Virginia Earle

Virginia Earle or Earl (1875 ["Who's who on the stage", 2nd ed., 1908. "Herringshaw's national library of American biography", 5 vols, 1909-14, has her birth year as 1873.] – 1937 [ [http://shakespeare.emory.edu/actordisplay.cfm?actorid=162 Shakespeare and the Players | The Players | Virginia Earle ] ] ) was a stage actress of the last decade of the 19th century and the early 20th century. She bore a close personal resemblance to musical theater actress Della Fox ["The Theatrical Week", New York Times, June 16, 1895, pg. 13.] (1871-1913). [ [http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=11764 Della Fox ] ]

Her husband was Frank Lawton, the whistler. ["Who They Are", Lowell Sun,November 19, 1897, pg. 16.] Lawton (d. 1914) was an actor, siffluer, and comedian who became known when he played the role of "Blinky Bill McGuirk" in "The Belle of New York". The American musical comedy opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, England, on April 12, 1899. [ [http://members.tripod.com/FootlightNotes/FrankLawton.html John Culme's Footlight Notes - Celebrity of the Week: Frank Lawton (d.1914), American actor and siffleur - Week ending 6 July 2002 ] ] Earle brought divorce action against Lawton in February 1897. ["Amusement Notes", The Fort Wayne News, February 9, 1897, pg. 6.]

Theater Actress

Earle was the daughter of George Fortescue. She went to Australia to play in "Evangeline" and other plays in 1891. E.E. Rice organized a group of actors who departed from San Francisco in April. The troupe included Fortescue, Earl's mother, Mrs. Fortescue, Lillian Karl, and Agnes Pearl. ["Artists For Australia", New York Times, February 26, 1891, pg. 8.]

Earle appeared in the comic opera portion of "The Merry World", a review written by Edgar Smith and Nicholas Biddle. It was staged at the
Casino Theatre in June 1895. She was joined in the burlesque section by Willard Simms, Wallace Black, and Lee Harrison. ["The Casino Open Again", New York Times, June 9, 1895, pg. 5.] As the character, "Vaseline", Earle sings along with Marie Laurens. ["Light Hot-Weather Amusements", New York Times, August 13, 1895, pg. 5.]

"Leonardo" by Gilbert Burgess is a book about a Florentine sculptor who designs a statue of the Duke of Milan. During his work he falls in love with the Duke's daughter. The operetta of the same name was produced by the Garrick Theatre in October 1895. Earle plays the role of "Cecilia". A critic commented that the production's costumes were "tasteful" and the operetta was "well rehearsed". However the performance itselfwas merely "tolerable". ["New Theatrical Bills", New York Times, October 22, 1895, pg. 5.]

"The Lady Slavey", at the Casino Theatre, featured Daniel Daly, Marie Dressler, and Earle in a humorous scene in the first act. ["New Bills Of The Week", New York Times, February 23, 1896, pg. 10.] After being out of the cast for many nights, Earle returned to play the title role on April 13, 1896. ["Notes of the Stage I (2)", New York Times, April 12, 1896, pg. 10.] She was forced to leave the cast of "In Gay New-York" because of throat problems on June 14. She had been singing the leading role and was replaced by Catherine Linyard. ["Virginia Earle Ill",New York Times, June 14, 1896, pg. 3.] When she returned Earle sang a new song in the part, "Only a Lump of Sugar for the Bird". ["Notes Of The Summer Shows", New York Times, July 14, 1896, pg. 5.]

She was identified with the productions of Augustin Daly for many years. Two of these plays were "The Circus Girl" and "The Runaway Girl". Both Earle and James T. Powers signed contracts with George W. Lederer in July 1899. ["Mr. Lederer's New Players", New York Times, July 28, 1899, pg. 7.]

A review from 1900 described Earle as being without a rival "in the present stage of her artistic development." Specifically, he made mention of her acting in "The Belle of New York". ["At the Play and With the Players", New York Times, January 28, 1900, pg. 16.] In "The Casino Girl"she returned to the theater after a long absence and depicted a young man named "Percy". The setting of the play was Egypt and it was performed at the CasinoTheatre."This Week's New Bills", New York Times, March 18, 1900, pg. 18.] One of the highlights was a duet between Earle and Mabelle Gilman."Dramatic And Musical", New York Times, March 20, 1900, pg. 7.] "The New Yorkers" with Earle and Daly was put on by the Herald Square Theatre in November 1901. ["At The Theatres", New York Times, November 5, 1901, pg. 7.]

