Janet Blair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Janet Blair
Blair ca. 1940s
Born	Martha Janet Lafferty (1921-04-23)April 23, 1921 Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 19, 2007(2007-02-19) (aged 85) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1941–1991
Spouse(s)	Lou Busch ​ ​ (m. 1943; div. 1950)​ Nick Mayo ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1971)​
Children	2

Janet Blair (born Martha Janet Lafferty; April 23, 1921 – February 19, 2007) was an American singer and actress. She started as a big-band singer. Later, she became a well-known film and television star.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Janet Blair was born Martha Janet Lafferty on April 23, 1921. Her hometown was Altoona, Pennsylvania. Her parents loved music. Her father led the church choir and sang solos. Her mother played both piano and organ. Janet had a brother, Fred Jr., and a sister, Louise.

Janet Blair's Film Career

Janet Blair in the movie Tonight and Every Night (1945)

Janet Blair's career in entertainment began as a singer. She was a featured singer in the Hal Kemp Orchestra. In 1941, she started acting in movies. She signed a contract with Columbia Pictures.

She appeared in many successful films. People often remember her from My Sister Eileen (1942). In this movie, she played the sister of Rosalind Russell. She was also Rita Hayworth's friend in Tonight and Every Night (1945).

In 1947, she played a singer in The Fabulous Dorseys. This role brought her back to her musical roots. In 1948, she had leading roles. These were in the crime drama I Love Trouble and the comedy The Fuller Brush Man.

Columbia Pictures ended her contract in 1947. She did not make movies for several years. She explained, "I gave up Hollywood and I gave up pictures." She added, "All I got were princess parts. A girl gets tired of being a princess all of the time."

In 1962, she took on a different kind of role. She appeared in the British horror film Night of the Eagle. She also played the wife of Tony Randall in the comedy Boys' Night Out. This movie also starred James Garner and Kim Novak.

Janet Blair on Stage

In 1950, Janet Blair took on a big role. She played Nellie Forbush in the musical South Pacific. This was a touring show across America. She performed in over 1,200 shows in three years.

During this tour, she married her second husband. His name was Nick Mayo, a producer and director. They later had two children together. In 1953, Blair also starred in a Broadway comedy. It was called A Girl Can Tell.

Television Appearances

Janet Blair and Henry Fonda in The Smith Family, 1971

In 1955, Janet Blair starred as Venus. This was in a live TV show called One Touch of Venus on NBC. She often appeared on TV variety shows as a guest. In 1958, she filled in for Dinah Shore on her show.

From 1956 to 1957, she was a cast member. This was on Caesar's Hour, a comedy show with Sid Caesar. She also appeared as a guest on What's My Line? in 1957.

Blair co-starred with Henry Fonda in The Smith Family. This was an ABC comedy-drama series. Her last TV performance was in 1991. It was an episode of Murder, She Wrote.

Radio and Music Recordings

On the radio, Janet Blair co-starred with George Raft. This was in a 1942 episode of Lux Radio Theatre on CBS. The episode was called "Broadway."

Blair also recorded an album of classic songs. It was titled Flame Out! for the Dico label. The album included beautiful ballads. Some songs were "Don't Explain" and "Then You've Never Been Blue."

Janet Blair's Personal Life

Janis Carter, Janet Blair and Franchot Tone in I Love Trouble (1948)

Janet Blair married Louis Ferdinand Busch on July 12, 1943. He was a musical arranger and conductor. They met four years earlier when she sang for Hal Kemp's band. Busch was the band's pianist and arranger. They divorced in March 1950.

Two years later, Blair married Nick Mayo. He was a television producer. They had two children, Andrew and Amanda. They were together for 19 years. Their divorce happened in 1971.

Janet Blair was a member of the Republican Party. She supported Thomas Dewey in the 1944 presidential election. This means she helped him campaign to become president.

Janet Blair passed away on February 19, 2007. She was 85 years old. She died at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Her death was due to problems from pneumonia. She was cremated.

Filmography

• Three Girls About Town (1941) – Charity Banner
• Blondie Goes to College (1942) – Laura Wadsworth
• Two Yanks in Trinidad (1942) – Patricia Dare
• Broadway (1942) – Billie Moore
• My Sister Eileen (1942) – Eileen Sherwood
• Something to Shout About (1943) – Jeanie Maxwell
• Once Upon a Time (1944) – Jeannie Thompson
• Tonight and Every Night (1945) – Judy Kane
• Tars and Spars (1946) – Christine Bradley
• Gallant Journey (1946) – Regina 'Ginny' Cleary
• The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) – Jane Howard
• I Love Trouble (1948) – Norma Shannon aka Gretchen Breeger
• The Black Arrow (1948) – Joanna Sedley
• The Fuller Brush Man (1948) – Ann Elliot
• Public Pigeon No. 1 (1957) – Edith Enders
• Night of the Eagle (US: Burn, Witch, Burn, 1962) – Tansy Taylor
• Boys' Night Out (1962) – Marge Drayton
• The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) – Katie Bower
• Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) – President's Girl 3

Television Roles

Radio Roles

• Lux Radio Theatre (1946)
• This Is Hollywood (1946)

Discography

• Flame Out (1959, Dico)