Ethel Jackson
Encyclopedia
Ethel Jackson was U.S. stage actress, comic prima donna
of the late 19th century and early 20th century. She appeared in Broadway
theatrical productions.
, Austria and Paris, France. Her father was Hart Jackson, a dramatist. Her full name was Ethel Hart Jackson.
Her mother was Mrs. Frances Wyatt Jackson. Frances was in the cast of The Ambassador which was staged at the St. James Theatre
in London, England, in 1898. Jackson was the great-granddaughter of painter Henry Inman and Sir William Coddington
, the first governor of Rhode Island
.
In 1957 (aged 80), Ethel Jackson died on November 23 in East Islip, Long Island, New York.
before having her first hit there as Wanda in The Grand Duchess. Charles Frohman
brought her to America to play the leading lady
in Little Miss Nobody at the Garden Theatre in New York City, in August 1898. She was engaged to perform the part by A.H. Al Canby, who represented Frohman. The musical comedy was staged next at Nixon & Zimmerman's Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Theatre in September. The plot deals with a young aristocrat who is trying to raise funds when he finds himself without money. He places an advertisement for boarders at the Scottish castle of his aunt who is away. His ad is answered by a man who runs a London music hall. He brings along three music hall girls and a variety artist. The five are forced to pass themselves off as members of the nobility.
Following her tenure in Little Miss Nobody, Jackson joined the Augustin Daly
musical company. She was in the musical farce, The Hotel Topsy Turvy, which opened at the Herald Square Theatre on October 3, 1898. As Cecile, Jackson's fellow cast members included Marie Dressler
, who demonstrates her versatility along with her noted talent for humor. Jackson succeeded Katherine Florence in the Madison Square Stock Company.
By April 1899 she was in the company of A Runaway Girl. The production began with a show in Troy, New York
on September 18. James T. Powers played the role of Flipper, the jockey.
The Casino Theatre presented an English fairy play, Little Red Riding Hood
, in January 1900. Jackson was 'Riding Hood', with Madge Lessing as 'Little Boy Blue
' and Kitty Mitchell as 'Little Jack Horner
'. The production was the work of Edward E. Rice. In 1901, Jackson created the title role in Miss Bob White, a comic opera written by Willard Spenser. The story tells of two millionaires compelled to live for several months as tramps after losing an election bet. They come to a dairy farm close to Philadelphia and are put to work. Jackson is a New York society belle who arrives at the farm disguised as a dairy maid. She successfully woos the man she is infatuated with.
In February 1905 she was in a production of the The Brixton Burglary at the Carnegie Lyceum in Manhattan
. Written by Frederick W. Sidney, the presentation could not be staged in Brooklyn
, New York, because of the burning of the Brooklyn Academy of Music
. Several hundred members and friends of the Amaranth, Brooklyn's oldest dramatic society, attended the performance. She starred in The Blue Moon
on Broadway in 1906.
Henry W. Savage secured Jackson to sing the role of Sonia in Die Lustige Witwe, which was presented to American audiences under the title The Merry Widow. The Viennese comic opera was written by Victor Leon, Franz Lehár
, and Leo Stern. The production opened first in Syracuse, New York
on September 24, 1907. The three-act opera played the New Amsterdam Theatre
for the first time on October 21. Jackson fainted twice during a Saturday matinee in March 1908. Her illness brought about her replacement by Lois Ewell
. She fainted again while leaving the stage at the close of the second act on March
17. After being revived by a doctor, Jackson resumed her role at the beginning of the third act. The audience enthusiastically applauded her for her determination. She attributed her fainting spells to a weak heart caused by grippe, which she suffered from during the previous winter.
In January 1914, Jackson debuted as a vaudeville performer at the Orpheum Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. The venue was run by B.F. Keith. In February 1915 she appeared in A Pair of Sixes with Ralph Herz at the Belasco Theatre in Washington, D.C.
. The play dealt with two pillmakers who disagreed on how to conduct their business.
.
