|
Miss Maude Fealy |
|
...the Beauty
and the Actress
|
|
|
|
|
|
These are women who were more than just beautiful, they were
talented and were able to have successful careers for
themselves during a period when men dominated the
entertainment industry. With the passage of time, many of
these stars have dimmed and are now only distant memories, but
one name continues to sparkle... Maude Fealy. Known for
her great beauty and talent, the actress was probably
photographed more than any other actress of the early 1900's.
Her popular photographs were collected all over the world.
Now those photos continue to pop up with amazing regularity on
the internet and she has become very "collectible" all over
again. For those who still don't know Maude Fealy, this
page hopes to correct that.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please click on
small photos to open large photos |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Maude
Hawk was born in Memphis, Tennessee March 4, 1881, the daughter
of actress and acting coach Margaret Fealy and Memphian James
Hawk. Shortly afterwards, Margaret divorced Maude's father
and then went by her maiden name of Fealy which she adopted for
Maude as well. She was now "Maude Fealy".
Maude's exact birth date has never been clearly established and
ranges from 1881 to 1886.
Maude began appearing on stage with her mother from the age of
3. She played numerous
children's roles until the age of 10, when Margaret enrolled her
at the private and prestigious Higbee School in Memphis to
complete her education. Previously she had attended the
old Memphis High School. |
| |
|
Margaret was obliged to be away a great deal of the time on
theatrical tours. The separation made both of them very
homesick. Once
Maude was enrolled in the Higbee School, Margaret "retired" from
acting and concentrated on teaching acting from her home until
Maude had completed her education. Home was a boarding
house at 245 Madison in Memphis, which is now the site of the
Memphis YMCA building. Margaret named her acting
school The Tabor Grand School of Acting. By the time Maude
finished school, her mother had married Rafaello Cavallo, the
first conductor of the Pueblo, Colorado Symphony Orchestra and
the family would soon move to Denver. Once they moved, Maude and her
mother lived in Colorado off and on for the rest of her life.
The Memphis directories confirm that the Fealy's were still living
in Memphis in 1895 when Maude would have been about 14. |
 |
|
Margaret
Fealy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Higbee
School Beale-Lauderdale 1888 |
Maude and
Margaret |
Rafaello
Cavallo |
1895
Directory |
Margaret's
School Ad |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
By 1900 at
the age of 16 or 19 (no one is sure), Maude made her Broadway
debut in the production of "Quo Vadis", again with her mother.
In 1901 she was invited to begin a tour of England with famous actor
William Gillette in "Sherlock Holmes". In 1903, Fealy's
photograph won the 1,000 franc prize in the International Contest of
the Beauties of the World, sponsored by The
Paris Figaro Illustre. She continued touring in the UK
between 1902 and 1905 becoming an International star. By 1907
she was the star in touring productions in the United States.
Maude appeared in her first silent film in 1911 for the Thanhouser
Studios, making another 18 films by 1917. After that she
quit films for 14 years and organized her own company in Denver
and toured the western half of the U.S. She was now quite
successful
... and
very beautiful. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The
thousands of photos of Maude Fealy are mostly undated.
Unfortunately it's impossible to arrange them by year. That's
compounded because it's been
said that when she was in her 30's, she looked 18.
Maude
was a big star almost from the beginning. Below are just a few of the
New York papers with reviews, and articles about her. They
begin in 1901 and there are many more from every year, which are not included
here. |
| Maude 1903 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
1905 |
1907 |
1907-page 1 |
1907-Page 2 |
1907 |
1907 |
1908 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
First
marriage:
Maude
had settled in Denver where she met newspaper writer Hugo Louis
Sherwin in 1907. She married him, although it was a
"secret marriage" - probably in name only, as Fealy says it
was never consummated. This was because of the meddling from
Fealy's mother who went crazy when she found out about the marriage.
