Mack, Nila, 1891-1953

Nila Mack, actress and radio writer, director and producer was born in Arkansas City, Kansas in 1891.

She began her career in vaudeville and as a leading lady in a traveling repertory company. When her husband, Roy Briant, joined Paramount Pictures as a writer, she became a member of Nazimova's company. Nila Mack was in the film WAR BRIDES and also wrote scenarios for screen shorts during this time. In the 1930's she took over creative responsibility for the radio program THE ADVENTURES OF HELEN MARY which became LET'S PRETEND and which she produced for the next 23 years. Nila Mack won awards for LET'S PRETEND and other works and was known as the "Fairy Godmother of Radio". She died in 1953.

From the description of Nila Mack papers, 1910-1953. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122517851

Nila Mack was born in Arkansas City, Kansas on October 24, 1891. She was an only child. Her mother was a dancer and ran her own dancing school. Her father was an engineer who died tragically in a train wreck. Upon her father's death, she attended Ferry Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. After graduating, she went to Boston and took courses in French, dance, and voice training. She was also a pianist and played in her mother's dancing school.

Nila Mack's early career began in vaudeville and as a leading lady in a traveling repertory company. She married her leading man, Roy Briant . When Briant joined Paramount Pictures as a writer, Mack became a member of Nazimova's company. She was in the film titled War Brides and also wrote scenarios for screen shorts. She also acted on Broadway and appeared in the plays Fair and Warmer and A Doll's House . Her husband, Roy Briant, died in 1927 after 13 years of marriage. She was also an actress in the radio program CBS Radio Guild of the Air .

Nila Mack, returned to Kansas to nurse her ill mother and at that time became the program director of a local station. This was the beginning of her career in radio programming. In 1930, CBS asked her to return and take over the children's program The Adventures of Helen and Mary later renamed Let's Pretend which she produced for the next 23 years. The show featured dramatizations of classic fairy tales. It was one of the most successful children's shows in radio broadcasting history. Nila Mack received fan mail from youngsters and mothers, some of which was read during the show. From her shows she discovered young talents who became performers, producers, directors, and writers. Nila Mack also produced other radio programs such as Let Freedom Ring, Treasures Next Door, Sunday Morning at Aunt Susan's, Funny Things, and March of Games . Nila also wrote children's stories for magazines and wrote the book Animal Allies and a storybook of Let's Pretend .

Nila Mack died of a heart ailment in her New York apartment on January 20, 1953. She won numerous awards for Let's Pretend as well as individual awards for her accomplishments. During her 23 years in radio she was known as "Fairy Godmother of Radio".

From the guide to the Nila Mack papers, 1910-1953, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)