Helen Claire
Helen Claire | |
|---|---|
 Claire in 1938 | |
| Born | October 18, 1911 |
| Died | January 12, 1974 (aged 62) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Randolph-Macon Woman's College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse | Dr. Milton Smith (1942 - ?) |
Helen Claire (October 18, 1911 – January 12, 1974)
Early years
Helen Claire was born in
Radio
Claire's roles in radio programs included those shown in the table below.
| Program | Character |
|---|---|
| Backstage Wife | Virginia Lansing[6]: 57 |
| Bright Horizon | Edith Browning[6] |
| Death Valley Days | Jan Thackery[7] |
| Dr. Christian | Judy[8] |
| Joyce Jordan, M.D. | Joyce Jordan[6]: 376 |
| The O'Neills | Sally Scott O'Neill[6]: 523 |
| Roses and Drums | Betty Graham[9] |
Stella Dallas |
Ada Dexter[6]: 635 |
| The Story of Bess Johnson | Mrs. Jordan[10] |
Other programs in which Claire was a member of the cast included
Claire also had a recurring role on Dr. Christian, which annually broadcast several episodes from New York City rather than from its usual Hollywood site. During those times, Claire played nurse Judy Price, replacing Rosemary DeCamp, who portrayed Price in the broadcasts from Hollywood.[17]
Claire also appeared on the radio version of
Stage
Although Claire had been advised seven years earlier "to abandon any idea she might have of becoming an actress" because of her southern accent,[4] a 1938 newspaper article acclaimed Claire as "the first 'discovery' of the new Broadway season" for her work in Kiss the Boys Goodbye.[20] Paul Ross wrote, "When the critical salvos had died down, it was found ... that the unknown from Alabama had risen to stardom over night."[20] In February 1939, another newspaper article reported: "Helen Claire, a few months ago a comparative unknown, is now the toast of Broadway. Hard-boiled New York has so fallen for this real life Cindy Lou [Claire's character in Kiss the Boys Goodbye] that her mornings are filled with interviews, her afternoons with screen tests, guest appearances, dinner parties."[21]
Claire's Broadway debut came in 1932 in Girls in Uniform.[4] She also appeared in Sunny River[22] and Jezebel.[10]
Film
Claire's voice was familiar to moviegoers who were attentive to Movietone News segments that preceded feature films in theaters. Twice a week she provided narration of fashion news segments for those newsreels.[4]
Television
Claire and others from the cast of The Parker Family radio program made an "experimental" broadcast of a TV version of the show on NBC May 9, 1941.[23]
In 1953, Claire, as narrator, received a certificate of merit related to the Sylvania Award "for outstanding individual variety performance on the Ford show" that was won by Mary Martin.[24]
Personal life
Claire married Dr. Milton Smith May 22, 1941, in White Plains, New York. He was head of the drama department at Columbia University. They met when she was a student at Columbia and took a drama class to diminish her Southern drawl.[25]
Death
Claire died January 12, 1974, aged 62, in Birmingham, Alabama.[26]
References
- ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 54.
- ^ New York Times. January 14, 1974. p. 30. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. P. 119.
- ^ Small, Florence (February 13, 1950). "The Old and New West Helps Radio Sell for Borax" (PDF). Broadcasting. p. 22. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "(photo caption)". The Cincinnati Enquirer. May 21, 1944. p. 69. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Talk of the Trade". Billboard. August 27, 1949. p. 11. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ "Of Great Riches" (PDF). Radio Daily. May 18, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ Sinclair, Walter; Connors, James (March 2, 1935). "Heard on th eAir" (PDF). Radio Guide. p. 13. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "This is ... "Aunt Jenny"" (PDF). Radio Guide. August 14, 1937. p. 14. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 135.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7. P. 812.
- ^ "Sylvania Award Winners" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 7, 1953. p. 86. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
