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Part of the American
History & Genealogy Project |
Women as Actresses
Margaret Mary Anglin
1876 ~ 1958
Was born April 3, 1876, in Ottawa, Canada, and is the
daughter of Honorable T. W. Anglin, formerly speaker of the
Canadian House of Commons. She was educated at convents in
Toronto and Montreal, and received her dramatic training from
the Empire School of Dramatic Acting, in New York City, and in
1894 made her debut on the stage in "Shenandoah.'' She
has played leading parts in the Shakespearean dramas, has acted
with Sothern, Richard Mansfield, in "Cyrano de Bergerac,"
her latest effort was in "The Awakening of Helena Richie."
Eleanor Elsie Robson Belmont
1879 ~ 1979
Came to America when a child from England. She entered upon her
professional career when but eighteen years of age, appearing as
Marjory Knox in "Men and Women." Her greatest success
has been Zangwill's plays, "Merely Mary Ann" and later
she added to this by her performance in "The Dawn of a
Tomorrow." On February 12, 1910 she married August Belmont.
Agnes Booth 1846 ~ 1910
Was born in Sydney, Australia, October 4, 1846. Daughter of
Captain Land and Sara Rookes. Commenced her stage career as a
dancer when but a small child. Her first husband was Harry
Perry, an American actor who died in 1863. Her second was Junius
Booth who died in 1883, and later she married John B. Shoeffel.
She made her first appearance in New York in 1865, and soon
thereafter became the leading lady in the company of Edwin
Forrest.
Gertrude Elliott 1874 ~
1950
Is the sister of Maxine Elliott, and the wife of Johnston
Forbes-Robertson, the great English actor. She made her first
appearance in 1894 with Rose Coghlan's company, in "A Woman
of No Importance." She played with her sister for some time
and made her first appearance on the London stage in "The
Cowboy and the Lady" at the Duke of York's Theatre, June 5,
1899. In 1900 she was engaged by Forbes-Robertson, and played
Ophelia in "Hamlet," Carrot in the play of that name,
and Judith Anderson in "The Devil's Disciple." On
December 22, 1900, she married Forbes-Robertson, and since then
has played in London with the exception of a brief tour in the
United States in 1906. Since that time she has played with her
husband at the Savoy Theatre, London.
Maude Fealey (Mrs.
Louis E. Sherwin.) 1886 ~ 1971
Was born in Memphis, Tennessee, March 4, 1886. Her mother was on
the stage for many years, and now conducts the Tabor School of
Acting in Denver, Colorado. Augustin Daly discovered Miss Fealey.
He made a five years' engagement with her. She played as leading
lady with William Gillette for many years. While in England with
this company, E. S. Willard made an engagement with her and she
played in his company for some time. She has played with R. N.
Johnson, but the most important engagement of her career was as
leading lady with Sir Henry Irving, playing the roles formerly
taken by Ellen Terry. In 1907 Miss Fealey married Louis E.
Sherwin, dramatic critic of the Denver Republican.
Mary Garden 1874 ~ 1967
Was reared in Chicago, Illinois. Completed her musical education
in Paris, making her debut there in 1891. Is now one of the
great operatic stars of the present day. She is recognized by
critics, universally, as second to no one on the operatic stage
in the dramatic rendition of the parts she has taken.
Corinne Kimball 1873 ~
Miss Corinne Kimball was born in 1873 in Boston, Massachusetts.
She was well known by her stage name of "Corinne." She was the
daughter of Mrs. Jennie Kimball, who was herself an actress and
theatrical manager. Her first appearance on the stage was at a
baby show held in Horticultural Hall, in Boston. She met with
success, and exhibiting marked talent she obtained an engagement
in light opera, singing in the "Mascot," "Olivet, " The Chimes
of Normandy" and "The Mikado."
Grace Kimball (Mrs. M.
D. McGuire.) 1870 ~
Was born in Detroit, February 18, 1870. Has played in one of
Frohman's companies in the Lyceum Theatre, the Garden Theatre,
Madison Square, and several of the leading New York companies.
In 1897 she married M. D. McGuire, a prominent New Yorker and
retired from the stage temporarily.