Newspaper reports announced the impending marriage of Jackson to Benoni Lockwood Jr., her lawyer when she was contesting a divorce from Zimmerman. Lockwood was from an old New York family and a popular member of the Racquet Club. His father married a sister of the late Ambassador Thomas F. Bayard, Sr. of Delaware
, and was one of the pioneer insurance men in New York City. Their wedding occurred on October 26, 1908 in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, at the home of Henry Wharton, a brother-in-law of Lockwood. Lockwood's residence was 9½ East 33rd Street, New York City.
Prima donna
Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano...
of the late 19th century and early 20th century. She appeared in Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
theatrical productions.
Family
In 1877, Ethel Jackson was born on November 1 in New York and lived for an extended time abroad. She received her education in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria and Paris, France. Her father was Hart Jackson, a dramatist. Her full name was Ethel Hart Jackson.
Her mother was Mrs. Frances Wyatt Jackson. Frances was in the cast of The Ambassador which was staged at the St. James Theatre
St. James Theatre
The St. James Theatre is located at 246 W. 44th St. Broadway, New York City, New York. It was built by Abraham L. Erlanger, theatrical producer and a founding member of the Theatrical Syndicate, on the site of the original Sardi's restaurant. It opened in 1927 as The Erlanger...
in London, England, in 1898. Jackson was the great-granddaughter of painter Henry Inman and Sir William Coddington
William Coddington
William Coddington was an early magistrate of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and later of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving as the Judge of Portsmouth, Judge of Newport, Governor of Portsmouth and Newport, Deputy Governor of the entire colony, and then Governor of the...
, the first governor of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
In 1957 (aged 80), Ethel Jackson died on November 23 in East Islip, Long Island, New York.
Theatrical career
She first played small roles at the Savoy TheatreSavoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
before having her first hit there as Wanda in The Grand Duchess. Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman was an American theatrical producer. Frohman was producing plays by 1889 and acquired his first Broadway theatre by 1892. He discovered and promoted many stars of the American theatre....
brought her to America to play the leading lady
Leading lady
Leading lady is an informal term for the actress who plays a secondary lead or supporting role, usually a love interest, to the leading actor in a film or play. It is not usually applied to the leading actress in the performance if her character is the protagonist.A leading lady can also be an...
in Little Miss Nobody at the Garden Theatre in New York City, in August 1898. She was engaged to perform the part by A.H. Al Canby, who represented Frohman. The musical comedy was staged next at Nixon & Zimmerman's Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is nearly 13 miles long.It is Pennsylvania Route 611 along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309 and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95...
Theatre in September. The plot deals with a young aristocrat who is trying to raise funds when he finds himself without money. He places an advertisement for boarders at the Scottish castle of his aunt who is away. His ad is answered by a man who runs a London music hall. He brings along three music hall girls and a variety artist. The five are forced to pass themselves off as members of the nobility.
Following her tenure in Little Miss Nobody, Jackson joined the Augustin Daly
Augustin Daly
John Augustin Daly was an American theatrical manager and playwright active in both the US and UK.-Biography:Daly was born in Plymouth, North Carolina and educated at Norfolk, Va...
musical company. She was in the musical farce, The Hotel Topsy Turvy, which opened at the Herald Square Theatre on October 3, 1898. As Cecile, Jackson's fellow cast members included Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler was a Canadian-American actress and Depression-era film star. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1930-31 in Min and Bill.-Early life and stage career:...
, who demonstrates her versatility along with her noted talent for humor. Jackson succeeded Katherine Florence in the Madison Square Stock Company.
By April 1899 she was in the company of A Runaway Girl. The production began with a show in Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
on September 18. James T. Powers played the role of Flipper, the jockey.
The Casino Theatre presented an English fairy play, Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a French fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings....
, in January 1900. Jackson was 'Riding Hood', with Madge Lessing as 'Little Boy Blue
Little Boy Blue
"Little Boy Blue" is a popular English language nursery rhyme, often used in popular culture. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 11318.-Lyrics:The most common version of the rhyme is:...
' and Kitty Mitchell as 'Little Jack Horner
Little Jack Horner
"Little Jack Horner" is a popular English language nursery rhyme. It has the Roud Folk Song Index number of 13027.-Lyrics:The most common modern lyrics are:Little Jack HornerSat in the corner,Eating a Christmas pie;He put in his thumb,...
