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==Career==
==Career==
Born Violet McNaughton in [[Hamilton, Ontario]],<ref name="baf">{{cite book |last1=Liebman |first1=Roy |title=Broadway Actors in Films, 1894-2015 |date=7 February 2017 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-2615-4 |page=8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPQHDgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Violet+McNaughton%22+Adair&pg=PA8 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Her work as Jennet Adair in vaudeville included performing as a "singing comedienne".<ref>{{cite news |title=King Joy is crowned anew by the Keith bill at new Palace |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85821938/jennet-adair/ |access-date=September 23, 2021 |work=The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette |date=November 2, 1915 |page=10|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
Born Violet McNaughton in [[Hamilton, Ontario]],<ref name="baf">{{cite book |last1=Liebman |first1=Roy |title=Broadway Actors in Films, 1894-2015 |date=7 February 2017 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-2615-4 |page=8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPQHDgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Violet+McNaughton%22+Adair&pg=PA8 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> her work as Jennet Adair in vaudeville included performing as a "singing comedienne".<ref>{{cite news |title=King Joy is crowned anew by the Keith bill at new Palace |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85821938/jennet-adair/ |access-date=September 23, 2021 |work=The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette |date=November 2, 1915 |page=10|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>


Adair received a scholarship for a dramatic school course, after which she acted for two years with [[Repertory theatre|stock theater]] companies. She moved from stock performances to replacing [[Irene Dunne]] in a production of ''Mother'', and her New York debut came in September 1922 when she acted in ''It's a Boy'' at the [[Sam H. Harris Theatre]]. <ref name="nytobit">{{cite news |title=Miss Jean Adair, Noted Actress, 80 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/05/12/archives/iissjeah-adair-noted-actress-80-veteran-of-25-productions-on.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=May 12, 1953 |page=27}}</ref>
Adair received a scholarship for a dramatic school course, after which she acted for two years with [[Repertory theatre|stock theater]] companies. She moved from stock performances to replacing [[Irene Dunne]] in a production of ''Mother'', and her New York debut came in September 1922 when she acted in ''It's a Boy'' at the [[Sam H. Harris Theatre]].<ref name="nytobit">{{cite news |title=Miss Jean Adair, Noted Actress, 80 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/05/12/archives/iissjeah-adair-noted-actress-80-veteran-of-25-productions-on.html |access-date=September 23, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=May 12, 1953 |page=27}}</ref>


In 1931, Adair appeared in the [[Summer stock theater|Summer stock]] cast at the [[Elitch Theatre]].
⚫
She worked primarily on stage but also made several film appearances late in her career, most notably as Aunt Martha, one of [[Cary Grant]]'s dotty old aunts in ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (film)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'', a role she originated on Broadway. Her final performance was as the beloved matriarch [[Rebecca Nurse]] in the original production of ''[[The Crucible]]''. Like many stage actresses of her era, she also appeared in [[vaudeville]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Laurie, Jr.| first=Joe| title=Vaudeville: From the Honky-tonks to the Palace| location=New York| publisher=Henry Holt| year=1953| page=50| url=https://archive.org/details/vaudevillefromth013372mbp/page/n67/mode/2up?q=self+defence| accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref>

⚫
She worked primarily on stage but also made several film appearances late in her career, most notably as Aunt Martha, one of [[Cary Grant]]'s dotty old aunts in ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (film)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'', a role she originated on Broadway. Her final performance was as the beloved matriarch [[Rebecca Nurse]] in the original production of ''[[The Crucible]]''. Like many stage actresses of her era, she also appeared in [[vaudeville]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Laurie, Jr.| first=Joe| title=Vaudeville: From the Honky-tonks to the Palace| location=New York| publisher=Henry Holt| year=1953| page=50| url=https://archive.org/details/vaudevillefromth013372mbp/page/n67/mode/2up?q=self+defence| accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref>


== Death ==
== Death ==
She died at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City on 11 May 1953, aged 79. She was cremated at Ferncliff Crematory in [[Hartsdale]], New York. Her ashes were collected by playwright [[Howard Lindsay]].<ref>Resting Places: The Burial Site of 14,000 Famous Persons by Scott wilson</ref>
She died at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City on May 11, 1953, aged 79. She was cremated at Ferncliff Crematory in [[Hartsdale]], New York. Her ashes were collected by playwright [[Howard Lindsay]].<ref>Resting Places: The Burial Site of 14,000 Famous Persons by Scott wilson</ref>


