Edith Segal Motridge (July 30, 1913 – November 1, 2007), also known by her married name Edith Polster[1] or as Edith Motridge Segal,[2][3] was an American competitive swimmer who represented the United States in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. After her competitive swimming career, she was most well-known as Esther Williams' stand-in when filming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movies, although she also had minor roles in films such as Cynthia (1946) and The Cobweb (1955).
 Edith Motridge in 1936 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Edith Segal Motridge |
| National team |  United States |
| Born | July 30, 1913 San Francisco, California |
| Died | November 1, 2007 (aged 94) Fairbanks Ranch, California |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Backstroke |
| Club | Los Angeles Athletic Club |
Early life
editMotridge was born in San Francisco on July 30, 1913,[4] later attending Hollywood High School and the University of Southern California. Due to Hollywood High School not having a girls' swim team, she trained with the boys' team, and later with the Los Angeles Athletic Club.[1]
Competitive swimming career
editAt the 1936 Summer Olympics, Motridge placed fourth in the women's 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:19.6.[5][6] She was also the US champion in the 100m backstroke in 1939[6] with a time of 1:18.9.[7] Along with Esther Williams, she set the national record in either the 300m or 300-yard medley in 1939.[a]
Film career
editAfter her competitive swimming career, Motridge worked on movies at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as Esther Williams' stunt double and stand-in.[6][11][12] She worked on all swimming films made by MGM.[1] Motridge appeared in other films, mostly in minor roles, beginning in 1945 as a background character in Without Love.[13] She went on to play a role in The Harvey Girls in 1946,[14] then played a teacher in the 1947 film Cynthia.[15] She played a nurse in 1955's The Cobweb;[16] in 1956, she had an acting role in The Swan.[17]
Personal life
editIn 1968 or 1969, Motridge married Leonard Polster, an investment company executive.[18][1] They moved to Fairbanks Ranch in 1983.[6][19] They had three children and four grandchildren.[1] Throughout their partnership they were involved in philanthropic efforts,[1] including a Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation scholarship[20] started in the late 1980s[21] which gives $25,000–$30,000 scholarships to students in North County, California.[19]
Motridge died on November 1, 2007, at her home in Fairbanks Ranch.[1]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Polster, Edith Motridge". Los Angeles Times. November 6, 2007. p. B11.
- ^ "U.S. Women Make Strong Showing". The Gazette and Daily. August 12, 1936. p. 10.
- ^ "American Stars Win Honors In Swimming Tests". Reno Gazette-Journal. August 13, 1936. p. 14.
- ^ "Edith Motridge". Olympedia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "Olympedia – 100 metres Backstroke, Women". Olympedia. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Edith MOTRIDGE Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ "Youngsters Dominate Women's Swim Meet". Santa Barbara News-Press. July 30, 1939. p. 16.
- ^ Beach & Pool. Beach and Pool Publishing Corporation. 1940. p. 6. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ Martin, W. E. J. (December 3, 1950). "Stand-In a Big Factor in Film Output Today". Buffalo Courier Express. pp. 95–96.
- ^ Marsh, Irving T.; Ehre, Edward (1945). Best Sports Stories. Sporting News. p. 368. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "First Spectacular of Fall To Be Williams Water Show". Columbia Daily Tribune. September 29, 1956. p. 11.
- ^ Donnelly, Marea (August 8, 2016). "From cripple to star: How Australian-born diver Annette Kellerman became a 'pinnacle of physical feminine perfection'". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ "June Subs Freund". Evening Star-News. December 14, 1944. p. 6.
- ^ Heffernan, Harold (March 13, 1945). "Hollywood Motion Picture Stars to See Themselves Auctioned Off—in Effigy". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 17.
- ^ Churchill, Reba; Churchill, Bonnie (November 28, 1946). "Hollywood Diary". Valley Times. p. 15.
- ^ "Edith Comes Out Onto Dry Land". Los Angeles Mirror. January 20, 1955. p. 28.
- ^ "Three Stand-ins Get Breaks in "The Swan"". The Los Angeles Times. April 28, 1956. p. 12.
- ^ Who's Who in the West 2000-2001 (27 ed.). Marquis Who's Who. 2001. p. 496. ISBN 9780837909301. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ a b "Clubs". North County Times. December 29, 1999. p. 7.
- ^ Groch, Laura (August 3, 2017). "Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation awards scholarships". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ Knox, Julie (May 31, 1999). "Couple establishes student scholarship fund". North County Times. p. 19.