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Monday, June 22, 2020

EVER HEARD OF SPRING?

Post by Doris McCraw
writing as Angela Raines

Have you ever heard of Spring? I can hear you now, "Of course, everyone's heard about spring, it ended like two days ago."
spring byington (With images) | Spring byington, Classic hollywood ...
Spring Byington
The Spring I'm speaking about is Spring Byington. Perhaps most of you may know of her from the time she spent on the television series 'Laramie'. She worked on stage, screen, and television and was fairly successful in all. The reason I became fascinated, other than I have an affinity for performers, having been one myself, is where she was born and what she did before she became 'famous'.

Spring Dale Byington was born on October 17, 1886, in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Professor Edwin Lee Byington and Helen Maude (Cleghorn) Byington. Her father was the superintendent of the public schools and principal of the high school in Colorado Springs from 1884-1889. The family left and after Mr. Byington died in 1891, Mrs. Byington placed Spring with her grandparents and attended medical school. After graduation, Mrs. Dr. Byington went to Montrose, Colorado to practice medicine there.

In the 1900 census, Mrs. Dr. Byington was living in Denver, Colorado with Spring and her other daughter Helen at 3626 W 32nd Ave. as boarders.

By 1907, Spring was pursuing her career with a troupe that traveled through some of the mining towns in Colorado. According to the Montrose Enterprise of January 11, 1907:

Block image

Unfortunately, Helen Byington died on April 12, 1907, a few short months after Spring had visited her.

Spring left New York and her work as a stage actor and went on to become a contract player for MGM. From there she appeared in a number of films and had her own television show 'December Bride' that began a five-year run in 1954.

96 Best Spring Byington images | Spring byington, Hollywood, Actresses
Spring Byington & Robert Fuller
from the television show
'Laramie'
Spring Byington died on September 7, 1971, in Los Angeles, California of cancer. For those who may be interested, here is the IMdB biography: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001981/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Doris Gardner-McCraw -
Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History
Angela Raines - author: Writing Stories Where Love & History Meet
Photo and Poem: Click Here 
Angela Raines FaceBook: Click Here





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4 comments:

  1. Cheri Kay CliftonJune 22, 2020 at 8:33 AM

    How interesting, Doris! With so many TV westerns I viewed as a child, Laramie was a favorite of mine. I do remember the actress, Spring. Would love to hear about your performances too!?

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    Replies
    1. Renaissance WomenJune 22, 2020 at 12:50 PM

      Thank you Cheri. Her story just captured my imagination and with my research on Colorado Women Doctors, her mother's story became important also.

      As for myself, I started performing in public at two and a half singing "I'm a Little Teapot" for the PTA. I've worked on stage as an actor, sang with a big band and even directed a short film. I was always encouraged to say yes and give it a try. (GRIN) Doris

      Delete
  2. Caroline ClemmonsJune 24, 2020 at 12:48 PM

    I loved Spring Byington. She had such a lovely speaking voice on television. She looks as if she would be a nice person.

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    Replies
    1. Renaissance WomenJune 24, 2020 at 6:47 PM

      From what I've read and understand, she was much as we saw her. Some of the articles in the paper said she was a wonderful comedian. Doris PS (She revisited Colorado after 'making' it big and the papers were always talking about her). Doris

      Delete

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