Nina Quartero (born Gladys Quartararo; March 17, 1908 – November 23, 1985) was an American actress whose career spanned from 1929 to 1943.

Career

Born in 1908 in Mount Vernon, New York, as Gladys Quartararo, she came from a close family and was the youngest of seven children. She often played supporting roles and sometimes a love interest for the lead male actor. In ''One Stolen Night'' (1928) Quartero was cast with

Betty Bronson Elizabeth Ada Bronson (November 17, 1906 – October 19, 1971) was an American film and television actress who began her career during the silent film era. Early years Bronson was born in Trenton, New Jersey, to Frank and Nellie Smith Brons ...

and William Collier. The story concerns a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

soldier who comes to the assistance of an enslaved dancer. In '' Frozen River'' (1929) she was paired with

Raymond McKee Eldon Raymond McKee (December 7, 1892 – October 3, 1984), also credited as Roy McKee, was an American stage and screen actor. His film debut was in the 1912 production ''The Lovers' Signal''. Over the next 23 years, he performed in no less ...

as the motion picture's romantic leads. TheVirginian-1929

In 1931 Quartero appeared in ''

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

'', an early

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...

movie. Playing "Conchita," she is a source of strife in Wayne's relationship to the characters depicted by

Laura La Plante Laura La Plante (born Laura Laplante; November 1, 1904 – October 14, 1996) was an American film actress, whose more notable performances were in the silent era. Early life La Plante was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 1, 1904, the da ...

and

June Clyde June Clyde (born Ina Parton, December 2, 1909 – October 1, 1987) was an American actress, singer and dancer known for roles in such pre-Code films as ''A Strange Adventure'' (1932) and ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1933). Early years June Clyd ...

. She performed again with Wayne in ''

The Man from Monterey ''The Man from Monterey'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code Western (genre), Western directed by Mack V. Wright and starring John Wayne. The picture was released by Warner Bros. Pictures. This film was the last of six films John W ...

'' (1933). Her final screen performances show Quartero playing smaller parts, such as the role of a

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a pers ...

dancer in ''Torchy Blane in Panama'' (1938), a native dancer in '' Green Hell'' (1940) and a bar-girl in ''

A Lady Takes a Chance ''A Lady Takes a Chance'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Jean Arthur and John Wayne. Written by Robert Ardrey and based on a story by Jo Swerling, the film is about a New York working girl wh ...

'' (1943).

Death

Nina Quartero died in

Woodland Hills, California Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Geography Woodland Hills is in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, which is located east of Ca ...

in 1985, aged 78.

Publicity stunt

Quartero once tried a

publicity stunt In marketing, a publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized, or set up by amateurs. Such events are frequently utilize ...

by claiming that she was

betrothed An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...

to Notre Dame All-American

quarterback The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Am ...

Frank Carideo. Carideo demanded a retraction of Quartero's engagement announcement, although he admitted he knew her from a time when each resided in

Mount Vernon, New York Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is an inner suburb of New York City, immediately to the north of the borough of the Bronx. As of the 2020 census, Mount Vernon had a population of 73,893, making it th ...

. He had also visited her home, in

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...

, prior to the 1930

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8.1 ...

game, to exchange greetings.

Partial filmography

*''

The Sorrows of Satan ''The Sorrows of Satan'' is an 1895 Faustian novel by Marie Corelli. It is widely regarded as one of the world's first best-sellers – partly due to an upheaval in the system British libraries used to purchase their books, and partly due to its ...

'' (1926) - Vamp *''

Driftin' Sands ''Driftin' Sands'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Wallace Fox and starring Bob Steele, Nina Quartero, and William H. Turner. Cast * Bob Steele as 'Driftin' Sands * Nina Quartero as Nita Aliso * William H. Turner as Do ...

