Bryna Raeburn (born Bertha Sinai;"Death Notices: Bertha Smith, was an actress". The Jersey Journal. January 4, 1985. p. 18."Death Notices". The Jersey Journal. January 5, 1985. p. 14. March 14, 1915"United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JBPX-QXM : 7 January 2021), Bertha Smith, Jan 1985; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing). – January 3, 1985) was an American radio and voice actress, known for her versatility,Higby, Mary Jane (1968). Tune in Tomorrow; or, How I Found the Right to Happiness with Our Gal Sunday, Stella Dallas, John's Other Wife, and Other Sudsy Radio Serials. New York: Cowles. p. 174. . in particular her command of a wide range of accents and dialects.Lambert, Virginia (December 21, 1975). "Unseen Stars: Meet the voices behind those radio dramas". The Hackensack Record. p. B-18.

Early life and career Born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey,Dept. of Public Instruction (193). Sixty-Third Report of the Board of Education of Jersey City, N.J.. Jersey City, NJ: Board of Education. p. 42. Raeburn was the youngest of three children born to Russian-born Julius Sinai and Dora Hanna Blumenthal."New Jersey State Census, 1915", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9Q-GRNJ : Sun Mar 10 01:56:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Julous Sinai and Dora Sinai, 1915."New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W8M-SF1 : 11 February 2018), Julius Sinai in entry for Ida Sinai, 20 Sep 1909; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference 29525 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,022,750.

Although little is known of her formal education, she spoke many years later with Bergen Record entertainment writer Virginia Lambert. I majored in drama in college and knew how to use movement and facial expression, but I never really wanted to do anything except radio acting. I'm in love with speech and language. [...] I love radio drama. I've never been a raving beauty, but radio lets me play glamorous ladies. To which her interviewer immediately appended, "or Scottish crones, French maids, Spanish dancers, Italian opera singers, British royalty, or whatever else a scriptwriter may dream up." As Raeburn's colleague Mary Jane Higby later recalled, "Most of us could imitate some of our fellows, but some, like Art Carney, Bryna Raeburn and Billy Mack, could imitate anybody."

On radio, aside from recurring roles such as Mrs. Graham—opposite Bob Griffin—on Mutual's Dr. Graham and Family,"Doctor and Wife". The Sioux City Journal. February 9, 1947. Sec. 3, p. 8. she was a frequent guest performer on NBC's Dimension X and CBS Radio Mystery Theater.Cox, Jim (2013). Radio After the Golden Age: The Evolution of American Broadcasting Since 1960. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. pp. 150, 156. . The latter, 1974's nearly decade-long revival of radio's "golden age," was especially gratifying for Raeburn, who recalled, "I was in the last episode of so many of the old radio shows, it was really depressing."

Personal life and death By 1950, Raeburn had married fellow Jersey City native Dr. Meyer Smith."United States Census, 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F9P-NGTZ : Tue Mar 19 00:40:34 UTC 2024), Entry for Meyer Smith and Bertha Smith, 15 April 1950."United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K96-LMF6 : 10 February 2023), Meyer Smith, . They had one child, a daughter, born on New Year's Day, 1956."Births". Variety. January 18, 1956. p. 75. "Dr. and Mrs. M. Smith, daughter, Jersey City, Jan. 1. Mother is Bryna Raeburn, radio actress.""Obituaries". The Jersey Journal. September 13, 1993. p. 6.

On January 3, 1985, at age 69, Raeburn died of undisclosed causes in Jersey City. She was survived by her husband and daughter. Her remains are interred at Riverside Cemetery in Rochelle Park, New Jersey.

Filmography YearTitle RoleDirector Other cast membersNotes Refs.1960Some Place Like HomeSelf None creditedBilled between Sam Jaffe and Sam Gray, all doing narration.13 minute, 40 second filmstrip produced in 1959, debuted May 10, 1960 at New York's Jewish Museum."American Jewish Life: Filmstrips". The Jewish Audio-Visual Review. January 1965. p. 11."Rally to Open Jewish Appeal; Workers in $26,400 Drive Meet Monday Night at Temple". Lancaster New Era. June 25, 1943. p. 3.1966The Ballad of Smokey the BearMama BearLarry Roemer James Cagney, William Marine Lenburg, Jeff (1991). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. New York : Facts on File. p. 180. .1967The Wacky World of Mother GooseOld Mother HubbardMargaret Rutherford, Bob McFadden1974The Mad Magazine TV SpecialNAAlan Swift, Patricia Bright, Gene KlavanOlszewski, Anthony (January 21, 2016). "Bryna Raeburn of Jersey City". HudsonCountyFacts.com.

Discography

With Bob McFadden Fast, Fast, Fast Relief From TV Commercials (Audio Fidelity, 1963)Scott, Bob (December 22, 1963). "Records: The Tonsils Go on Tour; Laugh Tracks". Los Angeles Times. Charting the Globe (Classroom Materials, 196-)"Charting the Globe". WorldCat. Halloween (Classroom Materials, 196-)"Halloween". WorldCat. Introducing the Rhythm Instruments (Classroom Materials, 1967)"Introducing the Rhythm Instruments". Discogs. With Jacques Hirschler Let's Visit France And Italy (Vocalion, 1964)Thistle, Lauretta (November 21, 1964). "The Last Four Piano Sonatas". The Ottawa Citizen World of Entertainment. p. 2. "A great deal of factual information is incorporated. For instance, did you remember that the Italians didn't have spaghetti until Marco Polo brought it to them? Bryna Raeburn, who does the narration about Italy, has an accent heavier than any pasta should be, and she's delightful." With Bob Booker The New First Family, 1968 – A Futuristic Fairy Tale (Verve, 1966)Glazer, Barney (December 3, 1966). "Record Chart". Anaheim Bulletin. p. B6. Scream on Someone You Love Today (Verve, 1967) Senator Bobby's Christmas Party (Columbia, 1967); as Lady Bird Johnson, 2nd staff member, secretary"Senator Bobby's Christmas Party". Internet Archive. Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts (Musicor), 1968) With Charlie Manna The Rise & Fall of the Great Society (Verve, 1966) With Napoleon XIV They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! (Warner Bros., 1966); featuring Raeburn, credited as Josephine XV, performing "I'm Happy They Took You Away, Ha-Haaa!" With Marshall McLuhan The Medium Is the Massage (Columbia, 1967) With Richard Kiley "Mowgli's Brothers" and "Tiger! Tiger!" (Leo the Lion Records, 1967) With Pat McCormick Tell It Like It Is (Atco, 1968) With David Frye I Am the President (Elektra, 1969); as Lady Bird Johnson, Julie Nixon, and charlady."At All Discount Record Center Stores (AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT!): DAVID FRYE – I AM THE PRESIDENT". The Los Angeles Times Calendar. p. 29. 29. Radio Free Nixon (Elektra, 1971); as Lady Bird, Martha Mitchell, and Julie Eisenhower"Radio Free Nixon". Internet Archive. With William Griffis   The Cricket in Times Square (Newberry Award Records, 1971); also feat. Herb Duncan, Aurora Jorgensen, George Selden and Lionel Wilson    A Wrinkle in Time (Newberry Award Records, 1972); also feat. Corinne Orr, Earl Hammond and Malachy McCourt"A Wrinkle in Time". WorldCat. 

References

Further reading

External links

Bryna Raeburn at Old Time Radio Researchers