Gertrude Short, a talented actress, was married to the renowned director and writer Scott Pembroke, and was the daughter of the accomplished actor Lew Short. Moreover, she was the sister of the esteemed actress Florence Short. After years of performing in vaudeville, Gertrude transitioned to the legitimate stage and eventually made her way to Hollywood in 1922.
For a period of time, from 1924 to 1925, Short appeared in a succession of "Telephone Girl" comedies, skillfully directed by her husband. Her role as a telephone operator became a recurring character in several of her sound films. In fact, her final screen appearance was as an operator in the film Week-End at the Waldorf, released in 1945.
During World War II, Gertrude took a hiatus from the screen and dedicated her time to working at Lockheed, a prominent aerospace company. She remained employed there until her retirement in 1967.