'' (1928) - Nita Aliso *''

The Red Mark ''The Red Mark'' is a 1928 American silent melodrama film produced and directed by James Cruze and starring Gaston Glass. It was distributed through Pathé Exchange. Cast *Nina Quartero as Zelie * Gaston Glass as Bibi-Ri *Gustav von Seyffertit ...

'' (1928) - Zelie *''

Noah's Ark Noah's Ark ( he, תיבת נח; Biblical Hebrew: ''Tevat Noaḥ'')The word "ark" in modern English comes from Old English ''aerca'', meaning a chest or box. (See Cresswell 2010, p.22) The Hebrew word for the vessel, ''teva'', occurs twice in ...

'' (1928) - French Girl (uncredited) *''

The Redeeming Sin ''The Redeeming Sin'' (1929) is a crime drama part- talking silent film with Vitaphone music and sound effects. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and stars Dolores Costello. This film is a lost film. This film is a remake of a ...

'' (1929) - Mitzi *'' One Stolen Night'' (1929) - Chyra *'' The Eternal Woman'' (1929) - Consuelo *'' Frozen River'' (1929) - Jane *'' Frontier Romance'' (1929, Short) *'' The Virginian'' (1929) - Girl in Bar (uncredited) *''

Isle of Escape ''Isle of Escape'' is a 1930 American pre-Code film produced and released by Warner Bros. The film stars Monte Blue and Myrna Loy and is set in the South Seas. Blue had been playing man-stranded-on-island roles in such films as ''White Shadows i ...

'' (1930) - Loru *''

Golden Dawn Golden Dawn or The Golden Dawn may refer to: Organizations * Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a nineteenth century magical order based in Britain ** The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc., a modern revival founded in 1977 ** Open Source ...

'' (1930) - Maid-in-Waiting *''

Men of the North ''Men of the North'' is a 1930 American Western film directed by Hal Roach and written by Richard Schayer from a story by Willard Mack. The film stars Gilbert Roland, Barbara Leonard, Arnold Korff, Robert Elliott and George Davis. The film wa ...

'' (1930) - Woolie-Woolie *''

New Moon In astronomy, the new moon is the first lunar phase, when the Moon and Sun have the same ecliptic longitude. At this phase, the lunar disk is not visible to the naked eye, except when it is silhouetted against the Sun during a solar ecl ...

'' (1930) - Vadda - Tanya's Maid *''

The Bachelor Father ''The Bachelor Father '' is a 1931 American pre-Code MGM comedy drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Marion Davies and featuring Ralph Forbes, C. Aubrey Smith, Ray Milland and Guinn Williams (actor), Guinn "Big Boy" Williams. ...

'' (1931) - Maria Credaro * '' The Hawk'' (1931) - Teresa Valardi *''

God's Gift to Women ''God's Gift to Women'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic musical comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Frank Fay, Laura LaPlante, and Joan Blondell. The film, based on the play ''The Devil Was Sick'' by Jane Hinton, was original ...

'' (1931) - Suzanne - a Party Girl (uncredited) *'' Trapped'' (1931) - Sally Moore *''

The Fighting Sheriff ''The Fighting Sheriff'' is a 1931 American Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buck Jones, Loretta Sayers and Robert Ellis.Pitts p.107 Cast * Buck Jones as Sheriff Bob Terry * Loretta Sayers as Mary Cameron * Robert Ellis as ...

'' (1931) - Tiana *''

'' (1931) - Conchita *''

Arizona Terror ''Arizona Terror'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code Western film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Ken Maynard, Lina Basquette and Hooper Atchley. Partial cast * Ken Maynard as The Arizonian * Lina Basquette as Kay Moore * Hooper Atchley a ...

'' (1931) - Lola *''

The Monkey's Paw "The Monkey's Paw" is a horror short story by English author W. W. Jacobs, first published in the collection '' The Lady of the Barge'' in 1902. In the story, three wishes are granted to the owner of The Monkey's Paw, but the wishes come with ...

