Ralph Ernest Dumke (July 25, 1899 – January 4, 1964) was an American comedian and actor who had an active career from the early 1920s up until his death in 1964. He rose to fame as part of a comedy duo with Ed East, performing nationally in
vaudeville
Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
on the
B. F. Keith Circuit from 1922-1932 and then headlining the nationally popular daily afternoon radio program "Sisters of the Skillet" on
NBC Radio
The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (known as the NBC Red Network prior to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in operation from 1926 through 2004. Along with the NBC Blue Network it was one of the first t ...
. In the 1940s Dumke worked as a
character actor
A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...
in
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
musicals, and from 1949-1964 he worked in American film and television.
Biography
Dumke was born in South Bend, Indiana. He graduated from the
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin founded the school in 1842. The main campu ...
, where he was a varsity football player.
He began his career in Chicago as a vaudeville entertainer in the early 1920s as part of a comedy duo with Ed East entitled "The Mirthquakers".
The two men became stars on the
B. F. Keith Circuit on which they toured for ten years.
A capstone of "The Mirthquakers" performance run was being one of the leading acts for the opening of
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Nicknamed "The Showplac ...
on December 27, 1932.
The Duke and East comedy duo were also pioneers in early radio broadcasts in New York City and Chicago in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
They became national radio stars on
old-time radio
The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the early ...
, hosting the daily 15 minute afternoon comedy and music program "Sisters of the Skillet" for
NBC Radio
The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (known as the NBC Red Network prior to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in operation from 1926 through 2004. Along with the NBC Blue Network it was one of the first t ...
from 1930-1937 in which they performed comedy sketches, jokes, and humorous musical numbers.
Dumke later portrayed the role of Captain Walt, the host of ''Hook 'n' Ladder Follies'' on NBC (1943-1944).
In 1942 Duke made his Broadway debut as Hercules in the original production of
Lorenz Hart
Lorenz Milton Hart (May 2, 1895 – November 22, 1943) was an American lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Some of his more famous lyrics include " Blue Moon", " The Lady Is a Tramp", "Manhattan", "Bewitched, Both ...
and
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...
's ''
By Jupiter
''By Jupiter'' is a musical theatre, musical with a book by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, music by Rodgers, and lyrics by Hart. The musical is based on the play ''The Warrior's Husband'' by Julian F. Thompson, set in the land of the Amazons. '' ...
''.
He returned to Broadway numerous times during the 1940s, appearing as General Bardini in ''
The Merry Widow
''The Merry Widow'' (german: Die lustige Witwe, links=no ) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt ...
'' (1943-1944), Calchas in ''Helen Goes to Troy'' (1944), the Duke of Maddeloni in ''The Maid as Mistress'' (1944), Joe Horn in ''
Sadie Thompson'' (1944-1945), Dapper Dan Pepper in ''Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston'' (1945), and Cap'n Andy in ''
Show Boat
''Show Boat'' is a musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the performers, stagehands and dock worke ...
'' (1946-1947).
He also appeared in several productions with the
Los Angeles Civic Light Opera
The Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (LACLO) was an American theatre/opera company in Los Angeles, California. Founded under the motto "Light Opera in the Grand Opera manner" in 1938 by impresario Edwin Lester, the organization presented fifty seaso ...
, including ''
The Chocolate Soldier
''The Chocolate Soldier'' (German: ''Der tapfere Soldat'' he courageous soldier
He or HE may refer to:
Language
* He (pronoun), an English pronoun
* He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ
* He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets
* He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...
or ''Der Praliné-Soldat'') is an operetta composed in 1908 by Oscar Straus (composer), Oscar Straus based on George Bernard Shaw's 1894 play, ''Arms and the Man' ...
'' and ''
Rosalinda''.
Dumke appeared as a character actor in over forty feature films between 1949 and 1961, including crime pictures,
films noir
Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...
