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Minnie Maddern Fiske 1865 ~ 1932
Minnie Maddern Fiske
Was born in New Orleans December 19,
1865. She was educated in the convents of Cincinnati and St.
Louis. Has been on the stage practically all her life, playing
under her maiden name of Minnie Maddern, achieving great success
all over the United States. She first appeared at the early age
of three as the Duke of York, in "Richard III"; at the
age of fifteen was a "star." She made her first appearance on
the New York stage at Wallack's Theatre, July 11, 1870, in the
part of Little Fritz, in "Fritz, Our German Cousin,"
with the late J. K. Emmett.
In 1871 she appeared in "Hunted Down,"
at Niblo's Garden. Since then she has played in "Chicago
Before the Fire," "King John," "Fogg's Ferry,"
"Caprice," "In Spite of All" and "Featherbrain."
In 1890 she left the stage on the occasion of her marriage with
Harrison Grey Fiske, but after an absence of four years she
appeared in 1894 as the heroine, in "Hester Crewe," a
play written by her husband. She has played the part of Nora
Helmer, in "A Doll's House," with great success; has
appeared in "Frou-Frou," "The Queen of Liars"
and her own play, "A Light From St. Agnes." One of her
greatest successes was as Tess, in "Tess of the D'Urbervilles."
Since 1898 she has appeared in "A
Bit of Old Chelsea," "Love Finds the Way," "Little
Italy" and "Becky Sharp." At the Manhattan
Theatre, of which her husband became the lessee and manager, she
appeared in 1901 in "Miranda of the Balcony" and "The
Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch." Her performance of Mary, in "Mary
of Magdala," created a profound impression. In 1906 she
appeared in a new play, "The New York Idea," which was
one of Mrs. Fiske's greatest successes. In 1907 she appeared as
Rebecca West, in Ibsen's "Rosmersholm." Mrs. Fiske is a
remarkably gifted woman. Not only is she a fine actress, but she
is, as well, a stage manager, and has directed the production of
most of the plays produced at the Manhattan Theatre during her
husband's tenancy. She is also the author of the following
plays: "The Rose," "A Light from St. Agnes,"
"The Eyes of the Heart," and "Not Guilty." She has also
collaborated with her husband in "Fontenelle."
Women of
America
Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
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