Peg Lynch: ‘Ethel and Albert’ Writer And Star Dies At Age 98
Peg Lynch, who wrote and starred in Ethel and Albert, has died at the age of 98. Although she was best known for her portrayal of Ethel Arbuckle, Lynch will be remembered as one of the most influential pioneers of broadcast entertainment.
A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Margaret Frances “Peg” Lynch was born in November, 1916. As her father was a victim of the Spanish Flu, she and her mother, Frances, moved to Kasson, Minnesota, when she was 2-years-old.
With few resources, Frances was forced to work long hours as a nurse at the Mayo Clinic. As a result, “Margaret was looked after by her Norwegian maternal grandfather and various teenage aunts and uncles.”
As explained by her daughter Astrid King, Peg Lynch made her debut in the entertainment industry at the age of 14.
Although she was originally hired to find sponsors for Rochester, Minnesota, station KROC, Lynch was soon appointed the radio station’s chief copywriter.
I’m sad to pass on that #otr pioneer Peg Lynch has passed: http://t.co/vNk7mUpGIQ pic.twitter.com/x5HHKc40wO
— Beth Ann Gallagher (@missbethg) July 25, 2015
As a teen, Peg also began interviewing celebrities for KROC. According to her daughter, the Mayo Clinic offered the perfect venue for getting candid interviews.
“Can’t you just see it? There you are, trying to slip into the Clinic unnoticed, hoping you’re not dying of something, when a skinny little dark-haired thing with a notebook and pencil materializes… “
After high school, Peg Lynch attended Rochester Junior College and the University of Minnesota — where she majored in dramatics and writing.
Following college, Lynch worked as a copywriter for several radio stations throughout Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Virginia. However, she got her big break with Cumberland, Maryland, station WTBO.
While working for WTBO, Peg wrote and performed a comedic radio show titled Ethel and Albert. The program later became one of the first ever television sitcoms.
In a 1950 interview, Peg explained the show was based on “the little things in life,” as she wanted listeners and viewers “to find out that other people have some of the same problems they do.”
As reported by the New York Times, Lynch went on to write an estimated 11,000 scripts for radio and television programs — a majority of which were comedic in nature.
Although her cause of death was not disclosed, Astrid confirmed Peg Lynch passed away on Friday at her Becket, Massachusetts, home.
The “Lady Who Invented Sitcom” was preceded in death by her husband, Odd Knut Ronning — who passed away in 2014. She is survived by her daughter and one grandson.
Peg Lynch will be remembered as a pioneer of broadcast entertainment and the modern sitcom. Although she eventually retired to focus on her family, Lynch’s influence is still evident in modern television programs.
[Image via Wikimedia]
