Nita Bieber

Nita Gale Bieber (July 18, 1926[2] – February 4, 2019)[3] was an American actress and dancer.

Nita Bieber
Born
Nita Gale Bieber

(1926-07-18)July 18, 1926
DiedFebruary 4, 2019(2019-02-04) (aged 92)
OccupationFilm, stage actress, dancer
Years active1946–1955
Spouse(s)Dr. Jack Wall (1949–2019)
ChildrenMiles and Ivy Faulkner[1]
Parent(s)William Carl Bieber
Callie Mae Robbins Bieber
Websitehttp://www.nitabieber.com

Early years

Bieber was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Callie Mae (Robbins) and William Carl Bieber.[2] She was one of five siblings who studied dancing from childhood. After graduating from Hollywood High School, she traveled with a USO troupe.[4]

Film career

In 1946, Bieber appeared in several films for Columbia Pictures, most notably Rhythm and Weep with the Three Stooges.[4] In 1947, she appeared in three more films for Columbia and also appeared in a couple of Monogram flicks, most notably as Mame in the Bowery Boys movie News Hounds. She was featured in a full-page photo on the cover of the November 28, 1949, issue of Life magazine.

The article described her 7-year contract with MGM and Nita's big dance number in the new movie musical Nancy Goes to Rio; but her dance was not included in the final release (it does, however, appear in the home video DVD version). Bieber appeared in movies for MGM and Universal until 1955. She appeared as the character Sarah Higgins in Summer Stock, starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Bieber also worked with stars such as Tony Curtis (The Prince Who Was a Thief), Hedy Lamarr (A Lady Without Passport), and Larry Fine (Rhythm and Weep). Her final movie before retiring was Kismet (1955) with Howard Keel and Vic Damone.

The Nita Bieber Dancers

Bieber was the creator of her own dance group, The Nita Bieber Dancers, which gave short performances produced in 1951-1952 for local television stations needing "filler" programming, including those for Jerry Gray (1950) and The Colgate Comedy Hour (1954; with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis). They headlined in Las Vegas (El Rancho Vegas, 1951, with Benny Goodman) and in 1952 were showcased at the Frontier Hotel.

In the early 1950s, Bieber's dancing career was interrupted when she was diagnosed with polio. Doctors told her that her dancing was ended and she might never walk again, but she proved them wrong and returned to performing.[5]

Personal life

Bieber married Dr. Jack Wall, a dentist[4] and an active member of the University of Southern California whom she met on a steamer in 1949. They had two children.[4]

On February 17, 2007, there was a reunion of the women who appeared with the Three Stooges at the Hollywood Collectors Show in Burbank, California. That same day, Bieber did an interview for the Three Stooges compilation DVD produced by Sony Pictures.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1946 Talk About a Lady Herself (dancer) Uncredited
1946 Rhythm and Weep Hilda Short
1946 The Jolson Story Dancer in nightclub revue Uncredited
1947 The Lone Wolf in Mexico Cute hotel maid Uncredited
1947 Millie's Daughter Model
1947 Little Miss Broadway Herself Dancer
1947 Kilroy Was Here Waitress
1947 News Hounds Mame
1950 A Lady Without Passport Cuban Dancer
1950 Summer Stock Sarah Higgins
1950 Jerry Gray and the Band of Today The Nita Bieber Dancers Short
1951 The Prince Who Was a Thief Cahena
1952 Don Cornell Sings Herself (dancer) Short
1955 Kismet Samaris Uncredited, (final film role)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1954The Colgate Comedy HourThe Nita Bieber Dancersepisode #44
1954The Colgate Comedy HourThe Nita Bieber Dancersepisode #45

References

  1. "Overview for Nita Bieber". Turner Classic Movies.
  2. "California, Birth Index, July 18, 1926". Familysearch.org. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  3. "Nita Bieber, Former Dancer, Actress and MGM Contract Player, Dies at 92". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  4. "Nita Bieber, 92". Classic Images (528): 38-39. June 2019.
  5. Adams, Marjory (May 7, 1952). "Nita Bieber, at Sheraton-Plaza, Gave Up Acting Career to Dance". The Boston Globe. Massachusetts, Boston. p. 5. Retrieved 29 June 2019 via Newspapers.com.
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