Justine Johnstone

Justine Olive Johnstone (Mrs. Walter Wanger; January 31, 1895 – September 4, 1982) was an American stage, and silent screen actress, turned pathologist. Working under her married name, she was part of the team that developed the modern intravenous drip technique.

Early life Johnstone attended Emma Willard School in Troy, New York. An account from a classmate's journal describes her classmates being awed by Johnstone and her acting career. This admiration led to her classmates nicknaming her Ju-jo. She was active in her school years as she was in the drama club and acted in the senior play; was an active editor of Gargoyle; and a member of the basketball team, glee club, operetta, and the choir. She briefly was a model during her time at Emma Willard as well.

Acting career Johnstone appeared in three Broadway shows between 1911 and 1914, then quit the business to finish high school at the Emma Willard School in Troy, New York. Upon her return to Broadway, she became a favorite performer for producers Charles Dillingham and Florenz Ziegfeld, who featured her in the 1915 and 1916 editions of the Ziegfeld Follies. Lee Shubert created the 1917 Broadway musical revue Over the Top for her, which featured Fred Astaire and his sister Adele Astaire in their Broadway debuts. In 1926, she retired from performing for private life. and she retained her married name. After her divorce, she adopted two sons.

Medical career When Johnstone's husband fell ill in 1927, his doctor, Samuel Hirschfeld, convinced her to enroll in science courses at Columbia University, where she studied plant research. Her work so impressed Harold T. Hyman, head of the science department of Columbia, that he and Hirschfeld hired her to work with them in their research. She joined the staff of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1929 as a research assistant in the pharmacology department. The three also conducted numerous experiments that led to the cure for syphilis.

Later, Johnstone and her husband moved to Los Angeles, where as a research assistant to physicians she studied cancer and helped develop the discipline of endocrinology. To aid her research, she installed a laboratory in her house in Hollywood.

Death

Justine Wanger died in Santa Monica, California from congestive heart failure, aged 87. Her remains are at Chapel of the Pines Crematory.

Theatrical productions

Watch Your Step (1914) as Estelle Ziegfeld Follies of 1915 (1915) Stop! Look! Listen! (1915) as Mary Singer Ziegfeld Follies of 1916 (1916) Betty (1916) as Chicquette Oh, Boy (1917) as Polly Andrus Over the Top (1917) Hush Money (1926) as Kathleen Forrest

Filmography The Crucible (1914) (as Justina Johnstone) as Amelia (lost film) Nothing But Lies (1920) as Ann Nigh Blackbirds (1920) as Countess Leonie (lost film) The Plaything of Broadway (1921) as Lola Sheltered Daughters (1921) as Jenny Dark (presumably lost film) A Heart to Let (1921) as Agatha (lost film) Moonlight and Honeysuckle (1921) (uncredited) in Bit Part (lost film) Survivre (1923) as Viviane Termoise Never the Twain Shall Meet (1925) as Maisie Morrison (lost film)

Published works