Betty Jane Watson

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.