The Carol Bruce Centennial

Carol Bruce (Shirley Levy 1919-2007) was born one century ago

Bruce was one of those many stars whose name you probably haven’t taken note of but whose work you have almost certainly encountered if you are a show biz buff. The fact that she kept hopping around platforms and mediums throughout her career probably prevented the kind of career momentum that would have elevated her name recognition.

Bruce grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, and studied the violin for many years as a child. When she was only 18 she was cast in the Jefferson Machamer comedy short Koo Koo Korrespondence Skool (1937) for Education. Shortly after that she was hired to sing with Larry Clinton’s Orchestra, and then Ben Bernie’s. She also sang on radio programs like The Henny Youngman Show and Horn and Hardart’s Children’s Hour.

Bruce broke into Hollywood features and Broadway at almost exactly the same time. She went from the original stage production of Louisiana Purchase (1940) to a fourth-billed role in the movie This Woman is Mine (1941) which also featured the completely unrelated Nigel Bruce. This was followed by Keep ‘Em Flying (1941) with Abbott and Costello, and Behind the Eight Ball (1942) with the Ritz Brothers. Then she returned to Broadway for New Priorities of 1943, the 1946 revival of Show Boat, and Along Fifth Avenue (1949)

When television came in she did The Ed Sullivan Show, The Milton Berle Show, Cavalcade of Stars, This is Show Business, and many other variety shows, but also took dramatic parts on shows like Studio One and Armstrong Circle Theatre. She later returned to Broadway in A Family Affair (1962) and Do I Hear a Waltz? (1965).

In 1979 she landed what may be her best known role — that of Lillian “Mama” Carlson, Gordon Jump’s overbearing mother on WKPR in Cincinnati, a recurring part that lasted for years. She also had roles in the movies American Gigolo (1980) and Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), and guest shots on Charlie’s Angels, Diff’rent Strokes, Too Close for Comfort, Perfect Strangers,The Golden Girls, etc. Her last screen credit was a 1999 episode of the tv show Profiler.

For more on show business history please see No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous,and for more on classic comedy see Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube.