Jane and Katherine Lee explained

Jane Lee
Birth Date:15 February 1912
Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland or Glasgow, Scotland
Death Place:Saint Clare's Hospital, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Spouse:James E. Grant (1933-1937) divorced
Yearsactive:1914-1951
Known For:Famous child actor for silent films and vaudeville theatre
Katherine Lee
Birth Date:14 February 1909
Birth Place:Berlin, Germany
Death Date:1968
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Spouse:Ray Miller
Yearsactive:1913-1924
Known For:Famous child actor for silent films and vaudeville theatre

Jane Lee (1912–1957) and Katherine Lee (1909–1968), sisters, were child stars in silent motion pictures and vaudeville theatre. They were also known as the "Baby Grands," "Lee Kids," or the "Fox Kiddies" for their appearances in Fox Film productions.[1]

The Lee sisters were the children of American juggler Tommy Banahan and Irene Lee, an Irish dancer and occasional actor.[2] [3] [4] During Tommy and Irene's European tour, Katherine was born in Berlin, Germany on February 14, 1909, and Jane born February 15, 1912, in either Dublin, Ireland,[2] or Glasgow, Scotland.[5] The sisters appeared in the original Neptune's Daughter, filmed in 1914. In 1915, Jane appeared with Valeska Suratt in The Soul of Broadway at Fox Studios. They both appeared in A Daughter of the Gods (1916), with Katherine's dramatic performance earning praise as a "child prodigy" and a "three-foot Fiske."[6] In 1917, Jane and Katherine starred in two of Fox's "kiddie films", Troublemakers and Two Little Imps.[7] In 1919, the Lee sisters made the list in the Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll.[8]

The Lee sisters continued to act in silent films through 1919. They appeared in Swat the Spy (1918), Tell It to the Marines (1918), and Smiles (1919). Jane and Katherine continued performing in vaudeville throughout the 1920s and into early 1930s. Jane later had uncredited roles in the sound motion pictures Knock on Any Door (1949), Cheaper By the Dozen (1950), and Comin' Round The Mountain (1951).[1]

Jane married actor James E. Grant in New York on April 5, 1933,[9] and they divorced in 1937.[10] She died in New York's St. Clare's Hospital on March 7, 1957; her married name at the time was St. John.[11] Katherine married Ray Miller of New York,[12] and died in 1968.[5]

Partial filmography

width=15pxYearwidth=80pxTitlewidth=80pxAppearancewidth=20px Notes
1913The Return of TonyKatherine
1914The Scales of JusticeKatherine
1914The Old Rag DollJane and Katherine
1914When the Heart Calls Jane and KatherineShort
1914Neptune's DaughterJane and Katherine
1914His Prior ClaimJane Short
1915A Life in the BalanceJane and Katherine
1915The Studio of LifeJane and Katherine
1915The Clemenceau Case Jane
1915Tony Jane
1915The Devil's DaughterJane
1915The Magic Toy MakerJane and Katherine
1915Silver Threads Among the GoldJane and Katherine
1915The Soul of Broadway Jane
1915The Galley SlaveJane
1916A Daughter of the GodsJane and Katherine
1916Daredevil KateJane and Katherine
1916A Wife's SacrificeJane
1916The Ragged Princess Jane and Katherine
1916Romeo and Juliet Jane and Katherine
1916Her Double Life Jane and Katherine
1916Love and HateJane and Katherine
1917Trouble MakersJane and Katherine
1917The Small Town GirlJane
1917PatsyJane
1917A Child of the WildJane and Katherine
1917Two Little ImpsJane and Katherine
1917Sister Against Sister Jane
1918American BudsJane and Katherine
1918Dixie MadcapsJane and Katherine
1918Swat the SpyJane and Katherine
1918Tell It to the Marines Jane and Katherine
1919SmilesJane and Katherine
1919Love Us, Love Our DogJane and Katherine
1922A Pair of AcesJane and KatherineShort
1924The Side Show of LifeKatherine
1949Knock on Any DoorJaneUncredited
1950Cheaper by the DozenJaneUncredited
1951Comin' Round the MountainJaneUncredited

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Massa, Steve. 2017. Slapstick Divas: The Women of Silent Comedy. BearManor Media. 1836–1842.
  2. Web site: Fitzpatrick . Kevin C. . Kevin C. Fitzpatrick . Thomas Banahan, The Forgotten Stage Dad . fitzpatrickauthor.com . March 19, 2015.
  3. News: Misses novelty acts . The Standard Union . June 15, 1924 . 25. Dan J.. Lysaght.
  4. The Fearless "Lee Kids". Motography. May 20, 1916. 15. 21. 1158.
  5. Book: Liebman . Roy . Vitaphone Films: A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts . 2015 . McFarland . 9781476609362 . 368–369.
  6. News: Baby Actress a Prodigy. The Washington Times. December 31, 1916. 6. Library of Congress.
  7. Book: Solomon, Aubrey. The Fox Film Corporation, 1915-1935: A History and Filmography. 2014. McFarland. 978-0-786-48610-6. 27.
  8. William R.. Weaver . The money-making stars of a quarter of a century . . 123–124 . September 28, 1940 .
  9. Marriages. Variety. April 11, 1933. 51.
  10. News from the Dailies: Coast . Variety . 127. 10. August 18, 1937 . 78 . James Grant, screen player, won a divorce from Jane Lee, actress, in L.A..
  11. News: Jane Lee Is Dead at 45 . Mrs. St. John Was Child Film Star Forty Years Ago . . March 20, 1957. 37.
  12. Book: Vazzana . Eugene Michael . Silent Film Necrology: Births and Deaths of Over 9000 Performers, Directors, Producers, and Other Filmmakers of the Silent Era, Through 1993 . 1995 . McFarland . 9780786401321 . 193.