Adele Blood
Encyclopedia
Adele Blood was an American
actress in silent movies
, vaudeville
, and theater.
some years before 1917. As a youth, she was a talented equestrienne, had an interest in fashion, and admired the theater.
in San Francisco. She acted the character Marguerite in a production featuring Lewis Morrison as Mephisto. Blood appeared in numerous plays as the leading lady
. Some of the theatrical presentations in which she starred are The Unmasking, All Rivers Meet The Sea, and The Picture of Dorian Gray
. In the latter she was with the stock company of Edward Davis, her first husband. Davis was a clergyman-actor who was formerly the pastor of the First Christian Church in Oakland, California
. Their marriage was turbulent and Blood began divorce proceedings in
1914. Actress Jule Power was named as co-respondent
in her suit. Davis responded by naming Governor Earl Brewer of Mississippi
as co-respondent in counter charges against Blood. She finally won her divorce suit after which she left on a tour of the Orient. Following her divorce from Davis she was briefly married to Englishman Waddell Hope.
During her vaudeville tours Blood was on stage in most of the prominent cities in the United States
. She starred for five years in Everywoman. During her travels she was known as "the most beautiful blonde on the American stage". She made two motion pictures including The Devil's Toy (1916) and The Riddle: Woman (1920).
By December 1917, Blood retired at the urging of Holmes. She became the devoted companion of Holmes, who was known as the "Silver Queen". Blood became named heiress to the Holmes' fortune, though Blood eventually eschewed both wealth and social position because she believed it led to a philosophy of pessimism. She returned to the stage by accepting an offer from the Oriental company of Tim Frawley. Around this time, she met Colonel R.W. Castle, an English
officer in the Indian service in London
. The two were engaged and planned a wedding in Calcutta.
in Harrison, New York
. She died a few hours later at the United Hospital in Port Chester, New York
. Her 17-year-old daughter, Dawn, was in the home with friends when they heard the sound of a gunshot come from Blood's bedroom. Dawn told police that her mother had been financially pressed and worried excessively in the previous two weeks.
Blood had been wealthy in the past. She financed a summer stock company and leased the auditorium of the Bronxville High School for plays. The plays were scheduled to run for six weeks but closed in three weeks. Both mother and daughter appeared in the casts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress in silent movies
Silent Movies
Silent Movies are 13 solo guitar compositions by Marc Ribot released September 28, 2010 on Pi Recordings.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "For those interested in one of the more compelling and quietly provocative and graceful guitar records of 2010,...
, vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, and theater.
Family
Adele Mary Blood was born in San Francisco, California, she was the daughter of Ira E. Blood and Frances Emma Stewart. Mrs. Frances Blood was a member of the Alameda school department for many years. Adele moved to the eastern United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
some years before 1917. As a youth, she was a talented equestrienne, had an interest in fashion, and admired the theater.
Career
Blood's first public performance was at the California TheatreCalifornia Theatre (San Francisco)
The California Theatre , was located at 414 Bush Street, San Francisco. It was built in 1869 by William Ralston, at that time the treasurer of the Bank of California. S. C. Bugbee & Son were the architects and the theatre cost $250, 000 to build.Anpther source puts the figure at $150,000...
in San Francisco. She acted the character Marguerite in a production featuring Lewis Morrison as Mephisto. Blood appeared in numerous plays as the leading lady
Leading lady
Leading lady is an informal term for the actress who plays a secondary lead or supporting role, usually a love interest, to the leading actor in a film or play. It is not usually applied to the leading actress in the performance if her character is the protagonist.A leading lady can also be an...
. Some of the theatrical presentations in which she starred are The Unmasking, All Rivers Meet The Sea, and The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde, appearing as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890, printed as the July 1890 issue of this magazine...
. In the latter she was with the stock company of Edward Davis, her first husband. Davis was a clergyman-actor who was formerly the pastor of the First Christian Church in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. Their marriage was turbulent and Blood began divorce proceedings in
1914. Actress Jule Power was named as co-respondent
Co-respondent
In English law, a co-respondent is, in general, a respondent to a petition, or other legal proceeding, along with another or others, or a person called upon to answer in some other way.- Divorce :...
in her suit. Davis responded by naming Governor Earl Brewer of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
as co-respondent in counter charges against Blood. She finally won her divorce suit after which she left on a tour of the Orient. Following her divorce from Davis she was briefly married to Englishman Waddell Hope.
During her vaudeville tours Blood was on stage in most of the prominent cities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She starred for five years in Everywoman. During her travels she was known as "the most beautiful blonde on the American stage". She made two motion pictures including The Devil's Toy (1916) and The Riddle: Woman (1920).
By December 1917, Blood retired at the urging of Holmes. She became the devoted companion of Holmes, who was known as the "Silver Queen". Blood became named heiress to the Holmes' fortune, though Blood eventually eschewed both wealth and social position because she believed it led to a philosophy of pessimism. She returned to the stage by accepting an offer from the Oriental company of Tim Frawley. Around this time, she met Colonel R.W. Castle, an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
officer in the Indian service in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The two were engaged and planned a wedding in Calcutta.
Death
On the night of September 13, 1936, Blood shot herself in the head at her home on the grounds of the Westchester Country ClubWestchester Country Club
The Westchester Country Club was founded by John McEntee Bowman, who hired Walter Travis to design two golf courses in the Town of Harrison, New York as a luxury resort hotel. The West Course was designed for championship play and has hosted PGA tournaments since 1963...
in Harrison, New York
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
. She died a few hours later at the United Hospital in Port Chester, New York
Port Chester, New York
Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967...
. Her 17-year-old daughter, Dawn, was in the home with friends when they heard the sound of a gunshot come from Blood's bedroom. Dawn told police that her mother had been financially pressed and worried excessively in the previous two weeks.
Blood had been wealthy in the past. She financed a summer stock company and leased the auditorium of the Bronxville High School for plays. The plays were scheduled to run for six weeks but closed in three weeks. Both mother and daughter appeared in the casts.
External links
- Adele Blood New York Public Library Digitial Gallery photos