Jennie Kimball 1851 ~
1925
Mrs. Jennie Kimball was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the
23rd of June, 1851. She appeared first at the Boston Theatre in
1865. After the success made by her daughter Corinne in "Pinafore,"
Mrs. Kimball retired from the stage herself and became her
manager. She was interested in several theatres. She was a woman
of remarkable business ability. She personally superintended all
of the work connected with the theatre and the companies in
which she was interested; wrote her own advertising matter and
superintended the work of the scenic artists, occupying a unique
position among women.
Margaret Mather 1862 ~
1898
Was born in Tilbury, near Montreal, Canada, in 1862, but is an
American by adoption. She is of Scotch descent. In 1868 her
family left Canada and settled in Detroit, Michigan. Later
Margaret was sent to New York to live with one of her brothers,
who assumed charge of her education. In 1880, this brother died,
and she was left dependent upon her own efforts. This opened up
an opportunity for her to satisfy her desire to go upon the
stage and she made her debut as Cordelia in "King Lear"
with such marked success that she attracted the attention of
Manager J. M. Hill, who made a contract with her for six years'
engagement, opening as Juliet, August, 1882, in a theatre in
Chicago, scoring an immediate success. She then played in all
the principal cities of the United States appearing in the Union
Square Theatre in New York City in her famous role of Juliet.
Her repertoire includes, Rosalind, Imogene, Lady Macbeth, Leah,
Julia, Peg Woffington, Mary Stuart, Gilbert's Gretchen, Pauline,
Julianna, Barbie's Joan of Arc, Nance Oldfield, Medea, and many
other leading parts. In 1887 she became the wife of Emil
Harberkorn, leader of the Union Square Theatre orchestra.
Alice Nielsen 1872 ~
1943
Was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Daughter of Erasmus I. and
Sarah A. Nielsen. Received her musical education in San
Francisco where she sang later in one of the local theatres, her
first appearance being at Oakland, California, as Yum Yum in "The
Mikado." In 1896 she attracted the attention of the ''Bostonians"
then playing in San Francisco, and was engaged by them, taking
the role of Annabel in "Robin Hood." Has sung nearly
all the principal parts which this opera company gave: "Maid
Marion," "The Serenade," "The Fortune Teller,"
and starred in 'The Fortune Teller." Later she studied
for grand opera in Rome, and has sung in several grand operas
both in Europe, and this country, touring the United States in
1906-1907 with the Boston Opera Company.
Sibyl Sanderson 1865 ~
1903
Was born in 1865 in Sacramento. She was the daughter of the late
Judge S. W. Sanderson, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
California. In 1884 she went to Europe to study and at different
times renewed her musical studies under several of the great
teachers. Massenet predicted a brilliant career for her. She
made her debut February 6, 1888, in Amsterdam. She was selected
by Massenet to create the role of Esclairmonde and sang that
opera one hundred times the first year. In November, 1890, she
made her debut in Massenet's "Mignon" in Brussels,
appearing in London, England, in 1891. She ranked with the
greatest singers, and was always a great favorite with the
American public. She died in 1903.
Rose Smock Melville
1873 ~ 1946
Was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, January 7, 1873. Daughter of
Rev. Jacob and Caroline Puett Smock. Created the role of Sis
Hopkins in 1893, and has starred in this character in her own
company since 1899.
Mabel Taliaferro (Mrs.
Frederick W. Thompson.) 1887 ~ 1797
Was born in May, 1887, in New York City. Entered upon her stage
career when a mere child. Has played in various well-known
companies, and created the role of Lovey Mary in "Mrs. Wiggs
of the Cabbage Patch." Miss Taliaferro married F. W.
Thompson, a theatrical manager, in October, 1906 and has since
starred in her own company.
Lucia Genevieve Teresa Ward
1833 ~ 1922
Was born March 27, 1833, in New York. She is the granddaughter
of Gideon Lee. Genevieve Ward was her stage name. Her maiden
name was Lucia Geneviva Teresa. Her fine voice attracted the
attention of Rossini who trained her in music. She had a most
successful career as a singer, and having lost her voice through
diphtheria she won equal success as an actress. In 1882 she
started in a tour of the world. Later became manager of the
Lyceum Theater London, and in 1888 she retired from the stage.
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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