Shaindel Kalish was an American actress on stage, on old-time radio, and in films. Her first name was sometimes spelled "Scheindel". She was also known at various times as Judith Blake, Ann Shepherd, Ann Preston, Judith Preston Blake, Ann S. Sheps, and Ann Shepherd Mann. She was a victim of the Hollywood Blacklist.
In 1933, Kalish had a leading role in Girls in Uniform, presented at the Blackstone Theatre in Chicago. During the play's run, she turned down an opportunity to meet with representatives from the Radio-Keith-Orpheum film company, saying that she preferred to continue acting on stage. After that play, she had the lead in Sixteen, which was also presented at the Blackstone. Billed as Ann Shepherd, Kalish acted on Broadway in the 1940s. Her plays included Sophie, Truckline Cafe, and All My Sons.
Film
In February 1936, soon after signing a contract with Universal Pictures, Kalish was "being hailed as an Elizabeth Bergner type", and the studio had plans to change her name. By March 30, 1936, she was known as Ann Preston. Her film debut came when she had the female lead in Parole!, after which she appeared in Magnificent Brute. Later in 1936, she had a new studio and another new name. After she signed with RKO Pictures, officials at that studio changed her name to Judith Blake. At RKO, she had a supporting role in Wanted: Jane Turner.
Radio and television
In 1935, Kalish joined the casts of the radio programsEyes of Youth, Masquerade and Nickelodeon. She played "most of the heavy parts" in Lights Out, portrayed Betty Fairfield in Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy, and was a member of the casts of The First Nighter Program and Grand Hotel. Billed as Ann Shepherd, Kalish played the title character in the soap operaJoyce Jordan, Girl Interne. played "Hope Melton Evans" on Big Sister, and portrayed Pearl Sutton on Just Plain Bill. She was also a regular on Everyman's Theater,, Green Valley, U.S.A., and Hilda Hope, M.D. In the 1970s, she returned to radio to perform in episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater. She reprised the role of "Hope Melton Evans" on October 9, 1945 in an experimental CBS television broadcast of Big Sister. On April 18, 1945, she performed in an experimental TV variety program, Women in Wartime, also on CBS. Kalish made appearances in three episodes of the ABC series Actors Studio. In 1951, she appeared in two episodes of the CBS anthology seriesDanger. Later, in 1952, she appeared in the premiere episode of the WOR-TV New York series Dark Destiny.
Personal life
Kalish was married to director Charles K. Freeman, who also was her manager. Later she married actor and director Yisrol Paul Mann Libman. During that marriage, she was known as Jennie Shaludel Libman and Ann Shepherd Mann.
