Nora Dunblane

Nora Dunblane was born in Brooklyn.^[1] She attended Miss Rounds' School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (graduating in 1899), and was involved with the Brooklyn Cantata Club.^[2]

After graduating, she was active in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni society, and served on its library committee in 1904, with elocutionist Helena Zachos.^[3]

Dunblane was a "clever young American actress" on Broadway at the turn into the 20th century, often seen in soubrette roles.^[4][5] Dunblane's stage credits included roles in Cyrano de Bergerac (1898) with Richard Mansfield,^[6] Hearts are Trumps (1900),^[7] The Cuckoo (1900),^[8] Her Majesty (1900),^[9] Lovers' Lane (1901),^[10] Her Atonement (1899 and 1901),^[11][12] The Worst Woman in London (1903),^[2] Much Ado About Nothing (1903),^[13] His Sister's Shame (1903),^[14] and Don Carlos (1905).^[15]

In 1900, she performed in an all-star benefit at Carnegie Hall, raising funds for Roman Catholic orphanages.^[16]

Dunblane was a writer during and after her acting days. Her short fiction, often romance stories, appeared in magazines and newspapers, with titles including "The Girl in the Bookshop" (1903),^[17] "Beating the Game" (1907),^[18] "Studio Number Six: The Story of a Musician" (1907),^[19] "Romance at Ryerson's" (1908),^[20] "Two Ways of Love" (1912),^[21] "Love's Command" (1913), "Otilla's Triumph" (1914),^[22] "The White Gardenia" (1915), "The Girl Who Was Charming" (1915),^[23] and "Jasmine's Decision" (1915).^[24]

The band Tommy McClymont & The Panacea Jamband recorded a song, "Nora Dunblane", about the actress, on their album May the Ladies Treat You Kindly (2016). (McClymont is from Dunblane, Scotland, and was inspired to write the song by a photograph of the actress.)