Betty Mandeville

Betty Mandeville ( - June 14, 2001) was one of the first female producers and directors in American network radio. She worked in television later in her career.

Early years Mandeville was born in Mora, Minnesota, and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When she was 12 years old, she provided cues to actors at the Bainbridge Theater. and Johnny Presents. She hired actors "based on looks as well as talent" because of her awareness that television would need actors in the near future. When she began working for the Biow Company, she became involved with production of The FBI in Peace and War. In 1948, she became producer and director of that program, a position that fit with her long-time interest in stories of mystery and adventure.

In television, Mandeville worked on The Price Is Right In 1993, Mandeville and Booraem created a recording studio in their basement to avoid having to reserve time in commercial studios. They used a computer and a fax machine to "keep the business end of things going" and supplemented dialog in programs with recorded sound effects and music. Beth Jones, who was manager of South Carolina Educational Radio in 1993, said: "The Blue Ridge Radio Player tapes sound wonderful. They are professionally produced, and our listeners, from the calls I receive, would like to hear many, many more." The group formed a second troupe in Raleigh, North Carolina. They had a daughter, Maureen. In 1989, she married Booraem, who had retired after a career as a radio and television director and executive. A memorial service for her occurred on June 23, 2001, at First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville.