Have you heard of Gertrude Berg? Didn’t think so. Unfortunately this feminist media mogul of yesteryear has completely disappeared from our consciousnesses. Thankfully, a new documentary, ‘Yoo Hoo Mrs. Goldberg,’ is premiering this Friday in NYC that brings to light the life of this admirable lady.
Gertrude was best known for writing, producing and staring in her own TV show in the 40s and 50s, Yoo Hoo Mrs. Goldberg, which was the first character driven domestic sitcom to be featured on TV. The show followed a Jewish family and broke down barriers with religion and ethnicity to quickly became extremely popular across the country for its 17 year long run. Gertrude won the first Emmy for Best Actress ever due to her role as Mrs. Goldberg and was so loved by audiences that, in one poll, she was voted the second most respected woman in the country under Eleanor Roosevelt. She grew a media empire with more TV and radio shows, a clothing line, toys and books. Gertrude’s efforts truly paved the way for women in the entertainment industry.
You can find theaters and showtimes here. -Celeste
