Edna Wilma Simons
Encyclopedia
Edna Wilma Simons was an American vaudeville dancer and light opera star of the 1920s who turned into a successful businesswoman. By 1950, she owned and operated a chain of 19 theaters in the western United States. The Wilma Theatre
in Missoula, Montana, is named after her.Wilma Simons died in 1954, at the age of 59.
and Oregon
. They built a home in Wallace, Idaho, where they lived until Simons died on March 27, 1937.
After her husband's death, Wilma Simons moved back to Missoula. In addition to managing her business ventures, she continued singing and performing there, holding large parties and events in the spacious dining room of the Wilma. On Nov. 3, 1950, she married her second husband, Edward Sharp, who was nearly 21 years younger than she. They wedded in New York City's historic Little Church Around The Corner
The couple traveled around New York to gather decoration ideas for remodeling the Wilma Theatre. First on their list was the creation of the Chapel of the Dove, a mirror image of the chapel where their wedding had taken place.
Near the end of her life, Wilma Simons Sharp still was an active member of the community, volunteering for Red Cross, staying an avid member of the Episcopal Church
and serving on numerous bond and relief drives. She died in her Wilma apartment on July 25, 1954, leaving the business to Sharp and hefty contributions to the Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena, Montana.
. Around 1910, she and her sister Edith started touring together. The Wilma Sisters were a hit, earning top billing on the Vaudeville
circuit. They were a common act at the Tavern Cafe in Missoula's Wilma Theater, performing a variety of light operas, musical comedies and folklore. Later, Wilma started a solo career, starring in Wild West shows across the northwestern United States.
After her first husband's death in 1937, Wilma Simons became president and treasurer of the William A. Simons Amusement Co. At the time, the company included a chain of ten theaters across Montana, Idaho and Alaska. For the sum of $150,000, Wilma Simons constructed a large theater in Wallace, Idaho
that she dedicated to William A. Simons' memory. She persevered and thrived through the depression and war years, building a total of nine new theaters. A shrewd businesswoman, she also purchased the Daily Meat Co., as well as several ranches where she raised livestock.
owner Edward Sharp added a plaque with a star to the building. "May Edna Wilma's life live on through this star, and may her accomplishments for Northwestern Theatre never be forgotten. She will be surely missed," he declared.
Wilma Theatre
The Wilma Theatre was built in 1921 in Missoula, Montana. The theater is managed by Missoula based Simba Entertainment. The Wilma was built by William "Billy" Simons and dedicated to his wife, light opera artist Edna Wilma...
in Missoula, Montana, is named after her.Wilma Simons died in 1954, at the age of 59.
Personal history
Edna Wilma was born in Collinsville, Kentucky in 1895. She met her first husband, William A. Simons, while performing in one of his shows in Idaho. The couple married in 1921, just after Simons had completed construction on his newest Montana theater. He named it The Wilma after his bride. Following the wedding, the Simonses traveled the Northwest, putting on Wild West shows as a way to bring a rugged Montana culture to the cities of IdahoIdaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. They built a home in Wallace, Idaho, where they lived until Simons died on March 27, 1937.
After her husband's death, Wilma Simons moved back to Missoula. In addition to managing her business ventures, she continued singing and performing there, holding large parties and events in the spacious dining room of the Wilma. On Nov. 3, 1950, she married her second husband, Edward Sharp, who was nearly 21 years younger than she. They wedded in New York City's historic Little Church Around The Corner
Little Church Around the Corner
The Church of the Transfiguration, also known as the Little Church Around the Corner, is an Episcopal parish church located at 1 East 29th Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenues in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The congregation was founded in 1848 by the Rev. Dr...
The couple traveled around New York to gather decoration ideas for remodeling the Wilma Theatre. First on their list was the creation of the Chapel of the Dove, a mirror image of the chapel where their wedding had taken place.
Near the end of her life, Wilma Simons Sharp still was an active member of the community, volunteering for Red Cross, staying an avid member of the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
and serving on numerous bond and relief drives. She died in her Wilma apartment on July 25, 1954, leaving the business to Sharp and hefty contributions to the Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena, Montana.
Career
Edna Wilma began her career as a light opera singer in KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Around 1910, she and her sister Edith started touring together. The Wilma Sisters were a hit, earning top billing on the Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
circuit. They were a common act at the Tavern Cafe in Missoula's Wilma Theater, performing a variety of light operas, musical comedies and folklore. Later, Wilma started a solo career, starring in Wild West shows across the northwestern United States.
After her first husband's death in 1937, Wilma Simons became president and treasurer of the William A. Simons Amusement Co. At the time, the company included a chain of ten theaters across Montana, Idaho and Alaska. For the sum of $150,000, Wilma Simons constructed a large theater in Wallace, Idaho
Wallace, Idaho
Wallace is a historic city in the Panhandle region of the U.S. state of Idaho and the county seat of Shoshone County in the Silver Valley mining district...
that she dedicated to William A. Simons' memory. She persevered and thrived through the depression and war years, building a total of nine new theaters. A shrewd businesswoman, she also purchased the Daily Meat Co., as well as several ranches where she raised livestock.
Recognition
In honor of her accomplishments, Wilma TheatreWilma Theatre
The Wilma Theatre was built in 1921 in Missoula, Montana. The theater is managed by Missoula based Simba Entertainment. The Wilma was built by William "Billy" Simons and dedicated to his wife, light opera artist Edna Wilma...
owner Edward Sharp added a plaque with a star to the building. "May Edna Wilma's life live on through this star, and may her accomplishments for Northwestern Theatre never be forgotten. She will be surely missed," he declared.