Some Facts
She was an Elks Club member and received an award in July of 1936 at their 72nd National Convention in Los Angeles.
Played trombone on a Mississippi showboat.
Never married. When she died at age 90 in 1977, the only survivor was a godson, Rod Normond.
Supposedly lost the lead role opposite Rudolph Valentino's The Sheik (1921) because of her extreme height.
A special tribute was paid to 87-year-old Gertrude Astor on September 30, 1975 at Universal Studios. Among those in attendance who spoke included George Cukor, Allan Dwan and Henry Hathaway.