Adele Blood

Adele Blood (April 23, 1886 - September 13, 1936) was an actress in silent movies, vaudeville,and theater. She was born in Alameda, California.

Family

She was the daughter of Mrs. Frances Blood who was a member of the Alameda school department for many years. Frances Blood moved tothe eastern United States some years before 1917. She was a sister-in-law of Susanna B. Holmes, who became the richest woman in America following the death of Hetty Green in 1916.fact|date=May 2007 Holmes was the wife of Albion Bernard Emery of Utah. The Emerys became fabulously wealthy when they purchased a fifth interest in the Mayflower mine, which was later called the Silver King Mining Company. It was located in Park City, Utah.

As a youth Blood was a talented equestrienne. She knew much about clothing styles and admired the theater.

tage career

Blood's first public performance was at the California Theatre in
San Francisco. She acted the character "Marguerite" in a production featuring Lewis Morrison as "Mephisto". Blood appeared in numerous plays as the leading lady. Some of the theatrical presentations in which she starred are "The Unmasking", "All Rivers Meet The Sea", and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

In the latter she was with the stock company of Edward Davis, her first husband. Davis was a clergyman-actor who was formerly thepastor of the First Christian Church in Oakland, California. Their marriage was turbulent and Blood began divorce proceedings in1914. Actress Jule Power was named as co-respondent in her suit. Davis responded by naming Governor Earl Brewer of Mississippi as co-respondent in countercharges against Blood. She finally won her divorce suit after which she left on a tour ofthe Orient. She spent lavishly on clothing which was ruined by salt water on her trip home.

During her vaudeville tours Blood was on stage in most of the prominent cities in the United States. She starred for five years in "Everywoman". During her travels she was known as "the most beautiful blonde on the American stage."

She made several motion pictures. The titles are "The Devil's Toy" (1916) and "The Riddle: Woman" (1920).

By December 1917 Blood retired at the urging of Holmes. She became the devoted companion of Holmes, who was known as the "Silver Queen". Blood became heiress to the older woman's fortune. She evdentually eschewed both wealth and social position because she believed itled to a philosophy of pessimism.

Blood returned to the stage by accepting an offer from the Oriental company of Tim Frawley. On her return she declined a $25,000necklace offered by the Mizam of Hyderade. The jewelry was a symbol of engagement. Instead she became the fiancee of Colonel R.W. Castle, an
English officer in the Indian service. Castle was a dashing officer who had compiled a fine war record. He met Blood in London, England, their second meeting, after which they planned a wedding in Calcutta.

uicide

On the night of September 13, 1936 Blood shot herself in the head at her home on the grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Harrison, New York. Her address was 12 Griswald Road. She died a few hours later at the United Hospital in Port Chester, New York. Her 17-year-old daughter, Dawn, was in the home with friends when they heard the sound of a gunshot coming from Blood's bedroom. The gun she used was a .32 caliber revolver. Dawn told police that her mother had been "financially pressed" and worried excessively in the previous two weeks.

Blood had been wealthy in the past. She financed a summer stock company and leased the auditorium of the Bronxville High School for plays. The plays were scheduled to run for six weeks but closed in three weeks. Both mother and daughter appeared in the casts. Her full name at the time of her death was Adele Blood Hope. Following her divorce from Davis she was briefly married to Englishman Waddell Hope.

References

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External links

*imdb|0089102
* [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=196814&imageID=wwm9911_w95f0_42163&parent_id=667476&word=&snum=&s=&notword=&d=&c=&f=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&total=370&num=24&imgs=12&pNum=&pos=33 Adele Blood] New York Public Library Digitial Gallery photos