Bernice Claire | |
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.jpg) Claire in 1938 | |
| Born | Bernice Jahnigen[a] (1906-01-27)January 27, 1906 Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 2003(2003-01-17) (aged 96) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1930–1938 |
| Spouse | Dr. Douglas P. Morris |
Bernice Claire (bornBernice Jahnigen; January 27, 1906 – January 17, 2003)[1][2][3] was an Americansinger andactress. She appeared in 13 films between1930 and1938.
She was born asBernice Jahnigen (surname later mistranscribed as Janighen) to Adolph and Clara (née Sternitzky) Jahnigen in 1906 inOakland, California. She had an elder brother, Earl. Her birth name is also sometimes found asBernice Jahnigan.[4]
An article in the June 18, 1950, issue of theOakland Tribune reported, "It was in 1918 that she first appeared as a juvenile, a pert little one with curled tresses who made an immediate impression on all who saw and heard her perform at Eastbay theaters and at lodges and veterans' gatherings."[5] She attendedOakland High School, where she studied dramatics and was active in musical comedy productions.[6]
With a clearcoloratura, Claire took to the stage performing light opera and had no difficulty singing demanding roles. In 1927, she appeared in her first vaudeville production.[6] She met then-leading singerAlexander Gray; they appeared in threePre-Code films together in 1930[7] forWarner Bros., including a shortened film version ofThe Desert Song (titledThe Red Shadow) in 1932. Gray and Claire became film's first operetta team, predatingJeanette MacDonald andNelson Eddy.
Her first screen appearance was in the original film version ofNo, No, Nanette in the title role. (Apost-Code version was made in 1940.) The other two films she made with Gray wereSpring is Here andSong of the Flame. Operettas began losing popularity with audiences so Warners tried Claire in dramatic parts without much success. Claire made several more musical shorts up through the late thirties (some again with Gray), later becoming a radio and orchestra singer. In 1934, she appeared on Broadway in a short-lived musical,The Chocolate Soldier.
Claire was married to Dr. Douglas P. Morris.[5]
On January 17, 2003, ten days before her 97th birthday, Bernice Claire died frompneumonia in her adopted hometown ofPortland, Oregon,[7] where she had lived for many years.
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