Fanny Brice (sometimes spelled Fannie) was born on New York’s lower east side in 1891 as Fania Borach. She was the third child of Hungarian/Jewish saloon owners, but her interests were not in the family business. At fourteen years old, she made her stage debut during amateur night at Keeny’s Theater in Brooklyn. Shortly after, … Continue reading Women in Show Business History – Fanny Brice, Funny lady
Named the first ever “It girl,” Clara Bow, America’s favorite flapper, made a huge impact in the roaring twenties and was known as one of the decade’s leading sex symbols. Raised as an only child, (her two siblings before her died) Clara’s survival is nothing short of miraculous. The doctors warned Sarah Frances (Gordon) Bow, … Continue reading Women in Show Business History – Clara Bow, It Girl
Olive Thomas was born Olivia R. Duffy, October 20, 1894, to a working class Irish American family in Pennsylvania. To help support her family, she left school at 15 years of age. At 16 she married Bernard Krush Thomas. The marriage lasted two years. After her divorce she moved to New York City, lived with … Continue reading Women in Show Business History – Olive Thomas, Tragic Beauty
Her Irish name is Gráinne Ní Mháille, and she is known as one of the most tenacious female pirates of the Emerald Isle. Born of a noble family in 1530, Grace took over the lordship of the Ó Máille dynasty in the west of Ireland after the death of her father, despite having a brother. … Continue reading Irish Women in History – Grace O’Malley, Lady Pirate
A prolific Anglo-Irish writer of adult and children’s literature, Maria Edgeworth was instrumental in the evolution of the novel in Europe. Many of her works featured the plight of the Irish, women’s issues, politics, and education. A contemporary of Jane Austen, she was also a friend and correspondent of famed literary and economic writers Sir … Continue reading Irish Women in History – Maria Edgeworth, the Irish Jane Austen
Catherine Hayes (not to be confused with the murderess of the same name) was born in Limerick, Ireland in 1818. Abandoned by her musician father at age 5, Catherine grew up in poverty with her mother and younger sister. While singing in the garden one day, the purity of twenty-year-old Catherine’s voice was heard by … Continue reading Irish Women in History – Catherine Hayes, The Victorian Pop Star
She had four different names. Born Lucille Wood Smith, her parents soon changed her name to Frances Octavia Smith. When she started her radio career, she took the name, Marion Lee. In 1930 she changed her name to Dale Evans. Evans started her singing career at seven years of age singing gospel solos at church. … Continue reading Horsewomen in History – Dale Evans and What You Might Not Know About Her
Selika Laszevski is in fact so little known, many historians question her existence at all. The portrait here was taken by Felix Nadar in 1891, Paris, France. The photo is thought to be of Lasveski, but it is not certain. Some historians speculate that this photograph was taken of an unknown model and Nadar attached … Continue reading Horsewomen in History – Little Known Selika Laszevski
Velma Bronn Johnston knew more about pain and suffering than most of us. Born to Joseph Bronn and Gertrude Clay in 1912, Velma, at eleven years of age contracted polio and was confined to a cast and hospitalization for several months. The disease left her physically disfigured, and the subject of ridiculing and cruelty by … Continue reading Horsewomen in History – Velma Bronn Johnston
Esther Howland, at age 19, never thought when she received an expensive European paper Valentine from a business associate of her father’s, that she would one day be known as the “Mother of the American Valentine.” Beautifully decorated with ornate cut-out paper flowers, a lace border, and a small envelope in the center containing a … Continue reading Esther Howland – Of Love and Letters