==Broadway productions==
==Broadway productions==
Line 35: Line 37:
* ''Devils'' (1926)
* ''Devils'' (1926)
* ''The Good Fellow'' (1926)
* ''The Good Fellow'' (1926)
* ''Machinal'' (1928) (*with a young unknown Clark Gable)
* ''[[Machinal]]'' (1928) (*with a young unknown Clark Gable)
* ''That Ferguson Family'' (1928-9)
* ''That Ferguson Family'' (1928-9)
* ''Scarlet Pages'' (1929)
* ''Scarlet Pages'' (1929)
Line 74: Line 76:
|1944|| ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (film)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' || Aunt Martha Brewster ||
|1944|| ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (film)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' || Aunt Martha Brewster ||
|-
|-
|1947|| ''[[Living in a Big Way]]'' || Abigail Morgan ||
|rowspan=2 | 1947|| ''[[Living in a Big Way]]'' || Abigail Morgan ||
|-
|-
|1947|| ''[[Something in the Wind]]'' || Aunt Mary Collins ||
| ''[[Something in the Wind]]'' || Aunt Mary Collins ||
|-
|-
|1948|| ''[[The Naked City]]'' || Little Old Lady || Uncredited
|1948|| ''[[The Naked City]]'' || Little Old Lady || Uncredited
Line 85: Line 87:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb name|id=0010443|name=Jean Adair}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0010443|name=Jean Adair}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*[http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=140489&word= Jean Adair], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]
*[http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=140489&word= Jean Adair], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]
* [http://archives.nypl.org/the/21314 Jean Adair papers 1914-1936 (bulk 1914-1929) ], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]
* [http://archives.nypl.org/the/21314 Jean Adair papers 1914-1936 (bulk 1914-1929) ], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Canadian film actresses]]
[[Category:Canadian film actresses]]
[[Category:Canadian stage actresses]]
[[Category:Canadian stage actresses]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:Canadian vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:Actresses from Hamilton, Ontario]]
[[Category:Actresses from Hamilton, Ontario]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian actresses]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate actresses in the United States]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate actresses in the United States]]


{{Canada-film-actor-stub}}
{{Canada-stage-actor-stub}}

Latest revision as of 15:12, 13 April 2024

For the Canadian journalist and activist, see Violet McNaughton (activist).
Jean Adair
Jean Adair
Born
Violet McNaughton

(1873-06-13)June 13, 1873
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DiedMay 11, 1953(1953-05-11) (aged 79)
New York City, U.S.
Other namesJennet Adair
OccupationActress
Years active1922–1953

Jean Adair (born Violet McNaughton;[1] June 13, 1873 – May 11, 1953[2]) was a Canadian actress. She was also known as Jennet Adair.[1]

Career

[edit]

Born Violet McNaughton in Hamilton, Ontario,[1] her work as Jennet Adair in vaudeville included performing as a "singing comedienne".[3]

Adair received a scholarship for a dramatic school course, after which she acted for two years with stock theater companies. She moved from stock performances to replacing Irene Dunne in a production of Mother, and her New York debut came in September 1922 when she acted in It's a Boy at the Sam H. Harris Theatre.[4]

In 1931, Adair appeared in the Summer stock cast at the Elitch Theatre.

She worked primarily on stage but also made several film appearances late in her career, most notably as Aunt Martha, one of Cary Grant's dotty old aunts in Arsenic and Old Lace, a role she originated on Broadway. Her final performance was as the beloved matriarch Rebecca Nurse in the original production of The Crucible. Like many stage actresses of her era, she also appeared in vaudeville.[5]

Death

[edit]

She died at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City on May 11, 1953, aged 79. She was cremated at Ferncliff Crematory in Hartsdale, New York. Her ashes were collected by playwright Howard Lindsay.[6]

Broadway productions

[edit]
  • It's a Boy! (1922-?)
  • The Jay Walker (1926)
  • Devils (1926)
  • The Good Fellow (1926)
  • Machinal (1928) (*with a young unknown Clark Gable)
  • That Ferguson Family (1928-9)
  • Scarlet Pages (1929)
  • Everything's Jake (1930)
  • Rock Me, Julie (1931)
  • Blessed Event (1932)
  • Best Years (1932)
  • Black Sheep (1932)
  • The Show Off (1932-3)
  • For Services Rendered (1933)
  • Murder at the Vanities (1933-4)
  • Broomsticks, Amen! (1934)
  • Picnic (1934-?)
  • Mid-West (1936-?)
  • Sun Kissed (1937-?)
  • On Borrowed Time (1938)
  • Morning's at Seven (1939–40)
  • Goodbye in the Night (1940)
  • Arsenic and Old Lace (1941-4)
  • Star-Spangled Family (1945)
  • The Next Half Hour (1945)
  • Detective Story (1949–50)
  • Bell, Book and Candle (1950-1)
  • The Crucible (1953)

Filmography

[edit]
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1933 Advice to the Lovelorn Mrs. Prentiss Uncredited
1944 Arsenic and Old Lace Aunt Martha Brewster
1947 Living in a Big Way Abigail Morgan
Something in the Wind Aunt Mary Collins
1948 The Naked City Little Old Lady Uncredited

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Liebman, Roy (7 February 2017). Broadway Actors in Films, 1894-2015. McFarland. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-4766-2615-4. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Jean Adair". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "King Joy is crowned anew by the Keith bill at new Palace". The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. November 2, 1915. p. 10. Retrieved September 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Miss Jean Adair, Noted Actress, 80". The New York Times. May 12, 1953. p. 27. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Laurie, Jr., Joe (1953). Vaudeville: From the Honky-tonks to the Palace. New York: Henry Holt. p. 50. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  6. ^ Resting Places: The Burial Site of 14,000 Famous Persons by Scott wilson
[edit]
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