Betty Jane Bierce, better known by her

stage name A stage name or professional name is a pseudonym used by performers, authors, and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. The equivalent concept among writers is called a ''nom de plume'' (pen name). Some performers ...

Jane "Poni" Adams (August 7, 1918 – May 21, 2014), was an American actress in radio, film, and television in the 1940s and 1950s.

Early years

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mason Bierce, Adams was born in

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

, but her family moved to California when she was two. During her high school years, she studied violin and drama, and she was selected to be a concert mistress of the all-city high school orchestra of Los Angeles. She received a full scholarship to

Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became the Juilliard School, named aft ...

to study violin, which she turned down to spend four years studying at the

Pasadena Playhouse Pasadena Playhouse is a Tony Award-winning historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engag ...

Acting career

After the Playhouse, she got her start on

Lux Radio Theatre ''Lux Radio Theatre'', sometimes spelled ''Lux Radio Theater'', a old-time radio, classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the Blue Network, NBC Blue Network (1934–35) (owned by the National Broadcasting Company, later predecessor of A ...

and then with the Harry Conover Modeling Agency. In the book ''Westerns Women: Interviews with 50 Leading Ladies of Movie and Television Westerns from the 1930s to the 1960s'', Adams said: "I was given that name at the Harry Conover Modeling Agency. Why, I don't know!" Adams modeled for the National Tea Association and served as Dodge Girl for one year. She returned to using her real name in 1945. Military personnel played a role in her change of names from Poni Adams to Jane Adams. A photograph printed in newspapers in 1946 carried the caption: "GI JANE — Jane Adams — formerly Poni Adams — holds some of 32,851 letters her press agent said came from GIs after she appealed for aid in choosing a new name." Adams' first screen appearance was in ''So You Want to Give Up Smoking'', a

short film A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...

in 1942. A photograph of her in ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...

'' led to

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 Paramo ...

wanting her to do a

screen test A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film or in a particular role. It is typically a secondary or later stage in the audition process. The performer is generally given a scene, or sel ...

for ''

Salome, Where She Danced ''Salome, Where She Danced'' is a 1945 American Technicolor western (genre), Western drama film, directed by Charles Lamont and starring: Yvonne De Carlo, Rod Cameron (actor), Rod Cameron and Walter Slezak. The film follows the adventures of a da ...

'' (1945) that led to her being given a contract with

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

and a small role as a dancer in the film. She may be best known for her role as Nina in ''

House of Dracula ''House of Dracula'' is a 1945 American horror film released and distributed by Universal Pictures. Directed by Erle C. Kenton, the film features several Universal Horror properties meeting as they had done in the 1944 film '' House of Franke ...

'' (1945), but she also has the distinction of acting in early adaptations of both major

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

franchises:

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

, where she played

Vicki Vale Victoria Vale (usually called "Vicki") is a fictional journalist appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Her character often serves as a potential love interest, character in pe ...

in the second Batman serial, ''

Batman and Robin Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comi ...

'', and also a character in the first

Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...

television series.

Personal life and death

On July 27, 1940, Adams married Ensign J. C. H. Smith, a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

officer, in Norfolk, Virginia. He was declared dead on September 15, 1943, in Hawaii, after becoming missing in action during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

when his ship sank a year earlier. On July 14, 1945, in

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

, she married

Thomas K. Turnage Thomas K. Turnage (June 27, 1923 – December 10, 2000) served as the last Administrator of Veterans Affairs before the creation of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. He previously served as the 6th Selective Service System#Directo ...

, an Army lieutenant who went on to become a decorated major general. Turnage served in the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

and earned the

Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation, state or country. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in act ...

and

Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

. He later served as the last administrator of the

Veterans Administration The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing lifelong healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...

before the VA became a cabinet department during

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

's presidential term. Adams and Turnage had two children. On May 21, 2014, Adams died in

Bellingham, Washington Bellingham ( ) is the county seat of Whatcom County, Washington, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. It lies south of the Canada–United States border, U.S.–Canada border, between Vancouver, British Columbia, ...

