Irene Ware (born Irene Catherine Ahlberg; November 6, 1910 – March 11, 1993) was an American actress. She was a beauty queen and showgirl before appearing in 29 films between 1932 and 1940, and is mostly remembered for her roles as Princess Nadji in '' Chandu the Magician'' (1932) with

Edmund Lowe Edmund Dantes Lowe (March 3, 1890 – April 21, 1971) was an American actor. His formative experience began in vaudeville and silent film. Biography Lowe was born in San Jose, California. His father was a local judge. His childhood home was a ...

and

Bela Lugosi Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), known professionally as Bela Lugosi (; ), was a Hungarian and American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 horror classic ''Dracula'', Ygor in ''S ...

, and as

Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established h ...

's and Lugosi's

leading lady A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typica ...

in 1935's ''

The Raven "The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a myst ...

''.

Early years

Irene Ware and Bela Lugosi in Chandu the Magician 1932

Irene Catherine Ahlberg was born November 6, 1910, in Albany, New York. Her father, Ernest Ahlberg, born in Sweden, managed a saloon. Her mother, Anna Freya, born in New York of Austrian parents, was a real estate agent. She lived in New York and Los Angeles. Her sister, Anita, was an artist.

Beauty queen

As an 18-year-old stenographer, (5`6"/1.68 cm tall), Ware was crowned Miss Greater New York, then Miss United States in 1929, and the same year was first runner-up for the title of Miss Universe at a pageant held in Galveston, Texas. She also won $1,000. ("Miss United States" was an unofficial alternative to the Miss America Pageant, which was not held in 1929. The Miss Universe contest of the 1920s was not connected to the current

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...

system, which was launched in 1952.)

Acting

Ware debuted on stage in a revue at the Metropolitan Theatre Boston in July 1929, She performed in ''Early Carroll's Sketch Book'' (1929) and in the 1930 and 1931 versions of

Earl Carroll's Vanities ''The Earl Carroll Vanities'' was a Broadway revue that Earl Carroll presented in the 1920s and early 1930s. Carroll and his show were sometimes controversial. Distinguishing qualities In 1923, the ''Vanities'' joined the ranks of New York� ...

on Broadway. She was then contracted to Fox Studios and moved to Hollywood, changing her name to Irene Ware. Her first movie was ''

Society Girl An "it girl" is an attractive young woman, who is perceived to have both sex appeal and a personality that is especially engaging. The expression ''it girl'' originated in British upper-class society around the turn of the 20th century. ...

'', in 1932 at Fox Film Corporation as uncredited together with names like James Dunn, Peggy Shannon and

Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the first actor to win two cons ...

. The second film, which quickly made her a star, was '' Chandu the Magician'', also released in 1932 and directed by

Marcel Varnel Marcel Varnel (16 October 1892 – 13 July 1947) was French film director, notably however for his career in the United States and England as a director of plays and films Biography He was born Marcel Hyacinthe le Bozec in Paris, France. Va ...

Personal life

Ware's first marriage was to American screenwriter John Meehan, Jr., who won three Oscars for his work. Her second marriage was to federal Judge Fred Campbell. She left the industry to become a mother to their two children, John and Deirdre Meehan. Author Gregory William Mank wrote in 'Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff the Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration', (

McFarland & Company McFarland & Company, Inc., is an American independent book publisher based in Jefferson, North Carolina, that specializes in academic and reference works, as well as general-interest adult nonfiction. Its president is Rhonda Herman. Its former ...

), (2010), that Ware lived in

Encinitas Encinitas (Spanish for "Small Oaks") is a beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, California. Located within Southern California, it is approximately north of San Diego, between Solana Beach and Carlsbad, and about south o ...

; had "Severe dementia"; and that she died in the evening, of "Pneumonia", in the Western Medical Centre, Santa Ana.

Filmography

*1932: ''

'' - (uncredited) *1932: '' Chandu the Magician'' - Princess Nadji *1932: ''

Six Hours to Live ''Six Hours to Live'' is a 1932 American pre-Code science fiction drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Warner Baxter, Miriam Jordan and John Boles.Solomon p.336 Cast * Warner Baxter as Capt. Paul Onslow * Miriam Jordan as Ba ...

'' - The Prostitute *1933: '' Humanity'' - Olive Pelton *1933: ''

Brief Moment ''Brief Moment'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by David Burton and starring Carole Lombard and Gene Raymond. It is based on the 1931 play of the same name by S. N. Behrman. Plot Rodney Deane (Gene Raymond) is a rich playboy ...

