Actress Hope Emerson: Iowa Time Machine October 29, 1897

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 29, 1897, actress, vaudevillian, nightclub performer, and strongwoman Hope Emerson was born in Hawarden. Physically imposing, she stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed over 200 pounds.

After a childhood in northwestern Iowa, Emerson made her Broadway debut in “Lysistrata” in 1930, when theatrical producer Norman Bel Geddes cast her as Lamputo, an Amazon. She made her film debut in “Smiling Faces” (1932) before returning to the theater briefly and voicing "Elsie the Cow" in radio commercials for Borden Milk.

One of Emerson's more memorable roles came as a circus strongwoman in the film “Adam's Rib” (1949), where she lifted an actor in the air. She also shone as a nefarious masseuse-conspirator in the noirish “Cry of the City” (1948), and as a mail-order bride in Westward the Women (1952). Emerson excelled as the sadistic prison matron Evelyn Harper in “Caged” (1950), a role that garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

On television, Emerson enjoyed a regular role as ‘Mother’ on the detective series “Peter Gunn” (1958–1961), and received an Emmy nomination. Emerson left Peter Gunn for a starring role on the CBS sitcom “The Dennis O'Keefe Show” (1959–60). She appeared in every episode of its single-season run but died 16 days before the final episode aired. #Iowa #OTD #History #Actress #Hollywood