28, 1911 – November 8, 1995) was an American film actress known for her

B-movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double featur ...

roles from the 1930s through the 1950s. She began as a

child actor The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage or in film, movies or television. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associ ...

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

s, but found her greatest fame in

talkies A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

of the 1930s. During her career she appeared in more than 50 motion pictures, with particular success in

westerns The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

Biography

Born in

Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Canada ...

, she began acting early, playing child roles in

silent films A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, whe ...

as early as 1917, when she had a role in the film ''Babes in the Woods''. Fellow child actor

Buddy Messinger Buddy Messinger (born Melvin Joseph Messinger; 26 October 1907 – 25 October 1965) was an American actor who was cast in substantial roles in dozens of films during the silent film era. He began his career as a jovial chubby child actor. With t ...

was her brother. Her name was sometimes spelled Gertrude Messenger and she was also known as Gertie Messinger. During the 1930s her career took off, with significant roles in more than 30 films. Her earliest starring roles were in 1932 when she starred opposite Bob Steele in ''

Riders of the Desert ''Riders of the Desert'' is a 1932 American Western film directed by Robert North Bradbury and written by Wellyn Totman. The film stars Bob Steele, Gertrude Messinger, Al St. John, George "Gabby" Hayes, John Elliott and Horace B. Carpenter. ...

'', and opposite

Lane Chandler Lane Chandler (born Robert Clinton Oakes, June 4, 1899 – September 14, 1972) was an American actor specializing mainly in Western (genre), Westerns. Biography Early life Chandler was raised on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the so ...

in ''Lawless Valley''. For the remainder of the 1930s, she was fairly active in films. In 1934, she played a major part in arguably her biggest movie ''

Anne of Green Gables ''Anne of Green Gables'' is a 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery (published as L. M. Montgomery). Written for all ages, it has been considered a classic children's novel since the mid-20th century. Set in the late 19th century, t ...

'', with the starring role being played by actress

Dawn O'Day Anne Shirley (born Dawn Evelyn Paris; April 17, 1918 – July 4, 1993) was an American actress. Beginning her career as a child actress under the stage name Dawn O'Day, she adopted the stage name of Anne Shirley, after playing the title characte ...

(later known as Anne Shirley). Her most active year was 1935 when she starred in eight feature films, most notably ''The Fighting Pilot'' with

Richard Talmadge Richard Talmadge (born Sylvester Alphonse Metz; 3 December 1892 – 25 January 1981) also known as Sylvester Metzetti, Ricardo Metzetti, or Sylvester Ricardo Metzetti, was a German-born actor, stuntman and film director. Early life Born in ...

and ''Wagon Trail'' opposite

Harry Carey Harry Carey may refer to: *Harry Carey (actor) (1878–1947), American actor * Harry Carey Jr. (1921–2012), American actor * Harry Carey (footballer) (1916–1991), Australian rules footballer See also * Henry Carey (disambiguation) * Harry Car ...

. In April 1932, the 20-year-old actress fled her fiance and eloped with actor Dave Sharpe. In 1939, she married

cameraman A camera operator, or depending on the context cameraman or camerawoman, is a professional operator of a film camera or video camera as part of a film crew. The term "cameraman" does not imply that a male is performing the task. In filmmaking ...

Schuyler Sanford, who later won an

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology), ...

for his work on the film ''

Around the World in 80 Days ''Around the World in Eighty Days'' (french: link=no, Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours) is an adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first published in French in 1872. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employe ...

''. Her career slowed considerably in the 1940s, but she continued to act, mostly in uncredited roles. Her last credited role was in the 1949 film ''Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch''. In 1952, she played in her last film, '' The Greatest Show on Earth'', which was uncredited. She appeared in a total of 52 films in her career, 11 of which were

Western film The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

Death

Gertrude Messinger died of congestive heart failure on November 8, 1995, aged 84.

Selected filmography

* ''A Bit o' Heaven'' (1917) - A Raggedy Ruggles * ''Jack and the Beanstalk'' (1917) * '' Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp'' (1917) - Yasmini * ''

The Babes in the Woods ''The Babes in the Woods'' is a 1917 American silent fantasy film directed by Chester M. Franklin and Sidney Franklin and starring Francis Carpenter, Virginia Lee Corbin and Violet Radcliffe.Solomon p.243-44 Cast * Francis Carpenter as Roland ...

