Marian Una Strain Fleming Adams (1899 – October 26, 1966), known on stage as Una Fleming, was an American dancer and actress on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
.
Early life and education
Una Strain was raised in Los Angeles, by her mother Carrie B. Malcolm Strain Fleming, and her stepfather, A. F. Fleming. Her Irish-born father John Strain died in 1904. She attended the Egan School of Music and Drama in Los Angeles, and studied dance with Matildita Fernandez. She danced at public events from her early teens, and was crowned the Queen of May at
May Day
May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on 1 May, around halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. Festivities may also be held the night before, known as May Eve. T ...
festivities in Los Angeles in 1914. In 1915, she joined a
vaudeville
Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
dancing act. In 1916, she was ''premiere danseuse'' in the ballet of the California Grand Opera Company.
Career
Fleming appeared in the silent film '' The Talk of the Town'' (1918). On Broadway, she was a dancer in ''The Velvet Lady'' (1919), ''The Sweetheart Shop'' (1920) and ''Her Family Tree'' (1921). She also danced in vaudeville programs in New York.
Theatre critic
Burns Mantle
Robert Burns Mantle (December 23, 1873February 9, 1948) was an American theater critic. He founded the ''Best Plays'' annual publication in 1920.Chansky, Dorothy (2011)"Burns Mantle and the American Theatregoing Public" in ''Theatre History Stu ...
described Fleming as dancing "with such unusual grace", and considered her part of a trend for "'plain American girl' dancers" who were cast in specialty roles once only assigned to foreign dancers. ''
McClure's Magazine
''McClure's'' or ''McClure's Magazine'' (1893–1929) was an American illustrated monthly periodical popular at the turn of the 20th century. The magazine is credited with having started the tradition of muckraking journalism ( investigative, wat ...
'' also placed her among other young women dancers in a photo feature in 1919, with the comment that "she seems to be fashioned mostly out of chiffon and grace".
Fleming married in 1920. She was still dancing on stage in 1925, with the
George M. Cohan
George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878November 5, 1942) was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer.
Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in a vaudev ...
show ''
Little Nellie Kelly
''Little Nellie Kelly'' is a 1940 American musical-comedy film based on the stage musical of the same title by George M. Cohan which was a hit on Broadway in 1922 and 1923. The film was written by Jack McGowan and directed by Norman Taurog. It ...
'' in Oakland, and in 1926, when she appeared with
Gloria Foy
Gloria Foy (October 25, 1901 –February 27, 1977) was an American dancer, singer, vaudeville performer, and star of musical revues. Her family were theatrical people. Her father was Harry Foy, but she was no relation to the more famous Eddie ...
and
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo Holtz (born January 6, 1937) is an American former football player, coach, and analyst. He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary (1969–1971), North Carolina State University (1972–1975), the New York ...
in ''Patsy'' in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Personal life
Fleming was married four times, to three different husbands. Her first husband was businessman Carleton Adams in 1920; they had a daughter, Barbara. They divorced in 1927, then remarried in 1928, then divorced again in 1935. She married again, to actor
Freeman Wood
Freeman Wood (July 1, 1896 – February 15, 1956) was an American character actor of the silent and sound film eras.
Biography
Born in 1896 in Denver
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous cit ...
, by 1940. She married a third time, to Gardner T. Glassell, in 1949. Gardner Glassell died in 1958, and she died in 1966, in