Florence Ravenel (March 18, 1896 – December 18, 1975)[1][2] also known as Florence Ray,[3][4] was an American stage, radio and film actress, perhaps best known for her work on the radio series The Court of Missing Heirs,[5] and on the TV sitcom The Farmer's Daughter.[6]
Ravenel made her professional dramatic debut—billed as Florence Ravanel—in the fall of 1923 with the William Augustin Players in Gloucester, Massachusetts.[7] Of her performance in Avery Hopwood's Fair and Warmer, Billboard reported, "Florence Ravanel made a hit as Laura Bartlett".[9] 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[10][11][12]), The Beacon Journal singled out Ravenel's contribution, noting that the actress had tackled "hard roles and won praise from her audience."[13]
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.[21] In March, the company's production of Avery Hopwood's The Alarm Clock featured Ravenel as Mrs. Dunsmore.[22] That summer, Ravenel toured with Jeanne Eagels' company in a vaudeville recreation of scenes from Eagels' recent vehicle, The Cardboard Lover.[23][24] 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.[25]
In the fall of 1951, Ravenel joined 12 fellow former radio actors in the cast of Arch Oboler's The Twonky.[36]
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.[37]
^Green, Nat (August 24, 1935). "Chi Air Notes". The Billboard. p. 9. ProQuest1032073529. Florence Ravenel, known as Florence Ray on WLS, has given up her job there as continuity writer and announcer on women's programs. . . . Future undecided. . . .
^"DRAMATIC STOCK: WILLIAM AUGUSTIN PLAYERS". The Billboard. November 24, 1923. p. 26. ProQuest1505519345. Gloucester, Mass., Nov. 8.—The presentation of 'Fair and Warmer' met with the hearty approval of the packed houses that attended it. Last week Mr. Augustin and Ruth Floyd, in the roles of Billy and Bunny, went right to the heart of their audiences. Florence Ravanel made a hit as Laura Bartlett, J. Gordon Kelley was very amusing as Harrigan, the mover, and things were helped along in fine style by Maude Williams, David Walters, Benton C. Ressler and Stanley Peyton.
^"Behind the Microphone". Broadcasting. April 1, 1933. p. 2. ProQuest1505558104. FLORENCE RAVENAL, one of the general staff of KYU, has been drafted to handle the noontime dance programs by Rex Maupin's orchestra over that station.
^Fisher, Marvin (February 2, 1956). "Play Review: 'Buy Me Blue Ribbons'". The Hollywood Reporter. ProQuest2338330469. Producer Murry [sic] Weintraub and his group of professional actors and actresses have taken a Broadway flop, 'Buy Me Blue Ribbons,' by Sumner Locke Elliott and have turned it into an amusing and diverting three acts that should cause much comment. Of course, it is broad, doesn't make much sense, is unreal and is a slight slap at Hollywood, but when you leave you'll know you have been entertained. A big, big reason for sustaining interest in this story of a child star who has grown up to find himself a has-been at the age of 20, lies in the masterful comedy performance of Paul Smith. [...] Other effective roles are by Pat Harding, Parker Garvie, Florence Ravenel and Naomi Stevens.
