Edith Motridge

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Edith Motridge
Edith Motridge in 1936
Personal information
Full nameEdith Segal Motridge
National team United States
Born(1913-07-30)July 30, 1913
San Francisco, California
DiedNovember 1, 2007(2007-11-01) (aged 94)
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubLos Angeles Athletic Club

Edith Segal Motridge (July 30, 1913 – November 1, 2007),[1] also known by her married name Edith Polster[2] or as Edith Motridge Segal,[3][4] was an American competitive swimmer who represented the United States in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.[5] After her competitive swimming career, she was most well-known as Esther Williams' stand-in when filming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movies.

Early life[edit]

Motridge was born in San Francisco, 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 boy's team, and later with the Los Angeles Athletic Club.[2]

Competitive swimming career[edit]

Motridge posted a time of 1:19.6 and placed fourth in the women's 100-meter backstroke final at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[6] She was also the US champion in the 100m backstroke in 1939[5] with a time of 1:18.9.[7] Along with Esther Williams, she set the national record in the 300m medley in 1939.[8]

Movie career[edit]

After Motridge's competitive swimming career, she worked on movies at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as Esther Williams' stunt double and stand-in.[5][9][10] She worked on all swimming movies made by MGM.[2]

Motridge's acting career separate from Williams, mostly consisting of minor roles, began in 1945 as a background character in Without Love.[11] She went on to play a role in The Harvey Girls in 1946,[12] then played a teacher in the 1947 film Cynthia.[13] She played a nurse in 1955's The Cobweb;[14] in 1956, she had an acting role in The Swan.[15]

Personal life[edit]

Motridge married Leonard Polster in 1969;[2] they moved to Fairbanks Ranch in 1983.[5][16] They had three children and four grandchildren.[2] Throughout their partnership they were involved in philanthropic efforts,[2] including a Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation scholarship[17] started in the late 1980s[18] which gives $25,000-$30,000 scholarships to students in North County, California.[16]

Motridge died on November 1, 2007, at her home in Fairbanks Ranch.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Edith Motridge". Olympedia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Polster, Edith Motridge". Los Angeles Times. November 6, 2007. p. B11.
  3. ^ "U.S. Women Make Strong Showing". The Gazette and Daily. August 12, 1936. p. 10.
  4. ^ "American Stars Win Honors In Swimming Tests". Reno Gazette-Journal. August 13, 1936. p. 14.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Olympedia – 100 metres Backstroke, Women". Olympedia. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Youngsters Dominate Women's Swim Meet". Santa Barbara News-Press. July 30, 1939. p. 16.
  8. ^ Martin, W. E. J. (December 3, 1950). "Stand-In a Big Factor in Film Output Today". Buffalo Courier Express. pp. 95–96.
  9. ^ "First Spectacular of Fall To Be Williams Water Show". Columbia Daily Tribune. September 29, 1956. p. 11.
  10. ^ Donnelly, Marea. "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.
  11. ^ "June Subs Freund". Evening Star-News. December 14, 1944. p. 6.
  12. ^ Heffernan, Harold (March 13, 1945). "Hollywood Motion Picture Stars to See Themselves Auctioned Off—in Effigy". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 17.
  13. ^ Churchill, Reba; Churchill, Bonnie (November 28, 1946). "Hollywood Diary". Valley Times. p. 15.
  14. ^ "Edith Comes Out Onto Dry Land". Los Angeles Mirror. January 20, 1955. p. 28.
  15. ^ "Three Stand-ins Get Breaks in "The Swan"". The Los Angeles Times. April 28, 1956. p. 12.
  16. ^ a b "Clubs". North County Times. December 29, 1999. p. 7.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Knox, Julie (May 31, 1999). "Couple establishes student scholarship fund". North County Times. p. 19.
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