, at the age of 95. She was buried (as Betty Jane Turnage) beside her husband in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

Filmography

Short subjects

* ''So You Want to Give Up Smoking'' (

Joe McDoakes ''Joe McDoakes'' is an American Short film, short-film comedy series produced and directed by Richard L. Bare for Warner Bros. A total of 63 black and white, black-and-white, live action, live-action, reel#Motion picture terminology, one-reel fil ...

) (1942)

Feature films

* ''

'' (1945) Salome Girl (as Poni Adams) * ''

Lady on a Train ''Lady on a Train'' is a 1945 American crime comedy film noir directed by Charles David and starring Deanna Durbin, Ralph Bellamy, and David Bruce. Based on a story by Leslie Charteris, the film is about a woman who witnesses a murder in a n ...

'' (1945) Circus Club Photographer (uncredited) * '' Code of the Lawless'' (1945) Julie Randall (as Poni Adams) * ''

This Love of Ours ''This Love of Ours'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Merle Oberon, Maris Wrixon, Claude Rains, Charles Korvin and Carl Esmond. The film's composer, Hans J. Salter, was nominated for an Academy Award f ...

'' (1945) Chorus Girl (uncredited) * ''

Trail to Vengeance ''Trail to Vengeance'' is a 1945 American Western film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight, Poni Adams, Tom Fadden, John Kelly and Frank Jaquet. The film was released on J ...

'' (1945) Dorothy Jackson (as Poni Adams) * ''

'' (1945) Nina * ''

Smooth as Silk ''Smooth as Silk'' is a 1946 American noir film directed by Charles Barton and starring Kent Taylor, Virginia Grey, and Milburn Stone. The film is also known as ''Notorious Gentleman'' as it is a version of 1935 film '' A Notorious Gentleman''. T ...

'' (1946) Susan Marlowe * '' Night in Paradise'' (1946) Lotus (uncredited) * '' The Runaround'' (1946) Miss Webster (uncredited) * ''

Rustler's Round-Up ''Rustler's Round-Up'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Jack Natteford. The film stars Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight, Poni Adams, Earle Hodgins, Charles Miller, Edmund Cobb and Ethan Laidlaw. The film was relea ...

'' (1946) Josephine 'Jo' Fremont (as Poni Adams) * '' Lawless Breed'' (1946) Marjorie Bradley * '' Gunman's Code'' (1946) Laura Burton * '' The Brute Man'' (1946) Helen Paige * '' He Walked by Night'' (1948) Nurse Scanion (uncredited) * ''

Tarzan's Magic Fountain ''Tarzan's Magic Fountain'' is a 1949 Tarzan film directed by Lee Sholem and starring Lex Barker as Tarzan and Brenda Joyce as his companion Jane. The thirteenth film of the ''Tarzan'' film series that began with 1932's '' Tarzan the Ape Man ...

'' (1949) Villager (uncredited) * '' Gun Law Justice'' (1949) Jane Darnton * '' Angels in Disguise'' (1949) First Nurse * '' Western Renegades'' (1949) Judy Gordon * '' Master Minds'' (1949) Nancy Marlowe * '' The Girl from San Lorenzo'' (1950) Nora Malloy * '' Law of the Panhandle'' (1950) Margie Kendal * '' Outlaw Gold'' (1950) Kathy Martin * '' Street Bandits'' (1951) Jane Phillips

Serials

* '' Lost City of the Jungle'' (1946) Marjorie Elmore * ''

'' (1949)

TV Series

* '' Dangerous Assignment'' (1950) Maria Delgada * ''

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in ''Everybody's Maga ...

'' (1950) Nora Malloy * ''

The Adventures of Kit Carson ''The Adventures of Kit Carson'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that aired from 1951 to 1955 and consisted of 104 episodes. While airing, the show was shown in over 130 markets and was sold to the Coca-Cola Bott ...

'' (1951)/(1952) Meg Owens/Marguerita Bolton * '' Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok'' (1951) Peggy * '' Adventures of Superman'' (1953) Babette DuLoque

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Poni 1918 births 2014 deaths American film actresses American television actresses American radio actresses Actresses from San Antonio 20th-century American actresses Burials at Arlington National Cemetery 21st-century American actresses