BIOGRAPHY OF STARS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 May 1946, Page 7

BIOGRAPHY OF STARS

JANET BLAIR PARTICULAR KIND OF GIRL.,.. ■ — A famous band leader was interviewed on the subject of girl singers, or "canaries." He said "it takes a particular kind of girl to be considered one of the gang and still hold the personal and professionai respect of every man in the outfit." Well, Janet Blair, under contract to Columbia Pictures, is that particular kind of girl. For se-v-eral years she was the singer wi'h Hal Kemp's orchestra. She is five feet four in height, weighs 110 pounds, has chestnut hair and mischievous big brown eyes. A grand Irish smile lights her wnole face at the slightest provocation. Her reai name, Martha Lafferty, explains this. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, she chose the name Blair because she went to school in Blair County. She has a brother and one sist'er, younger than herself. Janet went to dancing school, sang in the church choir and played Tennis all the year round. She either sang or danced whenever there was an entertainment in her hbme town. Her early ambition was to be a bailet dancer, but her parents disapproved. However,- as she says, "Father finally got tired of my habit of standing on my head ana kicking my legs round" so gave his permission for ballet lessons. She did well with her ballet work but her voice was noticeably good also, so she started singing lessons. By the time she finished high school she had a chance of joining Hal Kemp's orchestra or going to college. She chose the band job. Personally Miss Blair is a bundle of contradiction. She reads funny pages and loves symphonie music, shares her admiration for Daphne Du Maurier with Fibber McGee, and is very sensitive to sufTering in others yet loves men's hard sports such as boxing, etc. She is having* a little difficulty finding a home in Hollywood, because she had never been' able, to forget the comforts of her father's rambling old luxurious farm home furnished in carved English oak, with lovely old china and silver and persian carpets. At present she has rented an apartment fairly close to her studio which contains 3 bedrooms, sunporch, living room and dining alcove, kitchenette and bathroom. Among the personal notes germaine to the record are: She has. a wardrobe of 25 evening and dinner gowns, a dozen sports outfits, 28 pairs of shoes, Blue Fox furs and a squirrel coat, very little jewelry and not a single house-coat. Miss Blair wears little make-up usually—, only a dab of powder and lip^tick and red is her favourite colour.