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Henry Blair (child actor)

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Henry Blair
Born
David Lewis Blakely

1932 or 1933 (age 91–92)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Alma materChapman College
OccupationActor
Years active1939–1958

Henry Blair (born David Lewis Blakely;[1] 1932 or 1933[2]) is an American former film and radio actor.

Early life and career

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Born in Los Angeles,[3] Blair is the son of Lewis Herbert Blakely and Winifred Myrtle "Winnie" Pollard,[1][4] the latter a British Columbia native and a skilled performer in her own right, who—after emigrating from Vancouver to Los Angeles in 1923—founded and directed the Winifred Pollard School of Dancing from 1925 until at least 1935.[1][5][6] The family resided in Roscoe, California, where Kevin attended the Vineland Elementary School.[7] He later attended Hollywood Professional School and Chapman College.[8][9]

Of particular note among Blair's recurring radio credits are his portrayal of Ricky Nelson on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet from its inception in 1944 until 1949 (at which point Nelson himself joined the cast),[10] as well as the roles of "Donnie Henderson" on Beulah,[11] "Skipper" on One Man's Family, "Little Quincey" on The Baby Snooks Show, "Eddie Powers" on Masquerade, and Blair's favorite among his radio characters, "Little Beaver" on Red Ryder.[12][13] One especially notable non-recurring highlight was the April 29, 1947 episode of My Favorite Story, featuring Blair as the title character in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, as adapted for radio by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee.[14]

On the night of February 11, 1948 (as reported the following day by The Hollywood Reporter), Blair made his 1,000th radio appearance.[15] On February 11, 1951, Blair, along with fellow "Radiomites" Michael Blair—no relation—and Norma Jean Nilssen, were the featured guests on local disc jockey Al Jarvis's talk show on KLAC-TV in Los Angeles.[16]

Amidst Blair's largely unsung film career, consisting principally of bit parts, often uncredited, one notable exception stands out. Zeroing in on Blair's contribution to Trail Blazers (Allied Artists' 1953 juvenile delinquency-themed second feature), the Waterloo Courier concludes its otherwise purely descriptive three-sentence review, "Henry Blair, as Spike, whose destructive prank more than once put police upon his trail, is excellent, particularly in those scenes depicting him as a reformed youngster."[17]

