Shirley Jean Rickert
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Shirley Jean Rickert (b. 25 March, 1926) was an American child actress who was briefly the "blond girl" for the Our Gang series in 1931, during the Hal Roach talkie period.
After the series, she had a brief movie career, followed by a string of jobs including driving trucks for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. She also worked in burlesque as Gilda and Her Crowning Glory. She currently performs quilting and works with her daughter and grandchild.
In the mid-1970s, she became a traveling saleswoman for industrial hardware, surprising potential clients with her starring roles in Our Gang. Later, she performed in local theater productions, helped to maintain a Web fansite, and made occasional public appearances. She also sold her crafts at a local shop with her daughter's family.
People are so amazed to hear I went from movies into burlesque. Well, I'll tell you,
I prefer burlesque because it's not so immoral as the movie business.– — Shirley Jean Rickert, 1955 news article
Rickert is one of the few living Our Gangers from the original series. Other surviving members are Jackie Cooper, Dorothy DeBorba, Dickie Moore, Jean Darling, Mickey Gubitosi (aka:Robert Blake), Jerry Tucker, and Jackie Lynn Taylor.
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Shirley_Jean_Rickert ]
External links
- Shirley Jean Rickert at the Internet Movie Database
- Shirley Jean Rickert at All Music Guide
- Shirley Jean's home page, with photos and replies to email.
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