Stage by Stage
Elisabeth Kumm
Elisabeth is a founding member of the Victoria Theatres Trust. Her series Pets of the Public was a regular feature of On Stage from 1999 to 2005, looking at “forgotten” nineteenth century performers. She continues to contribute articles for the THA website, and from 2018 has been editor of the THA Newsletter. As a theatrical historian and biographer she assisted Viola Tait with her book on pantomime – Dames, Principal Boys…and All That (published by Macmillan in 2001) and also worked with her on her memoirs I Have a Song to Sing (published by THA in 2018). Elisabeth has also undertaken research for the Riley/Hailes Scrapbook and JCW Scene Books projects. Most recently she has been working on the Falk Studios album project including acting as editor of The Falk Studios book (published by THA in 2021).
Wednesday, 14 June 2017
STIRLING, Mary (fl. 1910s-1920s)
Australian operatic vocalist (soprano). Daughter of Maggie Stirling (vocalist).
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
STIRLING, Mrs (1813-1895)
English actress. Née Mary Ann Hehl; aka Fanny Clifton; Lady Gregory. Born 29 July 1813, London, England. Daughter of Captain Hehl. Married (1) Edward Stirling (actor), (2) Sir Charles H Gregory. Died 28 December 1895, London, England. Mother of Fanny Stirling (actress).
Noted character and Shakespearean actress on the English stage.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
STEWART, Nellie (1858-1931)
Australian actress & vocalist. Née Eleanor Stewart Towzey. Born 20 November 1858, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Daughter of Richard Stewart Towzey (actor) and Theodosia Yates (actress). Married Richard Goldsbrough Rowe, 26 January 1884, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Died 21 June 1931, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
On stage in Australia from age of five. By 1883 she was playing leading roles in musical comedy and opera for Williamson Garner and Musgrove. Also performed in London during late 1890s. Toured with George Musgrove's company from 1902 including a trip to USA in 1906 that was ended due to San Francisco earthquake. Following Musgrove's death in 1916 she continued to perform in Australia.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
STEVENS, Horace (1876-1950)
Australian operatic vocalist (bass-baritone). Né Horace Ernest Stevens. Born 26 October 1876, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Son of Horace Stevens (dentist) and Fanny Gittins. Married (1) Nellie Chapman, 1905, (2) Ella Elizabeth Hallam, 1934. Died 18 November 1950, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
On stage in England Australia from 1919. Noted Wagnerian and choral performer. Best remembered for singing the title role in Hiawatha at the Royal Albert Hall in 1924 and at the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne in 1937.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
STEELE, Mrs W.F.G. (1875-1930+)
Australian operatic vocalist. Née Emily Frances Stevens. Daughter of Horace Stevens and Fanny Gittins. Married William Frederick George Steele (organist), 1904.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
STARR, Muriel (1888-1950)
Canadian actress. Born 20 February 1888, Montreal, Canada. Married William Hartwell Johnston (American business man and Australian managing director of Wrigley Spearmint Chewing Gum Company), September 1918, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Died 19 April 1950, New York City, New York, USA.
On stage in Australia 1913-1930, notably in Within the Law, East of Suez, Bird of Paradise and Madame X.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SOLDENE, Emily (1838-1912)
English actress, director & operatic vocalist. Née Emily Lambert?. Born 30 September 1838, London, England. Daughter of Priscilla Swain Fuller. Sister of Clara Vesey (actress). Married John Powell (clerk), 1859. Died 8 April 1912, London, England.
On stage in England, USA and Australia from 1860s. Visited Australia in 1877-1878 and 1892-1897 performing in opera bouffe. Worked as a journalist in Sydney and London and wrote her memoirs My Theatrical and Musical Recollections (1896).
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SNAZELLE, G.H. (1850-1912)
English operatic vocalist (baritone) & humourist. Né George Snazel. Born 1850, London, England. Died 17 May 1912, London, England.
Visited Australia several times during 1890s performing monologue entertainments. Author of Snazelleparilla (1898).
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SMITHSON, Florence (1884-1936)
English actress & vocalist. Née Florence Annette Smithson. Born 13 March 1884, Leicester, England. Daughter of Will Smithson (provincial manager) and wife Laura --. Married (1) George Robinson, (2) Dan Rolyat (actor). Died 11 February 1936, Cardiff, Wales.
On stage in England and Australia. Popular star of musical comedy.
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