While the premise of Beulah – about the titular black maid serving as the much put-upon “Mammy” for a white suburban family – probably didn’t thrill many civil rights activists, millions of viewers (many of them presumably black) enjoyed Beulah as she dispensed wisdom to the ever-bumbling Henderson family and to her scatterbrained girlfriend Oriole.
Her employers, the Hendersons – attorney Harry, his wife Alice, and their young son Donnie, who lived at 213 Lake Street – were a caricature of a white middle-class family, giving Beulah plenty to do as one crisis after another overtook the household – such as Mr Henderson burning the steaks at a picnic, falling into the water while fishing, or trying to stop Donnie, from running away from home.
The character of Beulah originated as a supporting role on radio’s Fibber McGee and Molly programme in 1944 and became one of the most popular comedy characters of the 40s and 50s in America.
When ABC brought the popular serial to television in 1950 the role was filled by veteran singer/actress Ethel Waters with Percy Harris as her shiftless boyfriend Bill Jackson (who ran a fix-it shop) and Butterfly McQueen as her unpredictable girlfriend Oriole.
In April 1952 there was a major cast change. Hattie McDaniel (another Hollywood veteran) was hired to take over the title role, but she suddenly became ill and the part went to Louise Beavers after only a few episodes. At the same time, the entire Henderson family changed faces.
Beulah was still receiving high ratings in September 1953 when it went off the air because Miss Beavers decided to leave the series.
Beulah
Ethel Waters (1)
Hattie McDaniel (2)
Louise Beavers (3)
Harry Henderson
William Post Jr (1)
David Bruce (2)
Alice Henderson
Ginger Jones (1)
Jane Frazee (2)
Donnie Henderson
Clifford Sales (1)
Stuffy Singer (2)
Oriole
Butterfly McQueen (1)
Ruby Dandridge (2)
Bill Jackson
Percy (Bud) Harris (1)
Dooley Wilson (2)
Ernest Whitman (3)
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Her employers, the Hendersons – attorney Harry, his wife Alice, and their young son Donnie, who lived at 213 Lake Street – were a caricature of a white middle-class family, giving Beulah plenty to do as one crisis after another overtook the household – such as Mr Henderson burning the steaks at a picnic, falling into the water while fishing, or trying to stop Donnie, from running away from home.
