Clara T. Bracy

Biography

Clara T. Bracy made her first footlight splash in 1891 on a London stage, the gaslights catching the glint in her eye that promised bigger things. After wedding concert tenor Henry Bracy, she sailed to Australia and spent seasons producing sprightly operettas under southern skies. In 1910 she crossed the Pacific with her sights set on Broadway, stepping into Charles Frohman’s celebrated company once she reached American shores. While still a relative novelty, flickering images lured her in front of the camera; she became a pioneering presence for both Biograph and Kinemacolor Pictures, helping to shape the newborn art of film.