'' (1917) * ''Treasure Island'' (1917) * ''The Girl with the Champagne Eyes'' (1918) - Miner's Child * ''Fan Fan'' (1918) * ''

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" ( ar, علي بابا والأربعون لصا) is a folk tale from the ''One Thousand and One Nights''. It was added to the collection in the 18th century by its French translator Antoine Galland, who heard ...

'' (1918) - Morgiianna * ''Miss Adventure'' (1919) - Jane, as a child * '' The Luck of the Irish'' (1920) - The Kid's Romance * ''

Rip Van Winkle "Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by the American author Washington Irving, first published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who meets mysterious Dutchmen, imbibes their liquor and falls aslee ...

'' (1921) - Meenie Van Winkle, as a child * '' Penrod and Sam'' (1923) - Marjorie Jones * ''

The Barefoot Boy "The Barefoot Boy" is a poem written by American Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier. The poem was first published in ''The Little Pilgrim'' in January 1855. Overview The poem is about a barefoot boy who is both innocent and connected to nature. N ...

'' (1923) - Mary Truesdale - as a Child * '' The Jazz Age'' (1929) - Marjorie * ''

The Duke Steps Out ''The Duke Steps Out'' is a 1929 American silent comedy-drama film directed by James Cruze and starring William Haines and Joan Crawford. The film is lost, but the Vitaphone sound discs track of music and sound effects survive in the UCLA Film ...

'' (1929) - College Girl (uncredited) * ''

Two Weeks Off ''Two Weeks Off'' is a 1929 American silent comedy film directed by William Beaudine. The film was released in alternative silent and sound versions. It is currently a lost film. Cast * Dorothy Mackaill as Kitty Weaver * Jack Mulhall as Dave ...

'' (1929) - Tessie McCann * '' The Rampant Age'' (1930) - Julie * ''

The Boy Friends ''The Boy Friends'' is a series of American Pre-Code comedy short films released between 1930 and 1932. The series consisted of fifteen films and was spun off from the long running '' Our Gang'' film series (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' ...

'' (1930-1932, Short) - Gertie * ''

Sinister Hands ''Sinister Hands'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Armand Schaefer. Plot summary A millionaire is murdered at a séance at a fortune-teller's home. Detective Capt Herbert Devlin, played by Jack Mulhall, and Detective Watkins inve ...

'' (1932) - Betty Lang * '' Lawless Valley'' (1932) - Rosita * ''

'' (1932) - Barbara * ''

Madame Racketeer ''Madame Racketeer'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film featuring Alison Skipworth, Richard Bennett and George Raft. The movie was directed by Harry Wagstaff Gribble and Alexander Hall.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland ...

'' (1932) - Patsy Hicks * '' Hidden Valley'' (1932) - Joyce Lanners * ''

The Woman Accused ''The Woman Accused'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Paul Sloane and starring Nancy Carroll and Cary Grant as a young engaged couple on a sea cruise, with the woman being implicated in the death of her former lover. The suppo ...

'' (1933) - Evelyn Craig * ''

He Learned About Women ''He Learned About Women'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Lloyd Corrigan and written by Lloyd Corrigan, Harlan Thompson and Ray Harris. The film stars Stuart Erwin, Susan Fleming, Alison Skipworth, Gordon Westcott, Grant M ...

'' (1933) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Bondage'' (1933) - (uncredited) * ''

Diamond Trail ''Diamond Trail'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code film directed by Harry L. Fraser. Rex Bell portrays a "wise-cracking reporter-detective", similar to his role in ''From Broadway to Cheyenne'', as he solves a case involving jewel thieves. Opening ...

'' (1933) - Blonde Secretary (uncredited) * ''

Love Past Thirty ''Love Past Thirty'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Vin Moore and starring Aileen Pringle, Theodore von Eltz and Phyllis Barry.Pitts, pg. 158 Synopsis After she is ditched by her boyfriend for her younger niece, a woman devel ...

'' (1934) - Zelda Burt * ''

Hat, Coat, and Glove ''Hat, Coat and Glove'' is a 1934 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Worthington Miner from a screenplay by Francis Faragoh. It starred Ricardo Cortez, Barbara Robbins, and John Beal. Plot Cast * Ricardo Cortez as Robert Mitchell ...

