IDA MOORE

March 1, 1882

Ida Moore was born in Altoona, Kansas.

Moore’s first professional work was  singing to accompany silent films. She then toured England and South Africa entertaining with a partner. After she returned to the United States, she performed in road companies of plays. 

She made her screen debut in 1925, doing background work in three silent films: Lightnin’, The Merry Widow, and Thank You.  She then left Hollywood to return home to take care of her ailing mother and did not return until 1943. 

She continued acting from 1943 to 1951 (doing two films with William Frawley) and in 1950 appearing with Lucille Ball and Bob Hope in Fancy Pants.

Her television debut came in a 1951 episode of “Front Page Detective” titled “Napoleon’s Obituary” co-starring Byron Foulger, who also appeared on “I Love Lucy.” 

In her cameo on “I Love Lucy” in “The Club Election” (ILL S2;E19) filmed on September 12, 1952 and first aired on February 16, 1953, she is known as “Ruth Knickerbocker”- as she was assumed to be in the story line. As she reveals in the end scene, she is indeed Ruth Knickerbocker’s mother-in-law. Her real name is never revealed.

Her final role was playing a Little Old Lady from Pasadena on a 1959 episode of “The Jack Benny Program”. 

She died on September 26, 1964 at age 82.