Esther Dale

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Esther Dale November 10 1885 July 23 1961 was an American actress best known perhaps for her role as Aunt Genevieve in the 1935 Shirley Temple vehicle Curly Top On the stage Dale starred in Carrie Nation on Broadway in 1933 Her other Broadway credits include Harvest of Years 1947 And Be My Love 1944 and Another Language 1932 Dales first film was Crime Without Passion 1934 in an uncredited role She was a familiar face in films of the 1930s 1940s and 1950s frequently playing stern authoritarian characters such as prison matrons and head nurses although she was equally adept at playing grande dames and ladies of the aristocracy Dale played many roles in television over the years In the 19581959 season of The Donna Reed Show Dale played a jobseeking housekeeper who is frightened from the Stone home by Jeff Stones pet mouse and she appeared in the 1957 Maverick episode According to Hoyle opposite James Garner