Nena Blake
Canadian-American actress (1887–1924)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nena Blake (1887 – October 12, 1924), born as Nena Naomi Fry, was a Canadian-born American actress and chorus girl on Broadway and in vaudeville.
1887
Nena Blake | |
|---|---|
Nena Blake, from a 1907 publication | |
| Born | Nena Naomi Fry 1887 Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 12, 1924 (aged 37) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Mother | Lena Jane Fry |
Early life and education
Blake was born in Ontario, the daughter of Stephen Fry and Lena Jane Fry. Her mother was a writer, who dedicated her 1905 utopian novel to Nena and her sisters Bertha and Kathleen, calling them "three of America's best daughters".[1] Her parents divorced in 1894.[2]
Career
Blake appeared on Broadway in the shows The Royal Chef (1904),[3][4] Coming Thro' the Rye (1906),[3][5] The Girl from Rector's (1909),[6] The Girl with the Whooping Cough (1910), A Certain Party (1911),[7] and Bachelors and Benedicts (1912).[8][9] In Boston in 1905, she appeared in a musical revue, Kafoozelem, singing "Baby Lonely" with a chorus of eight dancers called "the Incubator Babies", referencing a common sideshow attraction of the day.[10][11]
In 1906 Blake appeared in a revue with dancers called the Bronco Beauties; she shared the bill with Ruth St. Denis performing Radha.[12] In 1913 and 1914, she starred in a comedy by James Montgomery, Ready Money, in a touring company that played across the United States,[13] including runs in San Francisco and New York.[14][15] In 1916 she starred in Spring Cleaning in Atlantic City.[16] In 1921 Blake directed the costumes for Irene, a Broadway musical.[17] She personally brought the fabric and designs for 42 gowns from Paris for the show.[18]
Beyond the stage, Blake was active in politics,[19] and associated with the Theatrical Women's Parker Association, in support of Alton B. Parker's 1904 presidential campaign.[20][21] Also in 1904, she was reported abducted by a fan at the stage door,[22] though this was later described as a publicity stunt.[20] In 1905 a wealthy banker and mine owner from Montana, Michael Sellers Largey,[23] took a personal interest in Blake, and spent extravagantly to help her career, but she refused his repeated proposals of marriage.[24][25] In 1909, she organized the Dowry Fund Protection Association for actresses, to remove the temptation to marry wealthy men entirely for financial reasons.[26]
Personal life
Blake inherited money from an admirer in 1907.[27] She died in New York City in 1924, at the age of 37.[28][29] She left her house on Long Island and her jewels to her mother and other family members.[30]