Sarah Padden

Sarah Padden(October 16, 1881 – December 4, 1967) was a character actress in theater and vaudeville from Chicago, Illinois. She performed on stage in the early 20th century.^[1] She is noted for her psychological studies of characters which she portrayed and her expressive voice. Her finest single act performance was in The Clod. In this stage production she played an uneducated woman who lived on a farm during the American Civil War.^{[2] [3]}

Youth

As a young woman Padden's parents hoped she would enter a convent. She took part in recitations in the Catholic Church school she attended in Chicago. Her fellow students enjoyed her talent as a mimic (entertainment). A liberal-minded priest, Father Dorney, encouraged her ambition to become an actress. He assisted her in obtaining her first role on the stage, a theatrical featuring Otis Skinner.^[1]

Her life is saved

Padden lived for many years in the vicinity of the Broad River, Gaston, South Carolina. On one occasion she ventured onto a dam, and upon reaching its center, she was frightened by a whistle which blew near a power station around midday. Padden lost her balance, fell over, yet managed to cling to a steel eyebolt with her fist. Fortunately she was rescued by an African American servant of the power company superintendent. Afterwards Padden's parents hired the man and took him to New York, where he died at the age of 108.^[4]

Theatrical career

She was a feature player on the Orpheum Circuit, Inc..^[5] Padden had a role in His Grace de Grammont, a romantic comedy by Clyde Fitch, which came to the Park Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1905. The production starred Skinner and was based on the life of a chevalier in the court of Charles II.^[6] Padden appeared again with Skinner in a four-act play produced by Charles Frohman, The Honor of the Family, by Emile Fabre. The production was presented in New Rochelle, New York in September 1907.^[7]

Another of her theatrical parts was in Hell-Bent Fer Heaven, a Pulitzer Prize winning play by Hatcher Hughes. It was performed at the Wilkes Orange Grove Theater (Majestic Theater), 845 South Broadway (Los Angeles),^[8] in November 1925.^[4]

Avid golfer

She was athletic, taking part in skating, tennis, and swimming.^[5] She played eighteen to thirty-six holes of golf daily. In 1919 Padden was considered one of the best female golfers in the United States.^[9] In Los Angeles, California she was fond of playing the municipal links at Griffith Park.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Sarah Padden's Start, New York Times, December 17, 1916, pg. III4.
2. ^ Fine Bill At Hillstreet, Los Angeles Times, March 30, 1926, pg. A11.
3. ^ Sarah Padden at IBDb.com database
4. ^ ^{a b} Star Describes How Aged Negro Saved Her Life, Los Angeles Times, November 22, 1925, pg. C29.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Sarah Padden A Golf Enthusiast, Los Angeles Times, February 5, 1919, pg. I5.
6. ^ New Fitch Play In Boston, New York Times, September 15, 1905, pg. 5.
7. ^ Amusement Notes, New York Times, September 27, 1907, pg. 9.
8. ^ Cinema Treasures, Majestic Theatre, http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2422/
9. ^ Sarah Padden In Entirely New Role, Los Angeles Times, February 2, 1919, pg. III9.

External links

• Sarah Padden at the Internet Movie Database