Barbara Eiler
Barbara Eiler was a prolific actress in radio and television shows during the 1940s and 1960s. She began her acting career as a teenager and was a regular on shows such as A Day In the Life of Dennis Day, The Life of Riley, Glamour Manor and The Fabulous Dr. Tweedy.
Actor, Dennis Day, starred in A Day In the Life of Dennis Day, and Eiler played his girlfriend, Mildred, along with other actresses, Sharon Douglas and Betty Miles. The situation comedy premiered in 1946 and ran until 1951.
The show was based on the comedic talents of Dennis Day and was considered a huge radio success. Day was excellent in his performance as the singing soda jerk and the humor was kept alive as the show focused on the problems between he and his girlfriend, Mildred (played by Eiler).
Dramas of Youth, a radio dramatic anthology, was another showcase for Eiler’s talents. The show was based on stories about the younger lives of famous people. She also played a role in the situation comedy, The Fabulous Dr. Tweedy, also starring Frank Morgan and Harry Von Zell.
Glamour Manor, another situation comedy, featured Eiler as the girlfriend of Kenny Baker, the “singing proprietor” of Glamour Manor. The radio show was based on the lives of the manor’s guests.
One of the better known radio shows in which Eiler appeared was the situation comedy, Life of Riley, starring William Bendix as Chester A. Riley. Barbara played the part of Riley’s daughter, Babs, during the show’s broadcasts in 1947.
The radio crime series, Mystery in the Air, featured Eiler in episodes during its 1945 summer replacement of the Abbott and Costello Show. Well known mystery actor, Peter Lorre, also starred in the show, which showcased his acting talents. Unfortunately none of the 12 summer episodes are extant.
Another situation comedy that featured the talents of Eiler was You Can’t Take It With You, based on the play by George S. Kaufman. Eiler played the part of the granddaughter (Alice) of Grandpa Vanderhof, played by Walter Brennan. It aired in 1944 and ended its run in 1951.
As well as the many situation comedies Barbara Eiler also appeared in episodes of Gunsmoke, The Railroad Hour, Have Gun Will Travel, The Saint, The Whistler, Arch Oboler's Plays, Family Theater, Screen Director's Playhouse, Suspense and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar.
Barbara Eiler married Martin Sperzen in 1943 and they had two children. She was 79 years old when she passed away on July 16, 2006 at Sherman Oaks Hospital in California from complications that arose after hip surgery.
Happy listening my friends,
