Frances Dewey Wormser
Encyclopedia
Frances Dewey Wormser was an American
stage actress, entertainer and vaudeville performer.
on June 23, 1903, the daughter of Alfred James Dewey (1874-1958), a California
artist who was considered the "dean
" of an early art colony
in Sierra Madre, California
. She later took up painting
herself.
Dewey married her first husband, Orin Zoline, in the later 1930s, approximately the same time that she retired from entertaining. Zoline died in the 1950s. She married her second husband, Morton Wormser, during the same decade. They lived in Sarasota, Florida
, for over 25 years. Morton Wormser was an avid tennis
player and supporter of the sport. As a result of this interest, professional tennis player Martina Navratilova lived with Frances and Morton when she first arrived in the United States
in the early 1970s.
Frances and Morton Wormser traveled "around the world" on their honeymoon. She took her last major trip to visit friends in Maui
when she was 100 years old. She was a major contributor to the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, which she supported in honor of her brother, pilot Jim Dewey.
in 1926, which caught the attention of producer Lew Fields
. Fields created the Dewey and Gold Revue, specifically for Dewey and her professional performing partner, Al Gold. Dewey and Gold toured together on the Pantages Circuit in 1927 and 1928. She toured in Good Boy in 1929.
Wormser also performed with Cary Grant
in an out-of-town tryout of Boom Boom in late 1928, which was one of Grant's earliest roles. She later appeared in Shoot the Works, a 1931 revue on Broadway by Heywood Broun
. Dewey was also featured in the very first franchised list of Leonard Sillman
's New Faces
in 1934. Silman's New Faces introduced audiences to new up-and-coming Broadway actors, such as Wormser. The 1934 first edition of New Faces also included Henry Fonda
and Imogene Coca
. Coca became a lifelong friend of Frances Wormser, who also counted Leo Lerman
, the former editor of Vogue Magazine and editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair
, to be her professional "soul mate". He died in 1994.
Dewey officially retired from the entertainment industry during the 1930s. She was a buyer
for Jane Engel, a women's clothing company, around this time.
. She was 104 years old. She had no children. Her survivors included a nephew, Mike Dewey, a retired SAG
aerial stunt coordinator
and pilot
, another nephew, Richard Dewey, and her niece, Susan Harding.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stage actress, entertainer and vaudeville performer.
Personal life
Frances Dewey was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on June 23, 1903, the daughter of Alfred James Dewey (1874-1958), a California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
artist who was considered the "dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
" of an early art colony
Art colony
right|300px|thumb|Artist houses in [[Montsalvat]] near [[Melbourne, Australia]].An art colony or artists' colony is a place where creative practitioners live and interact with one another. Artists are often invited or selected through a formal process, for a residency from a few weeks to over a year...
in Sierra Madre, California
Sierra Madre, California
The city of Sierra Madre is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 census. The city is located in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. ...
. She later took up painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
herself.
Dewey married her first husband, Orin Zoline, in the later 1930s, approximately the same time that she retired from entertaining. Zoline died in the 1950s. She married her second husband, Morton Wormser, during the same decade. They lived in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, for over 25 years. Morton Wormser was an avid tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player and supporter of the sport. As a result of this interest, professional tennis player Martina Navratilova lived with Frances and Morton when she first arrived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the early 1970s.
Frances and Morton Wormser traveled "around the world" on their honeymoon. She took her last major trip to visit friends in Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
when she was 100 years old. She was a major contributor to the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, which she supported in honor of her brother, pilot Jim Dewey.
Career
Dewey spent more than a decade in showbusiness during the 1920s and 1930s. She played the lead role in a number of shows, including the 1925 revival of Sally, Irene & Mary. It was her performance in The Girl FriendThe Girl Friend
The Girl Friend is a musical comedy with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and book by Herbert Fields. This was the longest running show to date for the trio.-Production:...
in 1926, which caught the attention of producer Lew Fields
Lew Fields
Lew Fields , born as Moses Schoenfeld, was an American actor, comedian, vaudeville star, theatre manager and producer....
. Fields created the Dewey and Gold Revue, specifically for Dewey and her professional performing partner, Al Gold. Dewey and Gold toured together on the Pantages Circuit in 1927 and 1928. She toured in Good Boy in 1929.
Wormser also performed with Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
in an out-of-town tryout of Boom Boom in late 1928, which was one of Grant's earliest roles. She later appeared in Shoot the Works, a 1931 revue on Broadway by Heywood Broun
Heywood Broun
Heywood Campbell Broun, Jr. was an American journalist. He worked as a sportswriter, newspaper columnist, and editor in New York City. He founded the American Newspaper Guild, now known as The Newspaper Guild. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he is best remembered for his writing on social issues and...
. Dewey was also featured in the very first franchised list of Leonard Sillman
Leonard Sillman
Leonard Sillman was an American Broadway producer. Born in Detroit, Michigan on May 9, 1908, he was the brother of June Carroll, the brother-in-law of Sidney Carroll and the uncle of Steve Reich and Jonathan Carroll...
's New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
in 1934. Silman's New Faces introduced audiences to new up-and-coming Broadway actors, such as Wormser. The 1934 first edition of New Faces also included Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
and Imogene Coca
Imogene Coca
Imogene Fernandez de Coca was an American comic actress best known for her role opposite Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows....
. Coca became a lifelong friend of Frances Wormser, who also counted Leo Lerman
Leo Lerman
Leo Lerman was an American writer and editor who worked for Condé Nast Publications for more than 50 years. Lerman also wrote for the New York Herald Tribune, Harper's Bazaar, Dance Magazine, and Playbill.Lerman grew up in a Jewish immigrant family in East Harlem and Queens, New York...
, the former editor of Vogue Magazine and editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, to be her professional "soul mate". He died in 1994.
Dewey officially retired from the entertainment industry during the 1930s. She was a buyer
Buyer
When someone gets characterised by their role as buyer of certain assets, the term "buyer" gets new meaning:A "buyer" or merchandiser is a person who purchases finished goods, typically for resale, for a firm, government, or organization...
for Jane Engel, a women's clothing company, around this time.
Death
Frances Dewey Wormser died on January 28, 2008, from natural causes in Santa Paula, CaliforniaSanta Paula, California
Santa Paula is a city within Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 29,321 at the 2010 census, up from 28,598 at the 2000 census...
. She was 104 years old. She had no children. Her survivors included a nephew, Mike Dewey, a retired SAG
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
aerial stunt coordinator
Stunt coordinator
A stunt coordinator, usually an experienced stunt performer, is hired by a TV, film or theatre director or production company to arrange the casting and performance of stunts for a film, television programme or a live audience...
and pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, another nephew, Richard Dewey, and her niece, Susan Harding.