'' - Joan *1933: '' My Weakness'' - Eve Millstead *1934: ''

Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge (, ; ) is a cabaret in Paris, on Boulevard de Clichy, at Place Blanche, the intersection of, and terminus of Rue Blanche. In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was co-founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Ol ...

'' - show girl (uncredited) *1934: ''

Orient Express The ''Orient Express'' was a long-distance passenger train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company ''Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits'' (CIWL) that operated until 2009. The train traveled the length of continental Europe and int ...

'' - Janet Pardoe *1934: ''

Let's Talk It Over ''Let's Talk It Over'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Chester Morris, Mae Clarke and Frank Craven.Dick p.81 Plot summary A sailor rescues a young heiress who is apparently drowning. Little ...

'' - Sandra *1934: ''

The Affairs of Cellini ''The Affairs of Cellini'' is a 1934 comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Frank Morgan, Constance Bennett, Fredric March, Fay Wray, and Louis Calhern. It is set in Florence. The film was adapted by Bess Meredyth from the play ''Th ...

'' - Daughter Of The House Of Bocci *1934: '' You Belong To Me'' - Lila Lacey *1934: ''

King Kelly of the U.S.A. ''King Kelly of the U.S.A.'' is a 1934 American romantic musical film directed by Leonard Fields. The film stars then popular singer Guy Robertson in his only feature film appearance.https://earlysoundguy.com/2018/07/22/where-did-you-go-guy-robe ...

'' - Princess Tania aka Catherine Bell *1935: ''

Rendezvous at Midnight ''Rendezvous at Midnight'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Ralph Bellamy, Valerie Hobson, Catherine Doucet and Irene Ware. The film was produced and distributed by Hollywood studio Universal Pictures. T ...

'' - Myra *1935: ''

Night Life of the Gods ''Night Life of the Gods'' (also known as ''Thorne Smith's Night Life of the Gods'') is a 1935 American fantasy film released by Universal Pictures. Based on a 1931 novel by Thorne Smith, the film was directed by Lowell Sherman and starred Alan ...

'' - Diana *1935: ''

Whispering Smith Speaks ''Whispering Smith Speaks'' is a 1935 American action film directed by David Howard and written by Daniel Jarrett, Don Swift, Rex Taylor and Gilbert Wright. The film stars George O'Brien, Irene Ware, Kenneth Thomson, Maude Allen, Spencer Char ...

'' - Nan Roberts *1935: ''

'' - Jean Thatcher *1935: '' Cheers of the Crowd'' - Mary Larkin *1935: ''

Happiness C.O.D. ''Happiness C.O.D.'' is a 1935 American romantic comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Maude Eburne, Donald Meek and Irene Ware. Plot When meek widower Thomas F. Sherridan, a construction engineer and owner of the Continental Constr ...

'' - Carroll Sherridan *1935: ''

False Pretenses In criminal law, property is obtained by false pretenses when the acquisition results from the intentional misrepresentation of a past or existing fact. Elements The elements of false pretenses are: *a false representation *of a material pa ...

'' - Mary Beekman *1936: '' The Dark Hour'' - Elsa Carson *1936: '' Murder at Glen Athol'' - Jane Maxwell *1936: '' O'Malley of the Mounted'' - Edith "Edie" Hyland *1936: '' In Paris, A.W.O.L.'' - Constance *1936: ''

Federal Agent ''Federal Agent'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Barry Barringer. The film stars William Boyd, Irene Ware, Don Alvarado, Lenita Lane, George Cooper and Charles A. Browne. The film was released on April 1 ...

'' - Helen Lynch / Helen Gray *1936: ''

Gold Diggers of 1937 ''Gold Diggers of 1937'' is a Warner Bros. movie musical directed by Lloyd Bacon with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley. The film stars Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, who were married at the time, with Glenda Farrell and Vi ...

'' - Irene (Sally´s pal) *1937: '' The Live Wire'' - Jane *1938: ''

No Parking A parking violation is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or in an unauthorized manner. It is against the law virtually everywhere to park a vehicle in the middle of a highway or road; parking on one or both sides of a roa ...

'' - Olga *1938: ''

Around The Town Around may refer to: * "Around" (song), by Julia van Bergen * ''Around'', 2006 album by Tom Verlaine * ''Around'', 2013 EP by Whirr * ''Around'', 2006 Palestinian film See also * Round (disambiguation) Round or rounds may refer to: Mathem ...

'' - Norma Wyngold *1940: '' Outside the Three-Mile Limit'' - Dorothy Kenney (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ware, Irene 1910 births 1993 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from New York City American beauty pageant winners American film actresses American people of Austrian descent American people of Swedish descent American stage actresses