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Jane Adams Jane Adams
Born: August 7, 1918
Died: May 21, 2014 (at the age of 95)
Jane Adams

Jane was born Betty Jane Bierce in San Antonio, Texas on August 7, 1918. Her parents were Mason M. and Ethyl E. Bierce. Within two years they moved to Los Angeles and she lived there with her parents and sister Helen.

Jane earned a full scholarship to study violin at the famous New York School, Julliard, but turned it down to study acting for four years at the Pasadena Playhouse were in 1938 she earned her Theater Arts degree. While at the Pasadena Playhouse, she took Stage Design, Stage Makeup, French, voice and diction and performed in everything from Greek Trgedy to classic comedy.

Her Professional career began on radio's 'Lux Radio Theater' and 'The Whistler'

She received the name 'Poni' at the Harry Conover Modeling Agency, were she worked for six month after moving to New York City. She was the first to appear in iver TV in New York. She modeled for the National Tea Association and was the Dodge Girl for a year.

Jane was briedfly marred to an Annapolis cadet, but he was tragically killed in action in on his first mission during World War II.

Jane Adams

Around 1944 Jane is spotted in 'Esquire' Magazine by producer Walter Wagner. Walter Wagner was looking beautiful Women for his upcoming Film 'Salome Where She Danced, (with Yvonne De Carlo) were she became one of the "Seven Salome Girls". Billed as 'Poni' Universal decided to a better name was need for the screen and a publicity buildup for a new Screen name. GI’s got to select a name as part of a contest in 'STARS AND STRIPES' the Military newpaper.

Jane married her second husband, Thomas 'Tom' Turnage, on July 14, 1945 (She was 26 he was 22). Tom becasme a Major General of the Army in the Korean War and earned the Distinguished Service Medal and Bronze Star. He would also head the Veteren's Administration before the VA became a cabinet department during Ronald Reagan's presidential term.

In 1946 while filming 'Night In Paradise', her co-star Turhan Bey, flirted with her daily (even though he was dating actress Lana Turner at the time).

Jane retired from acting after she was married. She returned to acting in television roles briefly in the early 1950's when her husband was sent to Korea.

On September 5, 1955 Jane gave birth to daughter Andrea Gene in Los Angeles, and on November 30, 1956 her son Robert M. was born, also in Los Angeles.

Sadly Jane Adams died of Natural causes on May 21, 2014 at the age 95 in Bellingham, Washington.

Jane Adams - House of Dracula Among Jane's screen roles was that of 'Nina' the Hunchback Assistant in the Classic 1945 film of 'House of Dracula'. She also notably played a blind piano teacher named 'Helen Paige', in which she falles in love with the Brute (played admirably by the great Rondo Hatton) in the 1946 classic flick 'The Brute'.

Credited as Poni Adams n 2 Western Pictures and during her modeling days.

Jane was 5' 3"

Jane Adams - Outlaw Gold Jane Adams - Trail of Vengeance

Jane Adams - Lost City of the Jungle


---------- Film Rolls ----------
(1953) Secret of Outlaw Flats Peggy
(1951) Street Bandits
aka Flight from Fury (1951)
Secretary
(1950) Outlaw Gold Kathy Martin
(1950) Law of the Panhandle Margie Kendal
(1950) Girl From San Lorenzo, The
aka Don Amigo (1950)
Nora Malloy
(1949) Batman and Robin
aka Adventures of Batman and Robin, The (1949)
aka Evening with Batman and Robin, An (1966/II) (USA: reissue title)
aka New Adventures of Batman and Robin, The (1949)
Vicki Vale
(1949) Master Minds Nancy Marlowe
(1949) Western Renegades Judy Gordon
(1949) Angels in Disguise (uncredited) First Pretty Nurse
(1949) Gun Law Justice Jane Darnton
(1948) He Walked by Night
aka L.A. Investigator, The (1948) (USA)
(uncredited) Nurse Scanion
(1946) Gunman's Code Laura Burton
(1946) Lost City of the Jungle Marjorie Elmore
(1946) Rustler's Round-Up
aka Rustler's Hideout (1946) (USA: TV title)
Josephine Fremont
(1946) Smooth as Silk Susan
(1946) Brute Man, The
aka Brute, The (1946)
Helen Paige
(1946) Lawless Breed
aka Lawless Clan (1946)
Marjorie 'Maggie' Bradley
(1946) Runaround, The (uncredited) Miss Webster
(1946) Night in Paradise, A (uncredited) Lotus
(1945) Lady on a Train (uncredited) Photographer
(1945) Salome, Where She Danced (uncredited) Salome Girl
(1945) This Love of Ours (uncredited) Chorus girl
(1945) House of Dracula
aka Wolf Man's Cure, The (1945)
Nina
(1945) Code of the Lawless (as Poni Adams) Julie Randall
(1945) Trail to Vengeance (as Poni Adams) Dorothy Jackson
(1942) So You Want to Give Up Smoking (uncredited) Smoker


---------- Television Rolls ----------
02/20/1953 Adventures of Superman
In 'Ghost Wolf'
episode # 1.23
Babette Dulac
11/01/1952 The Adventures of Kit Carson
In 'Range Master'
episode # 2.14
Law of the Six-Guns
episode # 1.8
Margarita Bolton
1952 Dangerous Assignment
'The Alien Smuggler Story'
episode # 1.1
 
11/11/1951 The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
In 'Silver Stage Holdup'
episode # 2.5
Peggy
09/05/1950 The Cisco Kid
In 'Boomerang'
episode # 1.1
Miss Harley


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