Apart from Blair's radio work, notable audio-only assignments include voicing the title characters, respectively, on three albums produced by Alan Livingston: Sparky and the Talking Train, Sparky's Magic Piano, and Rusty in Orchestraville.[18][19][20] Onscreen, he voiced the titular antagonist of MGM's 1944 animated cartoon short subject, Barney Bear's Polar Pest.[21][22]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Nanaimo Folk Succeed in Hollywood". Nanaimo Daily News. Canada, British Columbia, Nanaimo. May 6, 1940. p. 3. Retrieved April 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Only Seven and a Half but Already a Veteran of Four Hollywood Films". The Vancouver Sun. September 6, 1940. p. 19. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "Behind the Radio Dial". The Weekly Kansas City Star. November 6, 1946. p. 4. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8NW-KGR : 9 March 2021), Lewis Herbert Blakely and Winifred Myrtle Pollard, 10 Mar 1924; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,448.
  5. ^ "Another Party! Children's St. Patrick Frolic". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. March 11, 1925. p. 5. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "C of C Dance Proves Success". The Southwest Wave. April 5, 1935. p. 14. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Roscoe Boy Making Good in Pictures" Archived April 25, 2024, at the Wayback Machine. Los Angeles Citizen-News. April 10, 1942. p. 2.
  8. ^ "Short and Simple Ads Best, Boys Tell Club". Hollywood Citizen-News. May 4, 1948. p. 12. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "Chapman Drama Club to Give Play". Hollywood Citizen-News. November 24, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio Archived April 25, 2024, at the Wayback Machine. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3.
  11. ^ "Radio Highlights: Juvenile Stars on 'Beulah" Show; Henry Blair Plays Donnie Henderson" Archived April 25, 2024, at the Wayback Machine. The Tampa Times. November 22, 1949. p. 14. See also:
  12. ^ Carlile, Tom (December 1, 1946). "Saturday Heroes" Archived April 25, 2024, at the Wayback Machine. The Cincinnati Enquirer.
  13. ^ "From the Production Centres: In Hollywood". The Hollywood Reporter. August 2, 1944. p. 24. ProQuest 1285842281. Tommy Cook also relinquishes 'Little Beaver' role to Henry Blair.
  14. ^ Palmer, Zuma (May 1, 1947). "AFRA Players Do Some Fine Acting". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 30. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Murcott, Joel (February 12, 1948). "On the Air". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 8. ProQuest 2320686961. Henry Blair chalked up his 1000th radio appearance last night. The 15-year-old is a vet of four years in the medium.
  16. ^ Jenkins, Dan (September 11, 1951). "On the Air". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 9. ProQuest 2320455741. Norma Jean Nilssen, Henry Blair and Michael Blair, of the 'Radiomites,' with Al Jarvis on KLAC-TV today.
  17. ^ a b "Iowa Will Have Latest Bowery Boys Film Tue; Alan Hale Jr. Stars in Second Feature, 'The Trail Blazers'; Destructive Pranks". The Waterloo Courier. July 5, 1953. p. 22.
  18. ^ Ober, Harold (November 9, 1947) "Record Roundup". Asbury Park Press. November 9, 1947. p. 8. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  19. ^ Miles, Betty (May 2, 1948). "Record Row". The Washington Star. p. D-9. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  20. ^ Frank, Sam (January 17, 1994). "Pioneer of Classical Music for Kids". The Los Angeles Times. p. F5. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Scott, Keith (2022). Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, Vol. 2. Orlando, FL: BearManor Media.
  22. ^ a b fan tv 2023 (November 23, 2020). "Barney Bear's Polar Pest (1944) HD Intro & Outro" Archived May 11, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. YouTube.
  23. ^ "Only Seven and a Half But Already a Veteran of Four Hollywood Pictures". The Vancouver Sun. September 6, 1940. p. 19.
  24. ^ Marks, Perry (February 23, 1940). "New Angle in Rio's Western". Harrisburg Telegraph. p. 17. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  25. ^ "Former Southwest Youth Now Appearing in Movies". The Southwest Wave. March 22, 1940. p. 2.
  26. ^ Reel Classics (February 26, 2024). "House Across The Bay 1940 - Full Movie, George Raft, Joan Bennett, Lloyd Nolan, Comedy, Crime". YouTube.
  27. ^ Over50andFantabulous (April 24, 2024). "Calling Philo Vance 1940". YouTube.
  28. ^ "Up-to-the-Minute Casting News". The Hollywood Reporter. February 27, 1940. p. 4. ProQuest 2320678588. Edgar Deering, John Ray, Dorothy Ann Seese, Henry Blair, Bobby Larson to 'Doctor Takes a Wife,' Columbia.