'' (1934) - Elevator Operator (uncredited) * ''

The Age of Innocence ''The Age of Innocence'' is a 1920 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It was her twelfth novel, and was initially serialized in 1920 in four parts, in the magazine ''Pictorial Review''. Later that year, it was released as a book by D. Apple ...

'' (1934) - Ship Passenger (uncredited) * ''

'' (1934) - Diana * ''

The Fighting Pilot ''The Fighting Pilot'' (aka ''Fighting Pilot'') is a 1935 American action film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Richard Talmadge, Gertrude Messinger and Robert Frazer. When an inventor develops a new type of aircraft, a crooked businessman ...

'' (1935) - Jean Reynolds * '' Wagon Trail'' (1935) - Joan Collins * ''

Roaring Roads ''Roaring Roads'' is a 1935 American action film directed by Charles E. Roberts and Ray Nazarro. It featured three actors from the ''Our Gang'' films: David Sharpe, Mary Kornman and Mickey Daniels. It was the second and last film in the series '' ...

'' (1935) - Gertrude 'Gertie' McDowell * ''

Social Error ''Social Error'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring David Sharpe, Gertrude Messinger and Monte Blue.Pitts p.129-30 It was re-released by Astor Pictures in 1948. Main cast * David Sharpe as Edward 'Eddie' Ben ...

'' (1935) - June Merton * ''

Rustler's Paradise ''Rustler's Paradise'' is a 1935 American western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Harry Carey, Gertrude Messinger and Edmund Cobb. It was produced by the Poverty Row studio Ajax Pictures for release as a second feature.Pitts p.17 It ...

'' (1935) - Connie * ''Adventurous Knights'' (1935) - Princess Carmencita * ''

The Rider of the Law ''The Rider of the Law'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury. Plot summary Cast * Bob Steele as Bob Marlow * Gertrude Messinger as Ann Carver * Si Jenks as Buffalo Brady * Lloyd Ingraham as Colonel Carver * ...

'' (1935) - Ann Carver * ''

Melody Trail ''Melody Trail'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford, and Smiley Burnette.Magers 2007, p. 35. Written by Sherman L. Lowe and Betty Burbridge, the film is about a singing cowboy who goe ...

'' (1935) - Cowgirl Cuddles * ''

Blazing Justice ''Blazing Justice'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Albert Herman. Plot In a saloon, Ray Healy witnesses three outlaws kill a sheriff, Ray subdues two of them, but one named Max gets away. During the pursuit Max manages to bludgeo ...

'' (1936) - Virginia Peterson * ''

The Return of Jimmy Valentine ''The Return of Jimmy Valentine'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Lewis D. Collins and written by Olive Cooper and Jack Natteford. The film stars Roger Pryor, Charlotte Henry, Robert Warwick, James P. Burtis, Edgar Kennedy and J. Carr ...

'' (1936) - Blonde (uncredited) * '' The Drag-Net'' (1936) - Switchboard Operator (uncredited) * ''

The Border Patrolman ''The Border Patrolman'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by David Howard and starring George O'Brien. Plot Spoiled socialite Patricia Huntley gets arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agent Bob Wallace in Arizona after meeting with je ...

'' (1936) - Telephone Operator (uncredited) * ''

Our Relations ''Our Relations'' is a 1936 feature film starring Laurel and Hardy, produced by Stan Laurel for Hal Roach Studios. This is the third of three films in which they play a dual role: the first was '' Brats'' and the second was ''Twice Two''. The sto ...

'' (1936) - Pirate's Club Customer (uncredited) * ''

Aces Wild ''Aces Wild'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Harry Carey, Gertrude Messinger and Theodore Lorch.Pitts, p. 130. Main cast * Harry Carey as Cheyenne Harry Morgan * Gertrude Messinger as Martha Worth * ...

'' (1936) - Martha Worth * '' Rose Bowl'' (1936) - Girl (uncredited) * ''

Wild Brian Kent ''Wild Brian Kent'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Howard Bretherton and starring Ralph Bellamy, Mae Clarke and Helen Lowell.Goble p.510 Cast * Ralph Bellamy as Brian Kent * Mae Clarke as Betty Prentice * Helen Lowell as Aunt Sue ...

'' (1936) - Operator (uncredited) * ''

Secret Valley ''Secret Valley'' is an Australian children's television adventure series first shown on the ABC in 1980. It was produced by the Grundy Organisation in association with Telecip, S.A. and Spain's public broadcaster Televisión Española. Serie ...