She threatened to never see her daughter again, because she had
"given up so much, etc". Maude gave in saying she "...cared
for her mother too much and would have the marriage annulled and
never see him again" Two years later a quiet divorce was
completed. Sherwin would go on to become a well respected film
and drama critic. |
|
Hugo Louis Sherwin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Second
marriage:
Soon
after the divorce from Sherwin, Fealy
married actor James Peter Durkin in 1909. The marriage
lasted eight years but ended in divorce in 1917. This
was during the period when Maude made the majority of her silent
films for the Thanhouser Studios. She and Durkin also ran
a stock company and toured. Durkin was a
well-respected actor and became a
successful silent film director with Adolph Zukor's Famous
Players Film Company.
Third marriage: In 1920 Fealy married New York theatre
manager, James Edward Cort, Jr. It ended in a 1923
annulment and would be her last marriage. There were no
children from any of the marriages. |
| James
Durkin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
In the
twenties and thirties, Maude Fealy concentrated on work as a
playwright and appearing in vaudeville. She co-wrote "The Red
Cap" with Grant Stewart, which ran at the National Theatre in
Chicago in 1928. She also authored "At Midnight" and "The
Promise". But throughout her career, Fealy continued to teach
acting in the cities where she lived, early on with her mother,
under names which included "Maude Fealy Studio of Speech", Fealy
School of Stage and Screen Acting", and "Fealy School of Dramatic
Expression". She was drama coach to many important actors -
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Ernest Truex, and Nanette Fabray.
The three cities associated with her schools are Burbank (Los
Angeles), Grand Rapids, and Denver. |
| |
|
|
For many summers, as
far back as 1901, Maude began appearing in summer stock at the
Lakeside Theatre at Elitch's Gardens, the famous Denver amusement
park and theatre facility, playing in such productions as "A Royal
Family", "The Prince and the Pauper", "Romeo and Juliet", and "Lady
Dainty". During her long seasons at Grand Rapids, she not only
taught at her school, but acted in and directed many plays. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Fealy School |
Fealy School 1928 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After her stepfather's death in 1942,
Fealy and her mother relocated to California and opened a studio,
the Fealy School of Dramatic Expression and the Fealy Studio of
Drama. Maude
participated in the Federal Theatre Projects. Under the direction of
Gareth Hughs, she enacted excerpts from Shakespeare's plays.
The restless Fealys relocated to Denver and opened the Maude
Fealy Studio of Speech.
Concurrent with teaching and directing, Fealy continued to promote
her lecture series on Shakespeare, Dickens, Ibsen, Douglas
Fairbanks, Sr., and Women of the Bible. She advertised her one-woman
shows on Famous Queens of History,
Celebrated Women of the World and her
religious and patriotic pageant programs.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Her mother
died in 1955 and Maude went into semi-retirement. She remained active by
continuing to lecture and perform until 1963. Her last performance
took place at the Bonfils Theatre, Denver, in 1963. She performed
the title role of Emily Griffith in a historical drama, which she
authored.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Check the
amazing late photos of Maude Fealy above. In the 1930s, Maude
would have been in her 50s. In the 1940s - she would have been
in her 60s. And in 1961, she would have been 80.
"Actors
never give up acting. It gives them up." |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
In a late
interview, Maude summed up her life:
"I never
lose my temper, because I hate scenes and I hate wasting time.
Moreover I can't bear to hurt anyone's feelings."
" As
for cheerfulness, it's the greatest tonic in the world. It
makes one breathe well and deeply and helps one's complexion, and a
good complexion helps one's appearance. The appearance is an
asset in making friends, and having friends helps success. And
while success doesn't always bring happiness, it certainly goes a
long way." |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maude
Fealy's films:
In the early 1900's, she was a feature star with Thanhouser Films. Her films included
1911: The Early Life of David Copperfield
1912: Aurora Floyd
1913: King Rene's Daughter, Little Dorrit, Moths, The
Legend of provence, An Orphans Romance
1914: Frou Frou, Runaway Princess, The Woman Pays, The
Golden Cross, Kathleen, The Irish Rose,
The Musicians
Daughter, Pamela Congreve, Was She Right in Forgiving Him?,
Remorse, Deborah
1916: Pamela's Past, Pamela Congreve. |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The Woman Pays
1914 |
Little
Dorrit 1913 |
Pamela's
Past 1916 |
The
Unfaithful 1947 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Union Pacific 1939 |
Motion Picture World 1913 |
Thanhouser Ad 1913 |
The Buccaneer 1938 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
the 1930s Maude had returned to Hollywood and at age 50 had
begun doing secondary roles in films. She also resumed her
old friendship with Cecil B. DeMille. They had met in 1906
in Denver when they acted together in summer stock at the Elitch
Garden Theatre. DeMille was enchanted and the two
maintained a close friendship throughout their lives.
