Grace Larue

Infobox actor
name = Grace Larue


imagesize = 150px
caption = Grace Larue in 1913
birthname = Stella Gray
birthdate = birth date |1880|4|23|mf=y
birthplace = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
deathdate = death date and age|1956|3|12|1880|4|23|mf=y
deathplace = Burlingame, California, U.S.

Grace Larue (April 23, 1880 – March 12, 1956), born Stella Gray, was an actress, dancer, and singer in Broadway theater, vaudeville and film. She also composed songs. She was reported to have earned $12,500 annually as a stage actress in 1914."Must Pay Actress Alimony", Washington Post, July 10, 1914, pg. 4.]

Early life

Grace Larue was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1880.

Acting career

In October 1905 she teamed with Charles Burke in a medley of song and dance entitled the "Silver Moon". They performed at the Alhambra Theatre in Harlem. ["Article 8--No Title", New York Times, October 22, 1905, pg. X3.] Larue was in the cast of entertainers who supported Anna Held in the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1907". She appeared with Emma Carus, Lillian Lee, Frank Mayne, and others, singing all new numbers.The Follies debuted at the Savoy Theatre in Atlantic City, New Jersey, before moving to the Jardin de Paris, (Olympia Roof Garden) Broadway at 44th Street, [ [http://www.musicals101.com/bwaypast3b.htm#Jardin Demolished Broadway Theatres: Hi to L ] ] in New York City."The Follies of 1907", New York Times, July 4, 1907, pg. 7.]

Larue sang with the company of Sam Bernard in "Nearly A Hero" at the Star Theatre, Broadway (Manhattan) and 13th Street, [ [http://www.daviscrossfield.com/star.htm Davis Crossfield Associates - Star Theatre - New York NY ] ] in 1909. She was in a production of "Molly May" at the Hackett Theatre,"Musical Comedy Comedy And Plays In Lighter Vein", New York Times, April 3, 1910, pg. X8.] (Lew Fields Theatre), 254 West 42nd Street, [http://www.world-theatres.com/#L] in April 1910.

On July 2, 1911 the Follies Bergere, 46th Street and Broadway, presented Larue with a cast of 150 entertainers, 90% of them girls. ["Display Ad 31--No Title", New York Times, July 2, 1911, pg. X5.] She sang on a vaudeville bill with Bernard Granville and Alick Lauder at Hammerstein's Victoria, 1481 Broadway, [ [http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1182/ Cinema Treasures | Hammerstein's Victoria ] ] in January 1915."Topping The Vaudeville Bills", New York Times, January 31, 1915, pg. X7.] Larue added some new songs and gowns for her show at the Colonial Theatre,"Topping The Vaudeville Bills", November 14, 1915, pg. X9.] 1887 Broadway, [ [http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2943/ Cinema Treasures | Colonial Theatre ] ] several weeks later.

As a vaudeville player Larue headlined a 1915 concert at the Alhambra Theatre, 126th Street and 7th Avenue. Owned by B.F. Keith, the performance hall presented fourteen "big acts". ["Display Ad 73--No Title", New York Times, November 28, 1915, pg. X10.]

In 1918 Larue assisted the Army and Navy Athletic Fund"Display Ad 241--No Title", New York Times, March 10, 1918, pg. X15.] and the Stage Women's War Relief with two shows."Farrar Gives A Benefit", New York Times, May 6, 1918, pg. 11.] The former event was staged at the Hippodrome Theatre, New York City and the latter at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Larue performed with Hale Hamilton in "Dear Me", which opened at the Lincoln Square Theatre in Decatur, Illinois, in September 1920. The play's theme dealt with the founding of a home for artistic and literary failures. Larue impersonated "April", the maid. The comedy features songs by Larue. In the role she writes to herself when there is no one else to send letters to. Thus the title, "Dear Me". ["Dear Me Opens Lincoln Square", "Decatur Daily Review", September 26, 1920, pg. 14.] In July 1922 Larue and Hamilton were in the comedy, "Monica", written by Christopher Wyatt. ["Theatrical Notes", "New York Times", July 10, 1922, pg. 16.]

She was in the second "Music Box Theatre Revue" which opened on October 23, 1922. Also in the cast were comedians Clark and McCullough, who became Broadway favorites via the burlesque circuit. The Music Box playhouse was a joint venture on 239 West 45th Street built by Sam H. Harris, Irving Berlin, and Joseph Schenck. ["The Music Box Stops To Count Up", "New York Times", September 27, 1931, pg. X2.]

Private life

She was linked romantically to Byron Chandler during her time with the Bernard troupe in 1909. Chandler's wife was suing him for divorce."Wife Sues Byron Chandler", New York Times, February 8, 1909, pg. 1.] Larue became the third wife of Chandler, who was known as the "Millionaire Kid". He introduced motorized transportation to compete with the horseless carriage of Alfred Vanderbilt. ["Newest Temperamental Beauty Romance of the Millionaire Kid", Ogden, Utah Standard Examiner, September 30, 1928, pg.30.] Chandler was ordered by the New York Supreme Court to pay Larue $60 per week in alimony in July 1914. Larue claimed that having to carry her mother from city to city during acting engagements was expensive to her.

As Mrs. Grace Larue Hamilton she leased an apartment at the San Carlos Hotel, 150 East Fiftieth Street, New York City, in 1927. The apartment was leased from Butler & Baldwin, Inc. ["Comedian Leases In Hotel", New York Times, June 7, 1927, pg. 53.] She was a guest at a house party hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Frazee which honored Mayor James J. Walker in June 1927. The Greenwich, Connecticut event celebrated the birthday anniversaries of Walker and Mr. Frazee. ["Mayor Walker Honored", New York Times, June 27, 1927, pg. 19.]

She died in Burlingame, California in 1956.

References

External links

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* [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=535167&word= Grace Larue] New York Public Library Digital Gallery photo