In April 1903 Earle was signed to be in a musical comedy at the Gaiety Theatre in London, England by George Edwardes. It was her second London engagement and was planned for the following season. ["Virginia Earle to Play in London", New York Times, April 26, 1903, pg. 11.] The play was the Baldwin Sloane opera, "Sergeant Kitty". ["What The Players Are Doing", New York Times, September 15, 1903, pg. 5.] Her services were obtained by Samuel S. Shubert of the Shubert Theatre (Broadway) in May 1903. ["Notes of the Theatre", New York Times, May 27, 1903, pg. 5.] She appeared in "Sergeant Kitty" at Daly's Theatre on Sixty-Third Street, New York City, in January 1904. ["News Of The Playhouses", New York Times, January 12, 1904, pg. 3.] Earle was summoned to rehearsal at the New Amsterdam Theatre as a member of the Klaw & Erlanger Comedy Company in October 1904. The troupe included Fay Templeton. ["Notes Of The Theatres", New York Times, October 23, 1904, pg. 7.] The production, a musical burlesque about fashionable society entitled "In Newport", was staged at the Liberty Theatre, ["Peter Dailey Back Again", New York Times, December 27, 1904, pg. 7.] 234 West 42nd Street, New York City. [ [http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1904/october_10_1904_69977.html Liberty Theater opens at 234 W 42nd St. New York City October 10 in History ] ]

Earle was in vaudeville for several seasons prior to becoming ill. She was unable to perform on Broadway for several seasons prior to landing a leading role in "The Wedding Trip", in November 1911. Music in the play was composed by Reginald De Koven. ["Theatrical Notes", November 4, 1911, pg. 13.]

She replaced Lina Abarbanell as "Molly Seamore" , the heroine, in an April 1913 presentation of "The Geisha". ["Changes In The Geisha", New York Times, April 25, 1913, pg. 6.]

Earle appeared with the Madeline and Marion Fairbanks in a production of "Two Little Girls in Blue" by A.L. Erlanger in 1921. The Tomsen twins and Edward Begley were also in the cast. ["Theatrical Notes", New York Times, March 9, 1921, pg. 20.]

Robbery Victim

Earle was robbed of valuables on several occasions. She apprehended Jennie Baldwin when she recognized the woman wearing one of the cloaks she wore in a production of "The Merry World". Baldwinwas walking along Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), near Twenty-Eighth Street, when Earle seized her and screamed for help. The cloak was one of a number of thefts at the Casino during the month of September 1895. Baldwin said that the cloak had been found by her brother lying in the street car tracks at Twenty-Eighth Street and Sixth Avenue. She was held in $500 for trial at Special Sessions after Earle made an affadavit. ["Virginia Earle Causes An Arrest", New York Times, September 19, 1895, pg. 16.] In testimony a day later Baldwin said that she got the cloak from her brother who was employed by the Sixth Avenue elevated railroad. The husband admitted to finding the cloak and several people vouched for Baldwin's character. Earle received the garment back, noticing its worn condition. She offered it to a deputy clerk who declined it. Then she threwit at the deputy district attorney, exclaiming "Take the old cloak there; there!" She then smiled at the audience. The cloak was returned to police headquarters. ["Lost Both Cloak And Temper", New York Times, September 21, 1895, pg. 8.]

A diamond pendant valued at $550 was taken from Earle in the Hotel Bartholdt on New Year's Eve in 1895. The diamonds were found in a
Ninth Avenue (Manhattan) pawnshop, where $100 had been advanced on them. A man in charge of the "hallboys" at the hotel was charged with the crime andpleaded not guilty to a charge of grand larceny. ["Theatrical Gossip", New York Times, January 7, 1896, pg. 16.]

Earle confessed to the superstition of wearing a ring on her thumb for nine years. She thought it brought her good luck. She said the sole occasion she experienced bad luck was when she wore a hat with a peacock feather on it. ["A Superstitious Company", New York Times, February 23, 1896, pg. 10.]

References

External links

* [http://www.oldpostcards.com/act050012.html Virginia Earle] postcard
* [http://www.oldpostcards.com/act050014.html Virginia Earle] postcard
* [http://shakespeare.emory.edu/actordisplay.cfm?actorid=162 Virginia Earle] at Shakespeare the Players