Background
She was born on April 23, 1886 in San Francisco, California to Ira E. Blood and Frances Emma Stewart.
She was born on April 23, 1886 in San Francisco, California to Ira E. Blood and Frances Emma Stewart.
Adele moved to the eastern United States some years before 1917. As a youth, she was a talented equestrienne, had an interest in fashion, and admired the theater. Blood"s first public performance was at the California Theatre in San Francisco.
She acted the character Marguerite in a production featuring Lewis Morrison as Mephisto.
Blood appeared in numerous plays as the leading lady. Some of the theatrical presentations in which she starred are The Unmasking, All Rivers Meet The Sea, and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Davis was a clergyman-actor who was formerly the pastor of the First Christian Church in Oakland, California. Their marriage was turbulent and Blood began divorce proceedings in 1914.
Actress Jule Power was named as co-respondent in her suit.
Davis responded by naming Governor Earl Brewer of Mississippi as co-respondent in counter charges against Blood. Following her divorce from Davis she was briefly married to Englishman Waddell Hope. During her vaudeville tours Blood was on stage in most of the prominent cities in the United States.
She starred for five years in Everywoman.
During her travels she was known as "the most beautiful blonde on the American stage". She made two motion pictures including The Devil"s Toy (1916) and The Riddle: Woman (1920).
By December 1917, Blood retired. Blood became named heiress to the Holmes" fortune.
Blood eventually eschewed both wealth and social position because she believed it led to a philosophy of pessimism.
She returned to the stage by accepting an offer from the Oriental company of Tim Frawley. In 1926 she met Colonel R.W. Castle in Kashmir. He was an English officer in the Indian service.
The two were engaged and planned a wedding in Calcutta.
On the night of September 13, 1936, Blood shot herself in the head at her home on the grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Harrison, New New York She died a few hours later at the United Hospital in Portuguese Chester, New New York
Her 17-year-old daughter, Dawn, was in the home with friends when they heard the sound of a gunshot come from Blood"s bedroom. Dawn told police that her mother had been financially pressed and worried excessively in the previous two weeks.
Adele"s possessions were auctioned off garnering $1,000.
Blood had been wealthy in the past She financed a summer stock company and leased the auditorium of the Bronxville High School for plays. The plays were scheduled to run for six weeks but closed in three weeks.
Frances was a member of the Alameda school department for many years.