  29. ^ a b c Davenport, Robert Ralsey (2004). The Encyclopedia of War Movies : The Authoritative Guide to Movies About Wars of the Twentieth Century. New York: Facts on File. pp. 6, 135, 399. ISBN 0-8160-4478-3.
  30. ^ Kinnard, Roy; Crnkovich, Tony (2005). The Films of Fay Wray. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-7864-3875-4.
  31. ^ Gevinson, Alan, ed. (1997). Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 601. ISBN 0-520-20964-8.
  32. ^ a b "Young Actor Here". The Victoria Daily Times. September 19, 1940. p. 5.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g Henry Blair Filmography Archived October 24, 2022, at the Wayback Machine. American Film Institute.
  34. ^ Ringgold, Gene (1980). The Films of Rita Hayworth. Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press. p. 120. ISBN 0-8065-0439-0.
  35. ^ Hanson, Patricia King, ed. (1999). AFI Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States; Volume F4: Feature Films, 1941-1950; Film Entries A-L. p. 137. ISBN 0-520-21521-4.
  36. ^ "Radio Veteran at 13". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 10, 1946. Sec. 4, p. 9. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  37. ^ Michael, Paul; Parish, John Robert (1969). The American Movies : The History, Films, Awards : A Pictorial Encyclopedia. New York: Galahad Books. p. 190. LCCN 68--13401.
  38. ^ Wachsman, Bob (May 8, 1942). "Rambling Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 2. ProQuest 2297971382. Eight-year-old Henry Blair (the kid who wept while his pappy was operated on in 'Kings Row') is rehearsing an act which he says he'll take out for the USO as soon as school is over.
  39. ^ McCabe, John (1997). Cagney. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 411. ISBN 0679446079.
  40. ^ Dunne, Michael (2004). American Film Musical Themes and Forms. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 132. ISBN 078641877X.
  41. ^ McClelland, Doug (2003). Eleanor Parker: Woman of a Thousand Faces. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press. p. 29. ISBN 0-8108-2242-3.
  42. ^ "Plays Friend". Los Angeles Times. June 25, 1942. p. A11. ProQuest 165345260. Henry Blair, screen juvenile, enacts Mickey Rooney's young friend in 'Andy Hardy's Last Fling.'
  43. ^ Michael, Paul; Parish, John Robert, op. cit., p. 46.
  44. ^ Ayer, Belle (Mar 25, 1948). "Film Fanfare". Rock Island Argus. p. 5.
  45. ^ Hanson, Patricia King, ed. (1999). AFI Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States; Volume F4: Feature Films, 1941-1950; Film Entries A-L. p. 978. ISBN 0-520-21521-4.
  46. ^ a b Nash, Jay Robert (1985). The Motion Picture Guide, C-D, 1927-1983. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks. pp. 461, 644. ISBN 0-933997-02-7.
  47. ^ Pitts, Michael R. (2009). Western Film Series of the Sound Era. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 412. ISBN 978-0-7864-3529-6.
  48. ^ Erickson, Hal (2002). The Baseball Filmography, 1915 through 2001, 2d ed.. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 475. ISBN 978-0-7864-4497-7.
  49. ^ "Castings". The Hollywood Reporter. April 1, 1952. p. 6. ProQuest 2469197921. Henry Blair, Richard Monahan, 'Hans Christian Andersen,' Goldwyn.
  50. ^ "Castings". The Hollywood Reporter. November 5, 1952. p. 7. ProQuest 2338363824. James Hyland, Russ Conway, Frank Marlowe, Janet Stewart, Thiela Darin, Jeannette Quinn, Connie Warner, Beverly Long, Harry Tyler, Gary Stewart, Don Pierto [sic], Don Gordon, Ralph Votrian, Henry Blair, 'Girls in the Night,' U-I.
  51. ^ Wear (August 26, 1953). "Film Reviews: Saginaw Trail". Variety. p. 6. ProQuest 963156130. Gene Autry ..... Gene Autry; Smiley Burnette ..... Smiley Burnette; Flora Tourney ..... Connie Marshall; Jules Brissac ..... Eugene Borden; Randy Lane ..... Ralph Reed; Pillip Brissac ..... Henry Blair; Miller Webb ..... Myron Healey.
  52. ^ "TV Film Castings". The Hollywood Reporter. June 18, 1954. p. 12. ProQuest 2322743477. Henry Blair, Rolfe Sedan and Tom Conroy for featured roles in 'The Stolen First Edition,' latest chapter of 'The Halls of Ivy' series.
  53. ^ Hayde, Michael J. (2013). Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman. Duncan, OK: BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-59393-344-9.
  54. ^ "TV Castings". The Hollywood Reporter. April 22, 1958. p. 7. ProQuest 2338091942. Bob Duggan set for next 'Climax!'; Simmy Bow for 'Whirlybirds' whirl, 'C.O.D.'; Paul Maxwell for next 'S. A. 7'; Henry Blair, a 'Father Knows Best'; Larry Conroy, next 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'.
  55. ^ YouTube Movies & TV. Father Knows Best: "A Matter of Pride". YouTube.
  56. ^ YouTube Movies & TV. "Father Knows Best: S5 E4 - Voice from the Past". YouTube.
  57. ^ YouTube Movies & TV. "Father Knows Best: S5 E15 - The Basketball Coach". YouTube.
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