FLORENCE BATES

April 15, 1888

Florence Bates (nee Florence Rabe) was born in San Antonio, Texas. 

After earning her degree in mathematics, Florence went to law school and became the first woman attorney in the history of the state of Texas. She traveled abroad extensively and was fluent in many languages. After the crash of 1929, she moved to California where she auditioned for the part of Miss Bates in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Jane Austen’s Emma. It launched a career playing snooty matrons and demanding dowagers. As a nod to her good fortune, she changed her last name to Bates. 

Her screen debut came in an uncredited role in The Man in Blue (1937). 

In 1940, she was cast by Alfred Hitchcock as Mrs. Edythe Van Hopper in Rebecca (above). She was equally adept at comedy, appearing as Danny Kaye’s prospective mother-in-law in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and as the inebriated Russian dance teacher, Madame Dilyovska, in On the Town (1949). 

Her first television appearance was an episode of “Oboler Comedy Theatre” titled “Love, Love, Love” in October 1949. The episode also featured Hans Conried, with whom she shares a birthday. Other “Lucy” cast members in the episode included Gloria Blondell, Jerry Hausner, Benny Rubin, and Mary Shipp. 

Florence Bates played Mrs. Pettebone, surprise investigating committee chair for the “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25) filmed on February 22, 1952 and first aired on March 31, 1952.

On December 14, 2018 CBS presented a colorized version of this episode as part of their annual “I Love Lucy” Christmas Special.

Mrs. Pomerantz (right) was played by Ruth Perrott, who had played Katie, the maid on Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband.”

In December 1952, she did an episode of “Our Miss Brooks” filmed by Desilu. It also featured Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Paula Winslowe, and Richard Crenna. Bates played a woman in the exchange office of a department store. 

Bates was an avid knitter, and could usually be found knitting between takes. She continued acting in films until her death in January 1954. Her final appearance was on an episode of “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” in December 1953.  She was 65 years old. 

She was married twice and had one child. Bates was a true pioneer woman!