Marjorie Hannan

Marjorie Hannan (born 1911 or 1912[1]) was an American actress.

Early years

Hannan was born in Hamilton, Ohio, and she majored in physical education at the University of Cincinnati (UC).[2] While she attended UC, she also studied at the Schuster-Martin School of Dramatic Art. In July 1930 she was chosen from applicants recommended by six schools of the arts in the Cincinnati area to be the first guest student at Cincinnati's Three Arts Club, with her residence there beginning in September 1930.[3] Hannan, who graduated from the drama school in 1931, was a tap dancer who was featured in the school's 1931 senior dance recital.[4] She was also an Albertina Rasch dancer.[5] She taught at Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati but found that her interests lay more in drama.[2]

Career
Hugh Studebaker and Hannan in Bachelor's Children

Hannan left teaching to seek work on stage in New York. After six months there with no success she returned to Cincinnati, where she became an actress on radio station WLW.[2]

Hannan's performance in a 1930 radio adaptation of A Christmas Carol led to advances in her career. A production manager, attracted by her ability and her voice, "arranged the commercial audition that started her on the road up."[6] On network radio, Hannah portrayed Ruth Ann on Bachelor's Children[7]: 56  and Fay on Ma Perkins.[7] Other radio programs on which Hannan performed included Sally of the Talkies[6] and The Mysterious Doctor Mikalin.[8]

Hannan retired from radio in the mid-1940s, a move that led to the death of the character that she had portrayed on Bachelor's Children for more than 10 years. Bess Flynn, the program's author, wrote that "a very fine actress" was hired to take over the role, but "she was not Ruth Ann!"[9] Flynn added, "To me, Ruth Ann died with Miss Hannan's leaving the show" and the stories would continue to be convincing only if the character died."[9]

Personal life

Hannan was married to radio executive Myron Reck, and they had a son.[10]

References
  1. "Busy Marjorie Hannan Adds Novel Writing to Radio Dramatic Work". The Nebraska State Journal. July 12, 1936. p. 22. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Teacher Turns Actress". The Cincinnati Post. May 24, 1946. p. 22. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Honored by Three Arts Club". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 20, 1930. p. Section 5, page 3. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Tap Dancer". The Cincinnati Post. April 30, 1931. p. 4. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Wolters, Larry (December 15, 1934). "News of the Radio Stations". Chicago Tribune. p. 22. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Marjorie Hannan Has Pet Christmas Superstition". Chicago Tribune. December 23, 1934. p. 26. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Dunning, John (May 7, 1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 420. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  8. Hegard, Ken (April 14, 1938). "Along Radio Lane". The Journal Times. Wisconsin, Racine. p. 29. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Editor's note". The Lincoln Star. June 2, 1946. p. 32. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Gadget collector on radio tonight". Belvidere Daily Republican. June 20, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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