Marie George (born Clara Marie Georg; 25 June 1876 – 15 July 1955) was an American actress, singer and stage beauty who had a successful career first in New York City and later in London, England during the Edwardian era.
Marie George | |
|---|---|
 George in 1907 | |
| Born | Clara Marie Georg June 25, 1876 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 15, 1955 (aged 79) London, U.K. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1900–1911 |
| Spouse | Norman J. Norman |
Early life
editMarie George was born in New York in 25 June 1876 as Clara Marie Georg to German-American parents. On going on the stage she adopted the anglicized version of her surname.
Stage career
edit
On moving with her husband to London she played Dolly Twinkle in The Casino Girl at the Shaftesbury Theatre (1900), was in the American musical comedy The Belle of Bohemia at the Apollo Theatre (1901)[1] and played Cornelia in The White Chrysanthemum at the Criterion Theatre (1905).[2] For a number of years she was a regular in the annual pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane including: Gretchen in Mother Goose (1902) opposite Dan Leno;[3] Principal Girl in Humpty Dumpty (1903)[4] during which she was taken ill and was replaced by Mabel Love; Cupid in The White Cat (1904));[5] Ruby in Sinbad (1906);[6][7] Cissie in Babes in the Wood (1907);[8][9] and Katrina in Dick Whittington (1908); and the title role in Aladdin (1909).[10]
George appeared as Poll Merrie in Lady Tatters opposite Courtice Pounds and Walter Passmore at the Shaftesbury Theatre (1907)[11] and played Mariza opposite Passmore in Baron Trenck at the Strand Theatre (1911). In 1912 she played the title role in a British tour of the musical comedy The Boy Scout with C. Hayden Coffin[12] and in 1915 was Mrs. Pineapple in the first revival of A Chinese Honeymoon at the Prince of Wales Theatre.[13]
In July 1911 Marie George was accompanied by Herbert Sparling in a performance at Brighton Palace Pier, where:
‘Marie George gives the audience twenty minutes of sparkling fun, and makes them regret very much the powers that be which prevent her continuing her part for double that period. She is delightful in her songs, “That’s a Cinch,” and “Over again.” She is most ably assisted by Mr. Herbert Sparling, whose make-up as a pianoforte turner and acting throughout is wonderfully clever.’[8][14]
Personal life
editMarie was married to the American theatrical manager Norman J. Norman.[15] She died in London in 15 July 1955, aged 79.[15]
References
edit- ^ Miss Marie George - The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, January to March 1901
- ^ Miss Marie George - Celebrities of the Stage - Tuck Postcards Database
- ^ J. P. Wearing, The London Stage 1900-1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel, Rowman & Littlefield (2014) - Google Books pg. 125
- ^ Wearing, pg. 166
- ^ Wearing, pg. 214
- ^ Tom Sutcliffe, We'll know we've made real progress, when colour on stage isn't an issue at all - The Independent 27 October 2012
- ^ Wearing, pg. 322
- ^ a b Marie George - Footlight Notes website
- ^ Wearing, pg. 385
- ^ Pantomimes at Drury Lane - It's Behind You website
- ^ Lady Tatters - Truth, Volume 62, 3 July 1907, pg. 55
- ^ The Boy Scout at the Grand Theatre, Leeds (1912) - Leeds Play Bills
- ^ London Musicals 1915-1919 - Over the Footlights website
- ^ Brighton & Hove Society, Brighton, Sussex, Thursday, 12 July 1911, p. 4482b
- ^ a b Marie George (1877-1975) - Stage Beauty website