Justine Olive Johnstone Wanger (January 31, 1895 – September 4, 1982) was an American stage, and silent screen actress,

pathologist Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in th ...

and expert on

syphilis Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium '' Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, a ...

. Working under her married name, she was part of the team that developed the modern

intravenous drip Intravenous therapy (abbreviated as IV therapy) is a medical technique that administers fluids, medications and nutrients directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration or to provide nutrie ...

technique.

Autumn Stanley Autumn Stanley (1933–2018) researched inventions by women and patents obtained by women in the United States. She is widely known for her book titled, ''Mothers and Daughters of Invention''. Early life and education Autumn Joy Stanley was born ...

, ''Mothers and Daughters of Invention; Note for a Revised History of Technology'', Rutgers University Press, 1995

Early life

Johnstone attended Emma Willard School in Troy, New York. An account from a classmate's journal describes her classmates being awed by Johnstone and her acting career. This admiration led to her classmates nicknaming her Ju-jo. She was active in her school years as she was in the drama club and acted in the senior play; was an active editor of ''Gargoyle''; and a member of the basketball team, glee club, operetta, and the choir. She briefly was a model during her time at Emma Willard as well.

Acting career

Johnstone appeared in three Broadway shows between 1911 and 1914, then quit the business to finish high school at the Emma Willard School in Troy, New York. Upon her return to Broadway, she became a favorite performer for producers

Charles Dillingham Charles Bancroft Dillingham (May 30, 1868 – August 30, 1934) was an American theatre manager and producer of over 200 Broadway shows. Biography Charles Bancroft Dillingham was born on May 30, 1868 in Hartford, Connecticut to Edmund Bancroft D ...

and

Florenz Ziegfeld Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the ''Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He also p ...

, who featured her in the 1915 and 1916 editions of the

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Ai ...

. Lee Shubert created the 1917 Broadway musical revue ''Over the Top'' for her, which featured

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

and his sister

Adele Astaire Adele Astaire Douglass (born Adele Marie Austerlitz, later known as Lady Charles Cavendish; September 10, 1896 – January 25, 1981), was an American dancer, stage actress, and singer. After beginning work as a dancer and vaudeville perfor ...

in their Broadway debuts. In 1926, she retired from performing for private life. Johnstone married film producer

Walter Wanger Walter Wanger (born Walter Feuchtwanger; July 11, 1894 – November 18, 1968) was an American film producer active from the 1910s, his career concluding with the turbulent production of ''Cleopatra,'' his last film, in 1963. He began at Param ...

on September 13, 1919. They divorced in 1938, and she retained her married name. After her divorce, she adopted two sons.

Medical career

When Johnstone's husband fell ill in 1927, his doctor, Samuel Hirschfeld, convinced her to enroll in science courses at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

, where she studied plant research. Her work so impressed Harold T. Hyman, head of the science department of Columbia, that he and Hirschfeld hired her to work with them in their research. She joined the staff of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1929 as a research assistant in the pharmacology department. She co-authored a paper with them concerning the development of the modern I.V. unit. Their key breakthrough was to slow down the rate of delivery and avoid what was then known as "speed shock" by introducing the now-ubiquitous drip technique. The three also conducted numerous experiments that led to the cure for syphilis. During her time at Columbia, Johnstone co-authored (with a Dr. Blackberg) two other published papers. One dealt with the organization of resuscitation measures; the other with melanuria. Later, Johnstone and her husband moved to Los Angeles, where as a research assistant to physicians she studied cancer and helped develop the discipline of

endocrinology Endocrinology (from '' endocrine'' + '' -ology'') is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. It is also concerned with the integration of developmental event ...

. To aid her research, she installed a laboratory in her house in Hollywood.

Death

Justine Wanger died in Santa Monica, California from congestive heart failure, aged 87. Her remains are at

Chapel of the Pines Crematory Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, in the U.S. state of California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown. It is beside Angelus- ...

Theatrical productions

* '' Watch Your Step'' (1914) as Estelle * ''

Ziegfeld Follies of 1915 The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate revue, theatrical revue productions on Broadway theatre, Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Zie ...

'' (1915) * ''

Stop! Look! Listen! ''Stop! Look! Listen!'' is a musical in three acts with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and book by Harry B. Smith. The piece had additional music by Henry Kailimai and Jack Alau and additional lyrics by G. H. Stover and Sylvester Kalama. ' ...

'' (1915) as Mary Singer * ''

Ziegfeld Follies of 1916 The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Ai ...

(1916)'' * ''

Betty Betty or Bettie is a name, a common diminutive for the names Bethany and Elizabeth. In Latin America, it is also a common diminutive for the given name Beatriz, the Spanish and Portuguese form of the Latin name Beatrix and the English name Beat ...

'' (1916) as Chicquette * '' Oh, Boy'' (1917) as Polly Andrus * ''Over the Top'' (1917) * ''Hush Money'' (1926) as Kathleen Forrest

Filmography

* ''

The Crucible ''The Crucible'' is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93. Miller wrote the play as ...

'' (1914) (as Justina Johnstone) as Amelia (lost film) * ''Nothing But Lies'' (1920) as Ann Nigh * '' Blackbirds'' (1920) as Countess Leonie (lost film) * ''

The Plaything of Broadway ''The Plaything of Broadway'' is a 1921 American drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and written by E. Lloyd Sheldon. The film stars Justine Johnstone, Crauford Kent, Macey Harlam, Edwards Davis, George Cowl, and Lucy Parker. The film w ...

'' (1921) as Lola * ''

Sheltered Daughters ''Sheltered Daughters'' is a 1921 American silent film directed by Edward Dillon, starring Justine Johnstone, Riley Hatch, Charles K. Gerrard and Warner Baxter. Plot Jim Dark (Hatch) is a police officer determined to shelter his daughter, Jenny ...

'' (1921) as Jenny Dark (presumably lost film) * ''

A Heart to Let ''A Heart to Let'' is a lost 1921 American silent drama film directed by Edward Dillon and starring Justine Johnstone. It was produced by Adolph Zukor offshoot production company Realart. Synopsis Agatha inherits a southern estate, but cannot ...

'' (1921) as Agatha (lost film) * ''

Moonlight and Honeysuckle ''Moonlight and Honeysuckle'' is a 1921 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and starring Mary Miles Minter and Monte Blue. It was adapted by Barbara Kent from the 1919 stage play of the same name by George Scarboro ...

'' (1921) (uncredited) in Bit Part (lost film) * ''Survivre'' (1923) as Viviane Termoise * '' Never the Twain Shall Meet'' (1925) as Maisie Morrison (lost film)

Published works

* * *

References

External links

* *
Literature on Justine Johnstone
at Looking for Mabel Normand {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnstone, Justine 1895 births 1982 deaths American silent film actresses American stage actresses Columbia University alumni Emma Willard School alumni People from Englewood, New Jersey People from Greater Los Angeles Ziegfeld girls Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory 20th-century American actresses