Gertrude C Saunders was an American singer, actress and comedian, active from the 1910s to the 1940s.
11 Facts About Gertrude Saunders
1.
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Gertrude Saunders was born in Asheville, North Carolina, and studied at Benedict College, Columbia before leaving in her teens to join a vaudeville troupe based in Chicago, organized by Billy King.
3.
Gertrude Saunders was a part of "the first Broadway musical entirely written, directed, and performed by African Americans".
4.
Gertrude Saunders made several recordings for Okeh Records, with Tim Brymn's Black Devil Orchestra.
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Gertrude Saunders was spotted by vaudeville promoters Hurtig and Seamon, who offered to increase her salary if she would star in a burlesque show.
6.
Gertrude Saunders accepted the offer and was replaced in Shuffle Along by Florence Mills.
7.
In 1931, Gertrude Saunders suffered a breakdown and returned to Asheville to recuperate.
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Florence Mills 8.
Gertrude Saunders featured in several movies, including an uncredited role as a servant in The Toy Wife.
9.
Gertrude Saunders appeared in several films aimed at African American audiences, such as Big Timers and Sepia Cinderella.
10.
Gertrude Saunders is portrayed in the 2015 HBO TV movie, Bessie.
11.
Gertrude Saunders is portrayed as Gertrude, who has an affair with Bessie Smith's husband, Jack Gee.