'' (1937) - Martin's Secretary (uncredited) * ''

King of Gamblers ''King of Gamblers'' is a 1937 American low-budget gangster film directed by Robert Florey. Akim Tamiroff takes an unusual featured role as a slot-machine racketeer whose bombing of an uncooperative barber shop leads to a murder charge. (The fil ...

'' (1937) - Telephone Operator (uncredited) * '' Atlantic Flight'' (1937) - Mary (uncredited) * '' Carnival Queen'' (1937) - Small Young Woman (uncredited) * ''

Feud of the Range ''Feud of the Range'' is a 1939 American Western (genre), Western film produced and directed by Harry S. Webb and written by Carl Krusada. The film stars Bob Steele (actor), Bob Steele, Richard Cramer, Gertrude Messinger, Frank LaRue, Jean Cranf ...

'' (1939) - Madge Allen * ''

Zenobia Septimia Zenobia (Palmyrene Aramaic: , , vocalized as ; AD 240 – c. 274) was a third-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria. Many legends surround her ancestry; she was probably not a commoner and she married the ruler of the city, ...

'' (1939) - Party Guest (uncredited) * '' Our Leading Citizen'' (1939) - Phone Operator (uncredited) * ''

The Great Victor Herbert ''The Great Victor Herbert'' is a 1939 American musical film directed by Andrew L. Stone. During production, the movie was slated to be called ''The Gay Days of Victor Herbert.'' Plot Cast * Allan Jones as John Ramsey * Mary Martin as Louis ...

'' (1939) - Barney's Secretary (uncredited) * ''

Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride ''Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and June Storey. Written by Winston Miller, based on a story by Betty Burbridge and Connie Lee, the film is about a ...

'' (1940) - Miss Robinson (uncredited) * ''

Gambling Daughters ''Gambling Daughters'' is a 1941 American mystery film directed by Max Nosseck and starring Cecilia Parker, Roger Pryor and Robert Baldwin.Langman p.235 Plot Summary Lillian and Katherine discover a gambling spot while following their French teac ...

'' (1941) - Jane * ''

Niagara Falls Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, ...

'' (1941) - Telephone Operator (uncredited) * ''

The Miracle Kid ''The Miracle Kid'' is a 1941 American sports comedy film directed by William Beaudine. Plot A young boxer named Jimmy Connley (portrayed by Tom Neal) finds his life turned upside down when he meets with sudden success in the ring. Cast *Tom ...

'' (1941) - Marge * '' Pardon My Stripes'' (1942) - Telephone Operator (uncredited) * ''

Syncopation In music, syncopation is a variety of rhythms played together to make a piece of music, making part or all of a tune or piece of music off-beat. More simply, syncopation is "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm": a "place ...

'' (1942) - Bride (uncredited) * ''

Redhead from Manhattan ''Redhead from Manhattan'' is a 1943 comedy film directed by Lew Landers and written by Joseph Hoffman. The film stars Lupe Vélez in one of her last screen appearances, Michael Duane, Tim Ryan, Gerald Mohr, Lillian Yarbo and Arthur Loft. The fi ...

'' (1943) - Club Patron (uncredited) * ''

Destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

'' (1943) - Girl (uncredited) * ''

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch ''Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch'' is a 1949 American film directed by Reginald Le Borg. It was one in the series of ''Joe Palooka'' films for Monogram starring Leon Errol. It was co-written by Cy Endfield. Cast * Leon Errol Leon Errol ...

'' (1949) - Nurse * ''

Samson and Delilah Samson and Delilah are Biblical figures. Samson and Delilah may also refer to: In music * ''Samson and Delilah'' (opera), an opera by Camille Saint-Saëns * ''Samson & Delilah'' (album), released in 2013 by V V Brown * "Samson and Delilah" (t ...

'' (1949) - (uncredited) * ''

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades east to Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a major thoroughfare in t ...

'' (1950) - Hairdresser (uncredited) * '' The Greatest Show on Earth'' (1952) - Gertrude (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Heroines, Gertrude Messinger
{{DEFAULTSORT:Messinger, Gertrude 1911 births 1995 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Spokane, Washington American film actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) American child actresses Western (genre) film actresses American silent film actresses