- Jennie Worrell
Jennie Worrell (1850 "-" August 11, 1899) was a
burlesque actress of the 19th century fromCincinnati, Ohio . She was the youngest of three Worrell sisters who appeared in Broadway productions from (1867 "-" 1872).ister act
She was the daughter of William Worrell, a circus clown. Her sisters were Irene Worrell and Sophie Worrell. The sisters performed on stage as children, singing and dancing their way to popularity in
California andAustralia . In 1866 they came toNew York City and gained possession of a theatre onBroadway (Manhattan) oppositeWaverly Place (Manhattan) . They called it the Worrell sisters' New York Theatre. They acted in a musicaltravesty followed by a production of "Under the Gaslight" (1867) byAugustin Daly . In the latter play the sisters depicted roles created byRose Eytinge , Blanche Grey, and Rose Skennett. Worrell was the best actress of the three siblings. In the spring of 1866 she was in "Nan the Good For Nothing" at Wood's Theatre. Previously the sisters performed together at the same venue in "Elves". ["Downfall Of Jennie Worrell", New York Times, May 26, 1896, pg. 3.]Burlesque became increasingly popular with the arrival of
Lydia Thompson and her "British Blondes". This added to the appeal of the Worrell sisters. Nevertheless their business was not profitable and they gave up the theatre in 1868. It became the Broadway Athletic Club in later years."Jennie Worrell Is Dying", New York Times, August 10, 1899, pg. 5.]Marriage
She married "Mike" Murray, the manager of a gambling resort. Murray and Worrell separated in 1888 when he ran a gambling establishment at 13 West 28th Street. They reconciled. Murray died in his office at 128 East
14th Street (Manhattan) in June 1895. The cause of death washeart disease . ["Big Mike Murray Is Dead", New York Times, June 15, 1895, pg. 9.]Death
Worrell died in 1899 at the
Kings County Hospital of burns she sustained while sleeping on the grass meadows at the foot of 17th Street, inConey Island . ["The News Condensed", New York Times, August 10, 1899, pg. 1.] She lived there destitute, having resided in Coney Island for some years after divorcing Murray. Police of the precinct had arrested her a number of times. Her sisters separated themselves from her years beforebecause of her degenerate lifestyle.The
New York Times reported that she was to be buried inPotter's Field inFlatbush, Brooklyn , unless someone claimed her body."Jennie Worrell Is Dead", New York Times, August 12, 1899, pg. 7.]References
External links
* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=86032 Jennie Worrell] Internet Broadway Database credits
* [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgdisplaylargemeta.cfm?strucID=565144&imageID=TH-63278&word=title%5Fid%5Flist%3A613667&s=1¬word=&d=&c=&f=&lWord=&lField=&sScope=images&sLevel=3&sLabel=W&num=840&imgs=12&total=845&pos=844 Worrell sisters]New York Public Library Digital Gallery photo*
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