, dramas, mysteries, Westerns, horror, science fiction, musicals, and comedies. Among these were ''
All the King's Men
''All the King's Men'' is a 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. The novel tells the story of charismatic populist governor Willie Stark and his political machinations in the Depression-era Deep South. It was inspired by the real-life story of U ...
'' (1949), ''
The Breaking Point'' (1950), ''
The War of the Worlds
''The War of the Worlds'' is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells, first serialised in 1897 by ''Pearson's Magazine'' in the UK and by ''Cosmopolitan (magazine), Cosmopolitan'' magazine in the US. The novel's first appear ...
'' (1953), ''
Daddy Long Legs'' (1955), and ''
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' is a 1956 American science fiction horror film produced by Walter Wanger, directed by Don Siegel, and starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter. The black-and-white film was shot in Superscope and in the film ...
'' (1956).
On American television, Dumke starred as Captain Billy Bryant in the CBS-TV variety show ''Captain Billy's Showboat'' (1948)
and was one of the hosts of ABC-TV's ''Movieland Quiz'' (1948). He also made guest appearances on several programs during the 1950s and 1960s, including ''
The Bob Cummings Show
''The Bob Cummings Show'' (also known in reruns as ''Love That Bob'') is an American sitcom starring Bob Cummings, which was broadcast from January 2, 1955, to September 15, 1959.
The program began with a half-season run on NBC, then ran for tw ...
'', ''
I Love Lucy
''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...
'', ''
December Bride
''December Bride'' is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network from 1954 to 1959. It was adapted from the original CBS radio network series of the same name that aired from June 1952 through September 1953.
Overview
''De ...
'', ''
Waterfront'', ''
My Little Margie
''My Little Margie'' is an American television situation comedy starring Gale Storm and Charles Farrell that alternated between CBS and NBC from 1952 to 1955. The series was created by Frank Fox and produced in Los Angeles, California, at Hal Ro ...
'', ''
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...
'', and ''
The Andy Griffith Show
''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color.
The ...
''.
Personal life
Dumke was married to Greta Leona Edner from 1925 until his death.
They had two children.
On January 4, 1964, Dumke died of "a sudden heart seizure" at his home at age 64.
[ ]
Partial filmography
* ''
All the King's Men
''All the King's Men'' is a 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. The novel tells the story of charismatic populist governor Willie Stark and his political machinations in the Depression-era Deep South. It was inspired by the real-life story of U ...
'' (1949) - Tiny Duffy
* ''
Mystery Street
''Mystery Street'' is a 1950 black-and-white film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, Sally Forrest, Bruce Bennett, Elsa Lanchester, and Marshall Thompson. Produced by MGM, it was directed by John Sturges with cinematography by John Alton.
The f ...
'' (1950) - A Tattooist
* ''
Where Danger Lives
''Where Danger Lives'' is a 1950 film noir thriller directed by John Farrow and starring Robert Mitchum, Faith Domergue and Claude Rains.
Plot
Dr. Jeff Cameron (Mitchum) treats a mentally disturbed attempted suicide victim (Domergue). She signs ...
'' (1950) - Klauber
* ''
The Breaking Point'' (1950) - Hannagan
* ''
The Fireball
''The Fireball'' is a 1950 American drama film starring Mickey Rooney and Pat O'Brien, and directed by Tay Garnett. The cast also includes Beverly Tyler and the eighth screen appearance of Marilyn Monroe.
The film, released by 20th Century Fox ...
'' (1950) - Bruno Crystal
* ''
When I Grow Up'' (1951) - Carp
* ''
The Law and the Lady'' (1951) - James Horace Caighn
* ''
The Mob'' (1951) - Police Commissioner
* ''
Boots Malone
''Boots Malone'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by William Dieterle. It stars William Holden as a down-on-his-luck sports agent and Johnny Stewart as a rich runaway who wants to become a jockey.
Plot
Down on his luck, jockey agent "Boot ...
