Bryant, Nana, 1888-1955

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Nana Bryant, stage, screen and television actress, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1888.

She began her acting career at the age of sixteen when she joined a repertory company that later toured in the West. Bryant was the leading lady in stock companies in San Francisco, Oakland, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Maine and appeared in Topsy and Eva with the Duncan Sisters. In 1924 she debuted on Broadway in The Firebrand and for the next several years appeared in musicals and comedies in New York.

A contract with Columbia Pictures Corporation took her to Hollywood in 1935 and began a motion picture career that lasted twenty years. She played roles in over ninety films including Mad about Music, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Calling Dr. Gillespie, The Song of Bernadette, Brewster's Millions, The Virginian, Harvey, Bright Victory, and The Private War of Major Benson.

Her television appearances included roles on Robert Montgomery Presents, Studio One, Life with Father, Make Room for Daddy, The First Hundred Years and Our Miss Brooks.

From the description of Nana Bryant papers, 1917-1955. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122682820

Nana Bryant was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1888. She began her acting career at the age of sixteen when she joined a repertory company that later toured in the West. Bryant was the leading lady in stock companies in San Francisco, Oakland, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Maine and appeared in Topsy and Eva with the Duncan Sisters. In 1924 she debuted on Broadway in The Firebrand and for the next several years appeared in musicals and comedies in New York.

A contract with Columbia Pictures Corporation took her to Hollywood in 1935 and began a motion picture career that lasted twenty years. She played roles in over ninety films including Mad about Music, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Calling Dr. Gillespie, The Song of Bernadette, Brewster's Millions, The Virginian, Harvey, Bright Victory, and The Private War of Major Benson .

Her television appearances included roles on Robert Montgomery Presents, Studio One, Life with Father, Make Room for Daddy, The First Hundred Years and Our Miss Brooks .

From the guide to the Nana Bryant papers, 1917-1955, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Bryant, Nana, 1888-1955. Nana Bryant papers, 1917-1955. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Brace, Gerald Warner, 1901-1978. Studio one-- "The Garretson chronicle" / from the novel by Gerald Warner Brace. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
referencedIn Rogers Memorial Collection: Clara Kathleen Rogers papers, 1860-1934. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn John Eldon Thayer collection of motion picture memorabilia, 1916-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Rogers Memorial Collection: Henry Munroe Rogers papers, 1812-1937 (inclusive), 1862-1937 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Nana Bryant papers, 1917-1955 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith David Hanna person
associatedWith Emelie Melville person
associatedWith Jefferson Theatre Company corporateBody
associatedWith Kummer, Clare person
associatedWith Mack, Willard, 1873-1934 person
associatedWith Mayer, Edwin Justus, 1896-1960 person
associatedWith Melville, Emelie, 1852-1932 person
associatedWith Nana Bryant person
associatedWith Portland Business and Professional Woman's League corporateBody
correspondedWith Rogers, Henry Munroe, 1839-1937 person
associatedWith Sherwood, Robert E. (Robert Emmet), 1896-1955 person
associatedWith Thayer, John Eldon, 1899-1980 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
California
Washington (D.C.)
Maine
United States
Subject
Theater
Theater
Theater
Theater
Actresses
Actresses
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1888-11-23

Death 1955-12-24

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