Brazilian Pop: Ruth Schelske, actress at TV Paulista

Radiolândia, 1957 - tells the story of Ruth Schelske, who was only 17 years old when she was signed by TV Paulista.

17 August 1957 - Lourdes Rocha, Gervásio Marques & Ruth Schelske in Nelson Rodrigues' 'Vestido de Noiva';

Ruth Schelske in 1951; 2nd August 1958 - Mark Twain's 'Loucuras de um milionário' (The million pound note) adapted by Claudio Petraglia with Rogério Márcico & Moura Barbosa.

Ruth Schelske, born in São Paulo on 27 March 1939, was an actress, advertising girl and voice actress who worked in radio, TV, theatre and cinema. Schelske's parents Roberto and Joana Schelske wanted Ruth to become a lawyer but she saw things differently, beginning a career as a radio-drama actress in 1947, at Radio Bandeirantes, playing children's role when she was only 8-year-old. As a teenager, Ruth took several language courses and after finishing high school she went back to be an actress again.

When Victor Costa finally bought TV Paulista, Channel 5, around 1955, Ruth was signed by the broadcaster to be part of their stable of actors. As there was no video-tape machines, TV stations had to make do with a great production of plays which were acted live. Ruth's first appearance was in 'Teledrama' with the the play “O Casaco de Peles” (The Fur Coat) alongside Odair Marzano.

Here are some of Ruth Schelske's activities in the 1950s & early 1960s.

1952 - 'Novelas para você' radio drama show at Radio Bandeirantes;

1955 - 'Teledrama' at TV Paulista: José Castellar's 'O casaco de pele'; 'A cela da morte'; 'Delito' (Delitto all'isola delle capre) and José Castellar's 'Uma ressurreição';

1956 - 'Teledrama' at TV Paulista: 'Estação 21, Rua 47'; 'O alíbi' with Waldyr Guedes; 'Farrapo humano' (Lost weekend); Ugo Betti's 'O milagre dos sinos'; 'Os corumbas';

1956 - Ruth as an adverstising girl worked at: Manoel de Nóbrega's 'Praça da Alegria'; 'Atrações Caruso'; 'Audições Gaó'; 'Todos cantam as sua terra' at Radio Nacional; 'Vitrine';

1957 - 'Teledrama' 'Dê-me o seu amor'; 'Uma carta para três maridos'; 'A tragédia de Mayerling'; at TV Paulista; Nelson Rodrigues' 'Vestido de noiva'; 'Senzala' a radio-drama at Radio Nacional Paulista.

1958 - 'Horas desesperadas'; Mark Twain's 'As loucuras de um milionário' (The million pound note);

1959 - 'O Cadillac de ouro' (Solid gold Cadillac); 'Abismo insondável'; 'Casablanca' based on the 1942 Hollywood movie.

1960 - at Teledrama' Ms Schelske plays her last two plays at TV Paulista: 'Fraude' and 'Réquiem para um anjo'.

Later in the year 1960, Ruth moved to TV Tupi, in Rio de Janeiro, where she was a regular at 'Grande Teatro Tupi' and 'Câmera Um' ('O perfume da morte', 'A dama das camélias').

In 1962, she worked at 'TV de Brinquedo' and 'A cadeira encantada', on TV Continental, channel 9.

In 1963, she worked at TV Rio's “Chico Anysio Show”, playing, playing a character “in love with Santelmo”.

After 1963, Ruth followed a natural path to many actors on radio & TV: she started a career dubbing the voices of American actors in their many TV series. She worked mostly at dubbing studios in Rio de Janeiro like CineCastro, Dublasom Guanabara, TV Cinesom and Herbert Richers. Ms Schelske left the sound of her voice in hundreds of films and cartoons during the almost 20 years she was in this business. Ruth Schelske died in mysterious circumstances in 1977. Some say she died in Rio and others that she died of an alcoholic coma in Belém-PA.

Ruth Schelske weds Alfredo Cini on 16 April 1958. They met at TV Paulista where she was an actress and he a cameraman. Revista do Rádio no. 454; Miss Schelske reads a script in 1957.