Agnes Ethel

Agnes Ethel (1853 "-" May 26, 1903) [ [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=39752 Agnes Ethel] , Internet Broadway Database, Retrieved 1-10-08.] was a Broadway actress of the late 19th century. She performed in New York City from 1868 "-" 1871.Her married name was Agnes Ethel Tracy."Obituary 1--No Title", New York Times, May 27, 1903, pg. 9.] She was especially talented in acting emotional roles."Mrs. Agnes Ethel Tracy Dying", Connellsville, Pennsylvania Daily Courier, May 26, 1903, pg. 2.]

Theatrical career

She was a protege of Mathilde Heron (1830 "-" 1877) and made her stage debut in "Camille" (1868), [ [http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:h_DA6UGPQDEJ:digital.lib.lehigh.edu/pfaffs/p163/+agnes+ethel+camille&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us Mathilde Heron] ,The Vault at Pfaff's, Retrieved 1-11-08.] at Jerome's private theatre in New York. [ [http://www.picturehistory.com/product/id/21406 Agnes Ethel] , Picture History, Retrieved 1-11-08.] It was situated on the southeast corner of Twenty-Sixth Street. [Brown, Thomas Allston, "A History of the New York Stage from the From the First Performance in 1732, Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1903, pg. 596.] She studied for a year afterward, accepting minor parts.

Ethel and Fanny Davenport were among the actors in a production of a comedy, "Dreams", ["Classified Ad 9--No Title", New York Times, September 15, 1869, pg. 7.] by T. W. Robertson. It began playing at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on
August 16 1869."Amusement", New York Times, August 7, 1869, pg. 4.]

She was in the first production of "Frou Frou" in the United States. The Augustin Daly stock company staged it at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, 24th Street, one door from Broadway (Manhattan), ["'Amusements", June 8, 1870, pg. 7.] on February 15, 1870. Kate Newton, Davenport, and George Clarke were other cast members."Frou Frou" To Be Revived", New York Times,May 3, 1902, pg. 9.] Ethel appeared in "Fernande", also at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, in June 1870. ["Amusements This Evening", New York Times, June 11, 1870, pg. 4.] A critic wrote that her acting was her best thus far. ["Music And The Drama", New York Times, June 12, 1870, pg. 4.]

In September 1872 Ethel appeared in "Agnes" presented by the Union Square Theatre. The play was written especiallyfor Ethel by Victorien Sardou. It ran for one hundred nights. [Brown, Thomas Allston, "A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732, Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1903, pg. 147.]

She retired at the height of her career "for quiet domesticity." She took part in charities and assisted struggling actors and actresses. She performed only twice more on stage, appearing on both occasions in support of charity.

Marriages

Ethel married Francis W. Tracy, a millionaire from Buffalo, New York in October 1873."Personals", Newport Daily News, October 27, 1873, pg. 2.] Tracy died in 1886. His will was contested by his first wife for her daughter. The entire fortune was awarded to Ethel after it was contested in court. In 1890 she married Clive Roudenbush. She obtaineda divorce from him in 1901.

Death

Ethel died in 1903 at 80 Irving Place in New York City. She is buried in Buffalo. The cause of death was heart disease which began a year earlier. She was engaged to marry theatrical manager Francis Mahler when she died. The wedding had been postponed because of Ethel's protracted sickness."Agnes Ethel Tracy Dead", New York Times, May 27, 1903, pg. 16.]

References

External links

* [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=514856&word= Agnes Ethel] New York Public Library Digital Gallery photos

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