In the 1950s, Cecil B. DeMille signed Fealy for several of his
productions including The Ten Commandments.
For over ten years, she did dramatic coaching for DeMille's
productions. These small roles and un-credited parts were
a way for Hollywood to thank her for all her past work. It
was also a way for her to maintain the very important "health
insurance" and a small movie pension. She had not invested
wisely for her last years. |
 |
| |
Motion Pic Directory |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maude Fealy spent her last two years in California, at the
Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital, a convalescent and
retirement institution funded by the Motion Picture and Television
Relief Fund. She had been getting treatment for arteriosclerosis. She died there in 1971 at the age of 90. Cecil B. DeMille
had died in 1959, but left a provision in his will for her entombment in the Hollywood
Forever Cemetery Mausoleum, where her mother was interred.
DeMille is also buried in the same cemetery. |
 |
| |
MPCH-Hospital |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Maude's Marker |
Maude's Obit |
Obit |
Cecil B. DeMille |
DeMille's grave |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maude
Fealy Memorabilia...
During
her long career, Maude Fealy probably posed for more photographs
than any actress in history. Because of her amazing
beauty, her photos were very much in demand. Postcards and
movie posters were big sellers. Today, Maude has been
re-discovered - once again because of her amazing beauty, she is
now as popular as she was in the 1910s. Her postcards,
posters, and photographs show up regularly on Ebay. Even
new items are being created from reproductions of her photos.
And there are many, many websites dedicated to Maude and they
also feature some of these beautiful photographs.
|
 |
| |
Sheet Music |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Magazine 1903 |
Postcards-Stage Favorites |
Fealy Postcards |
Magazine 1907 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Right Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Credits |
|
|
|
The
Historic-Memphis website does not intentionally post copyrighted
photos and material without permission or credit.
On
occasion a "non-credited" photo might possibly be posted because we
were unable to find a name to give credit. Because of the nature of
our non-commercial, non-profit, educational website, we strongly
believe that these photos would be considered "Fair Use. We have
certainly made no monetary gain, although those using this website
for historic or Genealogy research have certainly profited. If by
chance,
we have posted your copyrighted photo, please contact us, and we'll
remove it immediately, or we'll add your credit if that's your
choice. In the past, we have found that many photographers
volunteer to have their works included on these pages and we'll
also do that if you contact us with a photo that fits a particular
page. |
|
|
|
The "Historic-Memphis" website would like to acknowledge and thank the
following for their contributions which helped make this website
possible:
Memphis
Public Library, Memphis University Library, Memphis Law Library,
Memphis Commercial Appeal, Memphis Press Scimitar, Shelby County
Register of Deeds, Memphis City Schools, Memphis Business Men's
Club, Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Memphis City Park Commission,
Memphis Film Commission, Carnival Memphis, Memphis Historical
Railroad Page, Memphis Heritage Inc, Beale Street Historic District,
Cobblestone Historic District, Memphis Historic Districts, Vance
Lauderdale Family Archives, Tennessee State Archives, Library of
Congress, Kemmons Wilson Family, Richard S. Brashier, Lee Askew,
George Whitworth, Woody Savage and many individuals whose assistance is
acknowledged on the pages of their contributions. Special
thanks to Memphis Realtor, Joe Spake, for giving us carte blanche
access to his outstanding collection of contemporary Memphis photos. |
 |
|
|
|
|
We do not have high definition copies of the photos on these
pages. If anyone wishes to secure high definition photos,
you'll have to contact the photographer or the collector.
(To avoid any possibility of contributing to SPAM, we do not
maintain a file of email addresses for anyone who contacts us). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please
visit the website that sponsors this page |
|
historic-memphis.com |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