'' (1952) - Beckett
* ''
Carbine Williams
''Carbine Williams'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring James Stewart, Jean Hagen and Wendell Corey. The film follows the life of its namesake, David Marshall Williams, who invented the operating principle for ...
'' (1952) - Andrew White
* ''
The San Francisco Story
''The San Francisco Story'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Robert Parrish and starring Joel McCrea and Yvonne De Carlo. The rough and tumble Barbary Coast of San Francisco is recreated with attention to detail, including Florence ...
'' (1952) - Winfield Holbert
* ''
We're Not Married!
''We're Not Married!'' is a 1952 American anthology romantic comedy film directed by Edmund Goulding. It was released by 20th Century Fox.
The screenplay was written by Nunnally Johnson, while the story was adapted by Dwight Taylor from Gin ...
'' (1952) - Twitchell (uncredited)
* ''
Holiday for Sinners'' (1952) - Mike Hennighan
* ''
Hurricane Smith'' (1952) - Ben Hawkins
* ''
She Couldn't Say No'' (1952) - Sheriff
* ''
The Mississippi Gambler'' (1953) - F. Montague Caldwell
* ''
Lili
''Lili'' is a 1953 American film released by MGM. It stars Leslie Caron as a touchingly naïve French girl whose emotional relationship with a carnival puppeteer is conducted through the medium of four puppets. The film won the Academy Award for ...
'' (1953) - M. Corvier
* ''
Count the Hours
''Count the Hours!'' is a 1953 crime film noir directed by Don Siegel, featuring Macdonald Carey, Teresa Wright, John Craven, and Jack Elam..
Plot
The bodies of farmer Fred Morgan and his housekeeper are found. Suspicion falls on hired hand Geor ...
'' (1953) - Bartender (uncredited)
* ''
The War of the Worlds
''The War of the Worlds'' is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells, first serialised in 1897 by ''Pearson's Magazine'' in the UK and by ''Cosmopolitan (magazine), Cosmopolitan'' magazine in the US. The novel's first appear ...
'' (1953) - Buck Monahan (uncredited)
* ''
The President's Lady
''The President's Lady'' is a 1951 novel of the life of American president Andrew Jackson and his marriage to Rachel Donelson Robards, written by Irving Stone. A biographical film was made in 1953 by 20th Century Fox, directed by Henry Levin and ...
'' (1953) - Col. Stark
* ''
Hannah Lee
''Hannah Lee'' (also known as ''Outlaw Territory'' and ''Hannah Lee: An American Primitive'') is a 1953 American Western film directed by Lee Garmes and John Ireland. It was originally filmed in stereoscopic 3-D Pathécolor using the twin-Ca ...
'' (1953) - Alesworth
* ''
It Should Happen to You
''It Should Happen to You'' is a 1954 American romantic comedy film starring Judy Holliday, Peter Lawford and Jack Lemmon; it was Lemmon's first major film appearance. The film was directed by George Cukor, and partly filmed on location in New ...
'' (1954) - Beckhard (uncredited)
* ''
Alaska Seas
''Alaska Seas'' is a 1954 American crime film noir directed by Jerry Hopper and starring Robert Ryan and Brian Keith. The supporting cast features Jan Sterling, Gene Barry and Aaron Spelling. The picture is a loose remake of the 1938 film '' Sp ...
'' (1954) - Dad Jackson
* ''
Rails Into Laramie'' (1954) - Mayor Frank Logan
* ''
Massacre Canyon
The Massacre Canyon battle took place in Nebraska on August 5, 1873 near the Republican River. It was one of the last hostilities between the Pawnee and the Sioux (or Lakota) and the last battle/massacre between Great Plains Indians in North Ame ...
'' (1954) - Phineas J. 'Parson' Canfield
* ''
They Rode West
''They Rode West'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Phil Karlson. It reunites the stars of '' The Caine Mutiny'', Robert Francis, Donna Reed, May Wynn and Philip Carey. Based on the story ''Wood Hawk'' by Leo Katcher, it was filmed ...
