Bryna Raeburn Explained

Birth Date:March 14, 1915
Birth Place:Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Death Place:Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Bryna Raeburn
Birth Name:Bertha Sinai
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1941–1980
Spouse:Dr. Meyer Smith
Children:1

Bryna Raeburn (born Bertha Sinai;[1] [2] March 14, 1915[3] – January 3, 1985[1]) was an American radio and voice actress, known for her versatility,[4] in particular her command of a wide range of accents and dialects.[5]

Early life and career

Born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey,[1] [6]  Raeburn was the youngest of three children born to Russian-born Julius Sinai and Dora Hanna Blumenthal.[7] [8]

Although little is known of her formal education, she spoke many years later with Bergen Record entertainment writer Virginia Lambert.

I majored in drama in college and knew how to use movement and facial expression, but I never really wanted to do anything except radio acting. I'm in love with speech and language. [...] I love radio drama. I've never been a raving beauty, but radio lets me play glamorous ladies.
To which her interviewer immediately appended, "or Scottish crones, French maids, Spanish dancers, Italian opera singers, British royalty, or whatever else a scriptwriter may dream up."[5] As Raeburn's colleague Mary Jane Higby later recalled, "Most of us could imitate some of our fellows, but some, like Art Carney, Bryna Raeburn and Billy Mack, could imitate anybody."[4]

On radio, aside from recurring roles such as Mrs. Graham—opposite Bob Griffin—on Mutual's Dr. Graham and Family,[9] she was a frequent guest performer on NBC's Dimension X and CBS Radio Mystery Theater.[10] The latter, 1974's nearly decade nearly decade-long revival of radio's "golden age," was especially gratifying for Raeburn, who recalled, "I was in the last episode of so many of the old radio shows, it was really depressing."[5]

Personal life and death

By 1950, Raeburn had married fellow Jersey City native Dr. Meyer Smith.[11] [12] They had one child, a daughter, born on New Year's Day, 1956.[13] [14]

On January 3, 1985, at age 69, Raeburn died of undisclosed causes in Jersey City. She was survived by her husband and daughter. Her remains are interred at Riverside Cemetery in Rochelle Park, New Jersey.[1]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleDirectorOther cast membersNotesRefs.
1960Some Place Like HomeSelf None creditedBilled between Sam Jaffe and Sam Gray, all doing narration.13 minute, 40 second filmstrip produced in 1959, debuted May 10, 1960 at New York's Jewish Museum.[15] [16]
1966The Ballad of Smokey the BearMama BearLarry Roemer James Cagney, William Marine [17]
1967The Wacky World of Mother GooseOld Mother HubbardMargaret Rutherford, Bob McFadden
1974The Mad Magazine TV SpecialNAAlan Swift, Patricia Bright, Gene Klavan[18]

Discography

With Bob McFadden

With Jacques Hirschler

With Bob Booker

With Charlie Manna

With Napoleon XIV

With Marshall McLuhan

With Richard Kiley

With Pat McCormick

With David Frye

With William Griffis  

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.newspapers.com/image/912055443/?clipping_id=150989123 "Death Notices: Bertha Smith, was an actress"
  2. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal/150989262/ "Death Notices"
  3. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JBPX-QXM : 7 January 2021), Bertha Smith, Jan 1985; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  4. Higby, Mary Jane (1968). Tune in Tomorrow; or, How I Found the Right to Happiness with Our Gal Sunday, Stella Dallas, John's Other Wife, and Other Sudsy Radio Serials. New York: Cowles. p. 174. .
  5. Lambert, Virginia (December 21, 1975). "Unseen Stars: Meet the voices behind those radio dramas". The Hackensack Record. p. B-18.
  6. Dept. of Public Instruction (193). Sixty-Third Report of the Board of Education of Jersey City, N.J.. Jersey City, NJ: Board of Education. p. 42.
  7. "New Jersey State Census, 1915",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9Q-GRNJ : Sun Mar 10 01:56:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Julous Sinai and Dora Sinai, 1915.
  8. "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909,", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W8M-SF1 : 11 February 2018), Julius Sinai in entry for Ida Sinai, 20 Sep 1909; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference 29525 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,022,750.
  9. https://www.newspapers.com/image/509992120/?clipping_id=151041290 "Doctor and Wife"
  10. Cox, Jim (2013). Radio After the Golden Age: The Evolution of American Broadcasting Since 1960. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. pp. 150, 156. .
  11. "United States Census, 1950",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F9P-NGTZ : Tue Mar 19 00:40:34 UTC 2024), Entry for Meyer Smith and Bertha Smith, 15 April 1950.
  12. "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K96-LMF6 : 10 February 2023), Meyer Smith, .
  13. https://archive.org/details/variety201-1956-01/page/74/mode/2up?q=%22Bryna+Raeburn%22 "Births"
  14. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal/150989558/ "Obituaries"
  15. https://books.google.com/books?id=ZjszWtFu3kIC&pg=RA3-PA11&dq=%22bryna+raeburn%22 "American Jewish Life: Filmstrips"
  16. https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-new-era/149197607/ "Rally to Open Jewish Appeal; Workers in $26,400 Drive Meet Monday Night at Temple"
  17. Lenburg, Jeff (1991). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. New York : Facts on File. p. 180. .
  18. Olszewski, Anthony (January 21, 2016). "Bryna Raeburn of Jersey City". HudsonCountyFacts.com.
  19. Scott, Bob (December 22, 1963). "Records: The Tonsils Go on Tour; Laugh Tracks". Los Angeles Times.
  20. https://search.worldcat.org/title/7994376 "Charting the Globe"
  21. https://search.worldcat.org/title/7004715 "Halloween"
  22. https://www.discogs.com/release/5963310-Lois-Raebeck-Bryna-Raeburn-Bob-McFadden-Introducing-The-Rhythm-Instruments "Introducing the Rhythm Instruments"
  23. Thistle, Lauretta (November 21, 1964). "The Last Four Piano Sonatas". The Ottawa Citizen World of Entertainment. p. 2. "A great deal of factual information is incorporated. For instance, did you remember that the Italians didn't have spaghetti until Marco Polo brought it to them? Bryna Raeburn, who does the narration about Italy, has an accent heavier than any pasta should be, and she's delightful."
  24. Glazer, Barney (December 3, 1966). "Record Chart". Anaheim Bulletin. p. B6.
  25. https://archive.org/details/lp_senator-bobbys-christmas-party_chet-dowling-william-minkin?q=%22bryna+raeburn%22 "Senator Bobby's Christmas Party"
  26. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal/150989558/ "At All Discount Record Center Stores (AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT!): DAVID FRYE – I AM THE PRESIDENT"
  27. https://archive.org/details/radiofreenixonso00frye?q=%22radio+free+nixon%22+%22bryna+raeburn%22 "Radio Free Nixon"
  28. https://search.worldcat.org/title/2810669 "A Wrinkle in Time"

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