Adele Mara

ADELE MARA

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Date of Birth
28 April 1923
Highland Park, Michigan, USA

Date of Death
May 2010 87 years old

Birth name
Adelaida Delgado

Spouse
Roy Huggins (c. 1952 - 3 April 2002) (his death) 3 children

Trivia
Children: sons John Huggins, Thomas Huggins, and 'James Huggins' .

Sister of actor Luis Delgado.

Wife of producer-writer Roy Huggins.

Mini Biography
Born Adelaide Delgado in 1925, Spanish-American Adele Mara was a singer/dancer with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra in Detroit by the age of 15. Cugat took the beautiful, brown-eyed brunette to New York where she was spotted by a Columbia talent scout and signed in 1942. There she played brisk leading ladies in a series of standard, uneventful "B" films including Vengeance of the West (1942) with Tex Ritter and Alias Boston Blackie (1942) starring Chester Morris. A couple of years later she was transformed into a sexy platinum blonde pin-up after signing up with Republic Studios. She kept herself quite busy there predominantly cast as senorita-types opposite cowboy stars Roy Rogers in Bells of Rosarita (1945) and Gene Autry in Twilight on the Rio Grande (1947). She was also fetching fodder in crime dramas including Blackmail (1947) and Web of Danger (1947) and a pleasant diversion in adventure pictures such as Wake of the Red Witch (1948) with John Wayne and The Avengers (1950). Arguably her best parts would come with Angel in Exile (1948) and Sands of Iwo Jima (1949),
the latter again starring Duke Wayne. Seldom was she given the chance to prove her acting talents, however,
and her film career waned in the early 1950s. Her last screen appearance would be in The Big Circus (1959) with Victor Mature. Adele subsequently moved into TV and was featured in a number of guest spots, primarily in westerns. She eventually settled down to raise a family after her marriage to TV mogul Roy Huggins who produced many hit shows including "77 Sunset Strip" and "Maverick." She would appear as a guest in a number of them. The couple had three sons. Huggins died in 2002.
by Gary Brumburgh

Filmography
Actress
1. "Wheels" (1978) (mini) TV Series .... Teresa Chapman
... aka Arthur Hailey's Wheels
2. "Cool Million" (1972) TV Series .... Elena (1972-1973)
3. "The Tall Man"
- The Woman in Black (1962) TV Episode .... Rosa
4. "Thriller"
... aka Boris Karloff's Thriller
- What Beckoning Ghost? (1961) TV Episode .... Lydia Adler
5. "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp"
... aka Wyatt Earp
- Wyatt's Brothers Join Up (1961) TV Episode .... Thelma Callum
- Dig a Grave for Ben Thompson (1958) TV Episode .... Girl
6. "Lock Up"
- The Wildcatter (1961) TV Episode .... Norma Ames
7. "Stagecoach West"
- The Arsonist (1961) TV Episode .... Sally Burke
8. "Laramie"
- Day of Vengeance (1960) TV Episode
9. "Maverick"
- The Marquessa (1960) TV Episode .... Luisa
- The Spanish Dancer (1958) TV Episode .... Elena Grande
- Seed of Deception (1958) TV Episode .... June Mundy
10. "77 Sunset Strip"
- Created He Them (1960) TV Episode .... Dr. Mary Adams
- Only Zeroes Count (1959) TV Episode .... Martha Swain
- Dark Vengeance (1959) TV Episode .... Margo Harris

11. "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse"
... aka Desilu Playhouse
- So Tender, So Profane (1959) TV Episode .... Francesca
12. The Big Circus (1959) .... Maria 'Mama' Colino
13. "Tales of Wells Fargo"
- Wild Cargo (1959) TV Episode .... Theo
14. "Bat Masterson"
- Double Showdown (1958) TV Episode .... Maria
15. Curse of the Faceless Man (1958) .... Maria Fiorillo
16. "Cheyenne"
- The Angry Sky (1958) TV Episode .... Rose
- Star in the Dust (1956) TV Episode .... Claire
- Border Showdown (1955) TV Episode
17. "Casey Jones"
- The Black Box (1957) TV Episode .... Maria
18. "Disneyland"
... aka Disney's Wonderful World (USA: new title)
... aka The Disney Sunday Movie (USA: new title)
... aka The Magical World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka The Wonderful World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney Presents (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (USA: new title)
- The Saga of Andy Burnett: Andy's Love Affair (1957) TV Episode .... Estrellita
19. The Saga of Andy Burnett (1957) (TV)
20. "Conflict"
- Passage to Maranga (1957) TV Episode
21. The Black Whip (1956) .... Ruthie Dawson
... aka The Man with a Whip (USA)
22. Back from Eternity (1956) .... Maria Alvarez
23. "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin"
- Circle of Fire (1956) TV Episode .... Crystal Ramsey
- Rusty's Romance (1956) TV Episode .... Rose Marlowe
24. "Soldiers of Fortune"
- Return of the Hawk (1956) TV Episode
25. "Studio 57"
... aka Heinz Studio 57 (USA: alternative title)
- The Senorita and the Texan (1955) TV Episode .... Maria
26. "The Lone Wolf"
... aka Streets of Danger
- The Last Ballet Story (1954) TV Episode .... Alene
27. Count the Hours (1953) .... Gracie Sager Vern
... aka Every Minute Counts (UK)
28. The Sea Hornet (1951) .... Suntan Radford
29. California Passage (1950) .... Beth Martin
30. The Avengers (1950) .... Maria Moreno
31. Rock Island Trail (1950) .... Constance Strong
... aka Transcontinent Express (UK)

32. Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) .... Allison Bromley
33. Wake of the Red Witch (1948) .... Teleia Van Schreeven
34. Night Time in Nevada (1948) .... Joan Andrews
35. Angel in Exile (1948) .... Raquel Chavez
... aka Dark Violence (USA: reissue title)
36. I, Jane Doe (1948) .... Marga-Jane Hastings
... aka Diary of a Bride (UK)
37. The Gallant Legion (1948) .... Catalina
38. Campus Honeymoon (1948) .... Bessie Ormsbee
39. The Main Street Kid (1948) .... Gloria
40. Exposed (1947) .... Belinda Prentice
41. Blackmail (1947) .... Sylvia Duane
42. Robin Hood of Texas (1947) .... Julie
43. The Trespasser (1947) .... Dee Dee
44. Web of Danger (1947) .... Peg Mallory
45. Twilight on the Rio Grande (1947) .... Elena Del Rio
46. I've Always Loved You (1946) .... Señorita Fortaleza
... aka Concerto (UK)
47. The Magnificent Rogue (1946) .... Sugar Lee
48. The Invisible Informer (1946) .... Marie Ravelle
49. The Last Crooked Mile (1946) .... Bonnie
50. The Inner Circle (1946) .... Geraldine Travis, alias Gerry Smith
51. Night Train to Memphis (1946) .... Constance
52. Traffic in Crime (1946) .... Silk Cantrell
53. Passkey to Danger (1946) .... Renee Beauchamps
54. The Catman of Paris (1946) .... Marguerite Duval
55. A Guy Could Change (1946) .... Bernice
56. Song of Mexico (1945)
... aka Canción de México, La (Mexico)
57. The Tiger Woman (1945) .... Sharon Winslow
58. Girls of the Big House (1945) .... Harriet, singing inmate
59. Bells of Rosarita (1945) .... Patty Phillips
60. Flame of Barbary Coast (1945) (uncredited) .... Marie
... aka Flame of the Barbary Coast (UK)
61. The Vampire's Ghost (1945) .... Lisa
62. Grissly's Millions (1945) .... Maribelle
63. Thoroughbreds (1944) .... Sally Crandall
64. Faces in the Fog (1944) .... Gertrude
65. Atlantic City (1944) .... Adele, Barmaid
66. Call of the South Seas (1944) .... Aritana
67. The Fighting Seabees (1944) (uncredited) .... Twinkles Tucker
... aka Donovan's Army
68. Farmer for a Day (1943)
69. I Can Hardly Wait (1943) (uncredited) .... Dental Secretary
70. Good Luck, Mr. Yates (1943) (uncredited) .... Welder
71. Crime Doctor (1943) (uncredited) .... Nurse
72. His Girl's Worst Friend (1943)
73. Redhead from Manhattan (1943) (uncredited) .... Check Girl
74. Socks Appeal (1943)
75. Riders of the Northwest Mounted (1943) (uncredited) .... Gabrielle Renaud
76. Reveille with Beverly (1943) .... Evelyn Ross
77. A Rookie's Cookie (1943)
78. The Great Glover (1942)
79. You Were Never Lovelier (1942) .... Lita Acuña
80. Kiss and Wake Up (1942)
81. Lucky Legs (1942) .... Secretary
82. Vengeance of the West (1942) .... Anita Morell
83. Alias Boston Blackie (1942) .... Eve Sanders
84. Shut My Big Mouth (1942) .... Conchita Montoya
85. Blondie Goes to College (1942) .... Babs Connelly
... aka The Boss Said 'No' (UK)
86. Honolulu Lu (1941) (scenes deleted)

Adele Mara made just 4 films with Duke,

Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) .... Allison Bromley
Wake of the Red Witch (1948) .... Teleia Van Schreeven
Flame of Barbary Coast (1945) (uncredited) .... Marie
The Fighting Seabees (1944) (uncredited) .... Twinkles Tucker

In the making of The Fighting Seabees , Adele remembered, Duke being casual and friendly.

She said,

Quote

I wasn't in awe of John Wayne... because I didn't know too much about him,
I didn't even know, he was doing the lead.All I knew, was that he was supposed to do some kind of dance with me.

Since Mara, had originally been a dancer, she told him,

Quote

All you have to do is just hold me, and I'll do the dancing.

Duke indicated, that he understood, and at one point during their jitterbug.
he adeptly moved her, from one of his knees to the other.

Quote

I think he had fun doing it...and I enjoyed myself..
In those days, I had fun doing anything. I wasn't under contract to REPUBLIC,
I just needed a job!

said Adele

During the making of Wake of the Red Witch Adele made the following observations,

Quote

He never drank at the studio....ever."

But after work, he and his pals spent most evening in the haunts around the REPUBLIC lot,
and Mara saw him occasionally staggering to the men's room,

Quote

You just waited to see him coming back......
first of all, he had that wonderful walk, and when he was a little tipsy, it became exaggerated.It really was fun to watch.

I don't think anybody saw him socially, except for the men he drank with..He kept very much to himself.
He was one of those people, who liked to drink with the boys; it was a macho thing for him.
At the studio, he was strictly business..very nice and easy going, but I never saw him hit anyone on the back, or tell a joke.
Nor did I ever hear him yell or scream at anyone.Nobody ever said mean things about John Wayne.
Actually people didn't speak too much about him at REPUBLIC

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Hi Sue,

Thanks for the links, it all helps!

Just to re-introduce one of Duke's co-stars, who made great quotes about Duke in this thread

R.I.P. Adele Mara