'' (1954) - Dr. Gibson
* ''
Violent Saturday
''Violent Saturday'' is a 1955 American film noir crime film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Victor Mature, Richard Egan and Stephen McNally. Set in a mining town, Bradenville, Arizona, the film depicts the planning of a bank rob ...
'' (1955) - Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
* ''
Daddy Long Legs'' (1955) - Mr. Bronson (uncredited)
* ''
Hell's Island
''Hell's Island'' is a 1955 American film noir directed by Phil Karlson starring John Payne and Mary Murphy. The film was shot in the VistaVision wide-screen format. ''Hell's Island'' was re-released in 1962 under the title ''South Sea Fury''.
...
'' (1955) - Casino Drunk
* ''
The Desperate Hours'' (1955) - Clint (uncredited)
* ''
Artists and Models
''Artists and Models'' is a 1955 American musical romantic comedy film in VistaVision directed by Frank Tashlin, marking Martin and Lewis's 14th feature together as a team. The film co-stars Shirley MacLaine and Dorothy Malone, with Eva Gabor ...
'' (1955) - Mr. Trimm (uncredited)
* ''
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' is a 1956 American science fiction horror film produced by Walter Wanger, directed by Don Siegel, and starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter. The black-and-white film was shot in Superscope and in the film ...
'' (1956) - Police Chief Nick Grivett
* ''
Forever, Darling'' (1956) - Henry Opdyke
* ''
When Gangland Strikes
''When Gangland Strikes'' is a 1956 American film noir crime film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by John K. Butler and Frederick Louis Fox. The film stars Raymond Greenleaf, Marjie Millar, John Hudson, Anthony Caruso, Marian Carr, Sli ...
'' (1956) - Walter Pritchard
* ''
Francis in the Haunted House
''Francis in the Haunted House'' is a 1956 American comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Robert Arthur, directed by Charles Lamont, that stars Mickey Rooney and Virginia Welles.
This is the seventh and final film in Universal-I ...
'' (1956) - Mayor Hargrove
* ''
The Solid Gold Cadillac
''The Solid Gold Cadillac'' is a 1956 comedy film
A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (blac ...
'' (1956) - Warren Gillie
* ''
The Buster Keaton Story
''The Buster Keaton Story'' is a 1957 American biographical drama film directed by Sidney Sheldon and written by Sidney Sheldon and Robert Smith, following the life of Buster Keaton. The film stars Donald O'Connor, Ann Blyth, Rhonda Fleming, Pet ...
'' (1957) - Mr. Jennings
* ''
Loving You'' (1957) - Jim Tallman
* ''
Walt Disney Presents: Annette'' (1958) - Mr. Abernathy
* ''
Wake Me When It's Over
''Wake Me When It's Over'' is the second album by Faster Pussycat, released in 1989. The band moved away from the glam metal of their first album to a more blues-influenced sound.
Music videos were produced for "Poison Ivy" and "House of Pain". ...
'' (1960) - Sen. Gillespie (uncredited)
* ''
Elmer Gantry
''Elmer Gantry'' is a satirical novel written by Sinclair Lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of the religious activity of America in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it. The novel's protagonis ...
'' (1960) - Salesman in Saloon (uncredited)
* ''
All in a Night's Work
''All in a Night's Work'' is the ninth studio album by the funk and disco group KC and the Sunshine Band. The album was produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch and was released in August 1982 on the Epic label.
History
''All in a Night ...
'' (1961) - Baker
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dumke, Ralph
1899 births
1964 deaths
20th-century American male actors
Actors from South Bend, Indiana
American male television actors
American male film actors
American male musical theatre actors
American radio personalities
Male actors from Indiana
Male actors from Los Angeles
University of Notre Dame alumni
Vaudeville performers