Betty Jane Watson(1921-2016)
- Actress
Cousin of Jean Stapleton. Daughter of
James R. Watson and Elizabeth Jane Stapleton Watson. Attended Lincoln
Junior High School, Rockford, Illinois. Studied voice at the American
Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Illinois. She made her Broadway debut
in 1944 when she succeeded
Joan Roberts in the role of
"Laurey" in "Oklahoma!". She toured in the role from 1944 to 1946, then
played it in London in 1947. Other New York musical roles include
leading roles in "Toplitzky of Notre Dame" (1946-47), and three shows
in 1948: "Sleepy Hollow", the revue "Hilarities" and "As The Girls Go".
She took over for Mary Hatcher during the
run of "Texas, Li'l Darlin'" (1949), and took over for
Martha Raye as "Annie" during a 1958 NYC
City Center revival of "Annie Get Your Gun". She substituted (May 1961)
for Lucille Ball as "Wildcat Jackson" in
"Wildcat" and later succeeded Miss Ball in the same role; she also
appeared on Broadway in the Noël Coward
musical, "Sail Away" (1961). She starred in the summer stock theatrical
productions of such musicals as "South Pacific" (1955), "The Pajama
Game" (1958) and "Annie Get Your Gun" (1961). She also was a popular
night club performer. She made numerous television guest appearances
during the 1950s and 1960s.
