Bridgers, Ann Preston

Ann Preston Bridgers (1 May 1891-3 May 1967), teacher and actress, was born in Raleigh, N.C.. During most of her childhood, she lived in Adrian, Ga., with her parents, Annie Preston Cain of Hillsborough, N.C., and Robert Rufus Bridgers, Jr., of Wilmington, N.C.. She had two sisters, Elizabeth Bridgers Daniels (Mrs. Jonathan) and Emily Norfleet Bridgers; and one brother, Robert Rufus Bridgers, Jr. Bridgers attended Mary Baldwin Seminary in Staunton, Va., and then Smith College in Northampton, Mass., where she received a B.A. degree in 1915.

After her graduation from Smith, she studied with the Henry Jewett Players of Boston, where she played a few minor roles. Returning to Raleigh, she taught in the public schools and served with the Selective Service Bureau. She went overseas in 1919 with the Smith College Unit of the YMcirca Returning to Raleigh, she opened a gift shop and became president of the Raleigh Community Players.

In 1923, she sold her gift shop, moved to New York, and enrolled in drama school. There, according to a New York Times article entitled And Who is Ann Preston Bridgers? she trifled with fencing, costuming, designing, carpentry, diction, dancing and even acting, the latter a purely academic interest inspired by a desire to familiarize herself with the fundamentals of the theatre per se.

For several years after 1923, she enjoyed considerable success in the theater, beginning as understudy for Lynn Fontanne in Dulcy . Her first major role was as Mrs. Bercovitch in Fall Guy ; she also portrayed two offstage voices, one Irish and one Jewish. Her next role was as the original Katie, the cigarette girl, in Broadway . By this time she had begun writing a play, Norma, which when submitted to George Abbott impressed him so favorably that he agreed to collaborate with her. Together they produced the hit show Coquette, in which Bridgers played a supporting role to Helen Hayes, the star, both on Broadway and on the road. For Coquette, Ann Bridgers received the Theatre Club's award for the most pleasing play of 1927-28.

Forsaking Broadway, Bridgers traveled extensively in Europe for a few years and, in 1933, moved permanently to Raleigh, where she became active in the Civic Music Association. She was also a member of the board of the Literary and Historical Association, an editor of the Survey of Federal Records, an occasional contributor to the Raleigh Times and News and Observer, and an early moving spirit in the formation of the Raleigh Little Theatre.

An ardent Christian Scientist, Bridgers died in Raleigh after a long illness and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington.

SOURCE: Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, vol. 1, p. 222.

From the guide to the Ann Preston Bridgers Papers, 1915-1946, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)