Eve Arden was born in Mill Valley, California as Eunice M. Quedens in 1908.  At 16 she left high school to start acting beginning in a stock theater company. (According to Encylopedia Britannica Online--eb.com--stock theater is a troupe of actors who perform in the same theater presenting a different play each night from a prepared list of productions.)
She made her movie debut in 1929 playing a wisecracking showgirl who becomes the rival to the star in Song of Love.  Ms. Arden knew how to deliver the sarcasm with such a comedic twist that those were the parts she was cast in; the spunky, funny girlfriend to the leading lady or the dependable funny girl friday to the leading man.  In 1934, she became a Zeigfeld girl in the Zeigfeld Follies and debuted as Eve Arden.  She changed her name after the famous producer, Lee Shubert, suggested she drop her real name.  Eve Arden decided on her name after being inspired by the names on two cosmetic bottles, Evening in Paris perfume and Elizabeth Arden.

In the late 1930s, Ms. Arden made 20 movies in three years, always playing the funny, sarcastic friend.  After all of those movies playing the same type of woman, she decided to leave Hollywood and the typecasting and go back to Broadway.  She appeared in the musical Very Warm for May and Two for the Show.

Ms. Arden appeared on radio in various shows like Lux Radio Theater finally becoming a regular on Danny Kaye's show.  She fit in perfectly with the crazy comedy of Danny Kaye, being a quick wit herself and very funny.  The show was on the air for two seasons and a total of 58 episodes though Ms. Arden didn't appear in the second season.

Our Miss Brooks came along in 1947 and it fit Ms. Arden like a glove. Connie Brooks was sarcastic, funny and witty just like Ms. Arden.  The show was a hit and was on radio from 1948 to 1957, moving to television in 1952-1956, and a feature movie. Within months after the show debuted, it began earning honors both for the show and for Eve Arden personally.

Ms. Arden proved that you didn't have to be the star to get noticed.  You could be the spunky, sardonic sidekick and give the leading lady a run for her money.

Click here to enjoy over 200 Old Time Radio  Broadcasts starring Eve Arden