EVE ARDEN

April 30, 1908

Eunice Mary Quedens (aka Eve Arden) was born in Mill Valley, California, near San Francisco. She was interested in show business from an early age. At 16, she made her stage debut after quitting school to joined a stock company.

She made her screen debut (using her given name) in Columbia’s Song of Love in 1929. 

In 1938 she appeared with Lucille Ball in Stage Door along with Ginger Rogers. It was this film that earned Ball and Arden the nickname “the drop gag girls” for their skill at bringing comedy into a scene with just a short appearance. 

Eve, Lucy and Ginger also appeared together in Having Wonderful Time (1938).

In 1946, she earned a supporting actress Oscar nomination for her appearance in Mildred Pierce starring Joan Crawford. 

In 1948, she landed the role that would make her famous – Connie Brooks in “Our Miss Brooks” – first on radio, then on television. Arden was actually  third choice for the role. CBS’s Harry Ackerman wanted Shirley Booth for the part.

Lucille Ball was believed to have been the next choice, but she was committed to “My Favorite Husband” and did not audition. Brooks’ co-stars included Gale Gordon, Mary Jane Croft, and Richard Crenna, all of who also teamed with Lucille Ball on radio and television. When the show moved to television in 1952, most of the original radio cast went along with Brooks.  It started a years after “I Love Lucy” and ended the same year, 1956. It was also filmed at Desilu Studios, making it convenient to share cast and crew members  including, for one episode in 1955, Desi Arnaz as himself. In 1956 there was also a screen version of Our Miss Brooks starring Arden and Gale Gordon, released by Warner Brothers. 

In November 1952, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, and the casts of both their shows (as well as many other CBS programs) all appeared on “Stars in the Eye” to celebrate the opening of CBS Television City in Hollywood.  

When Lucy Ricardo arrived in Hollywood in “Hollywood at Last!” aka  “L.A. at Last!” (ILL S4;E16), Eve Arden became the very first celebrity to make a cameo – speaking just a few words – the epitome of her ‘drop gag girl’ reputation.  

The appearance was filmed December 2, 1954 and aired on February 7, 1955.

In March 1962, Arden played Marissa Montaine on an episode of “My Three Sons”, filmed at Desilu Studios. The episode also featured Wiliam Frawley, Reta Shaw, and a dog named Tramp! 

Those unfamiliar with Miss Brooks, may also remember Arden as Eve Hubbard on the Desi Arnaz sitcom “The Mothers-in-Law” alongside Kaye Ballard. The series lasted two seasons, and included appearances by its producer, Desi Arnaz. 

As CBS icons, both Ball and Arden were included in “CBS On The Air" on Sunday March 26, 1978. 

That same year she made another memorable appearance, as the Principal of the High School in the film version of Grease. 

Her final screen appearance was on a November 1987 episode of “Falcon Crest” (above left with Jane Wyman and Eddie Albert). 

She died on November 12, 1990 at age 82. She was married twice and had three children.