'. The production was the work of Edward E. Rice. In 1901, Jackson created the title role in Miss Bob White, a comic opera written by Willard Spenser. The story tells of two millionaires compelled to live for several months as tramps after losing an election bet. They come to a dairy farm close to Philadelphia and are put to work. Jackson is a New York society belle who arrives at the farm disguised as a dairy maid. She successfully woos the man she is infatuated with.
In February 1905 she was in a production of the The Brixton Burglary at the Carnegie Lyceum in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Written by Frederick W. Sidney, the presentation could not be staged in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, because of the burning of the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
. Several hundred members and friends of the Amaranth, Brooklyn's oldest dramatic society, attended the performance. She starred in The Blue Moon
The Blue Moon (musical)
The Blue Moon is an Edwardian musical comedy with music composed by Howard Talbot and Paul Rubens, lyrics by Percy Greenbank and Rubens and a book by Harold Ellis and by Alexander M. Thompson...
on Broadway in 1906.
Henry W. Savage secured Jackson to sing the role of Sonia in Die Lustige Witwe, which was presented to American audiences under the title The Merry Widow. The Viennese comic opera was written by Victor Leon, Franz Lehár
Franz Lehár
Franz Lehár was an Austrian-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas of which the most successful and best known is The Merry Widow .-Biography:...
, and Leo Stern. The production opened first in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
on September 24, 1907. The three-act opera played the New Amsterdam Theatre
New Amsterdam Theatre
The New Amsterdam Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 214 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Theatre District of Manhattan, New York City, off of Times Square...
for the first time on October 21. Jackson fainted twice during a Saturday matinee in March 1908. Her illness brought about her replacement by Lois Ewell
Lois Ewell
Lois Ewell , was an American opera singer and Broadway performer. In 1908 she appeared in "The Merry Widow" at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City. In 1913 she appeared in the Century Opera Company's production of Aida in Manhattan....
. She fainted again while leaving the stage at the close of the second act on March
17. After being revived by a doctor, Jackson resumed her role at the beginning of the third act. The audience enthusiastically applauded her for her determination. She attributed her fainting spells to a weak heart caused by grippe, which she suffered from during the previous winter.
In January 1914, Jackson debuted as a vaudeville performer at the Orpheum Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. The venue was run by B.F. Keith. In February 1915 she appeared in A Pair of Sixes with Ralph Herz at the Belasco Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. The play dealt with two pillmakers who disagreed on how to conduct their business.
Marriages
Jackson married J. Fred Zimmerman Jr., business manager of the Chestnut Street Theater, in 1902 at St. James Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. She retired for a number of years from performing at this time. Zimmerman was the son of the junior partner of the Nixon & Zimmerman theatrical business. They spent their honeymoon in Lakewood, New Jersey. The couple resided for a time on West 56th Street before moving to the Hotel Seymour, West 45th Street, midtown Manhattan. Jackson denied rumors of a pending divorce from Zimmerman in March 1908. On August 3, 1908 Jackson obtained an interlocutory decree for a divorce without a co-respondent being named. According to the stipulation of the final divorce decree, issued in October, Jackson was permitted to remarry. Zimmerman could not legally marry again while his former wife was still living. In October 1910 it was disclosed that Zimmerman was married again and had been for some time. His wife was Grace Rankin, a member of the Miss Innocence company of Anna HeldAnna Held
Helene Anna Held was a Polish-born stage performer, most often associated with impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, her common-law husband. -Early life:...
.
Newspaper reports announced the impending marriage of Jackson to Benoni Lockwood Jr., her lawyer when she was contesting a divorce from Zimmerman. Lockwood was from an old New York family and a popular member of the Racquet Club. His father married a sister of the late Ambassador Thomas F. Bayard, Sr. of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, and was one of the pioneer insurance men in New York City. Their wedding occurred on October 26, 1908 in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, at the home of Henry Wharton, a brother-in-law of Lockwood. Lockwood's residence was 9½ East 33rd Street, New York City.
External links
- Ethel Jackson New York Public Library Digital Gallery photos
- Ethel Jackson and chorus singing The Soldiers In the Park(1899)