'' (1933) - Nura *''

Hell Below ''Hell Below'' (aka ''Pigboats'') is a 1933 American MGM pre-Code film set in the Adriatic Sea during World War I about submarine warfare based on Commander Edward Ellsberg's novel ''Pigboats''. The film stars Robert Montgomery, Walter Huston ...

'' (1933) - Nurse (uncredited) *''

The Devil's Brother ''The Devil's Brother'' (or ''Bogus Bandits'' as an Astor Pictures reissue title) or ''Fra Diavolo'' outside the U.S. is a 1933 American Pre-Code comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy. It is based on Daniel Auber's operetta ''Fra Diavolo'' abou ...

'' (1933) - Rita *''

'' (1933) - Anita Garcia * ''

Under Secret Orders ''Under Secret Orders'', also known as ''Mademoiselle Doctor'', is a 1937 British spy film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Erich von Stroheim, John Loder, Dita Parlo and Claire Luce. It is an English-language version of the Frenc ...

'' (1933) - Carmencita Alverez *''

Sons of the Desert A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some current ...

'' (1933) - Sons of the Desert Partygoer (uncredited) *''The Cyclone Ranger'' (1935) - Nita Garcia *'' Vagabond Lady'' (1935) - Mike - Tony's Friend (uncredited) *''

Wife vs. Secretary ''Wife vs. Secretary'' (or ''Wife versus Secretary'') is a 1936 comedy drama directed and co-produced by Clarence Brown and starring Clark Gable as a successful businessman, Jean Harlow as his secretary, and Myrna Loy as his wife, supported by Ja ...

'' (1936) - Cuban Telephone Operator (uncredited) *''

The Three Mesquiteers ''The Three Mesquiteers'' is the umbrella title for a Republic Pictures series of 51 American Western B-movies released between 1936 and 1943. The films, featuring a trio of Old West adventurers, was based on a series of Western novels by Wi ...

'' (1936) - Waitress *''

Two in a Crowd ''Two in a Crowd'' is a 1936 romantic comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Joan Bennett and Joel McCrea. It was released by Universal Pictures. The screenplay was written by Lewis R. Foster, Doris Malloy, and Earle Snell, base ...

'' (1936) - Celito (uncredited) *''

Left-Handed Law ''Left-Handed Law'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Frances Guihan. It is based on the 1936 novel ''Left Handed Law'' by Charles M. Martin. The film stars Buck Jones, Noel Francis, Nina Quartero, Fran ...

'' (1937) - Chiquita *''

Submarine D-1 ''Submarine D-1'' is a 1937 drama directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Pat O'Brien, George Brent and Wayne Morris.. The film was produced by Cosmopolitan Productions and released by Warner Bros. Plot Butch Rogers and Sock McGillis are old submari ...

'' (1937) - Panama Percentage Girl (uncredited) *''

Torchy Blane in Panama ''Torchy Blane in Panama'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by William Clemens and starring Lola Lane, Paul Kelly, and Tom Kennedy. Released on May 7, 1938, the fifth film in a series of Torchy Blane movies by Warner Bros. It is foll ...

'' (1938) - Cuban Dancer (uncredited) *'' Green Hell'' (1940) - Native Girl (uncredited) *''

'' (1943) - Carmencita (final film role)

References

Sources

Charleston, West Virginia Charleston is the capital and most populous city of West Virginia. Located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers, the city had a population of 48,864 at the 2020 census and an estimated population of 48,018 in 2021. The Charlesto ...

Gazette, ''One Stolen Night'', Sunday, May 12, 1929, Page 39. *

Lima, Ohio Lima ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwest Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton, southwest of Toledo, and southeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana. ...

News, ''In Lima Theaters'', Friday, August 30, 1929, Page 16. *

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

, ''Carideo Denies Betrothal'', January 4, 1931, Page 3.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Quartero, Nina 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American silent film actresses Western (genre) film actresses Actresses from New York City 1908 births 1985 deaths