13 AUGUST 1922: J spent the summer of '22 appearing in a series of operas at Fontaine Ferry Park in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the productions were The Bohemian Girl, Martha, and that week's offering, Madame Sherry. When she wasn't rehearsing or performing on stage, she was still working! On 13 August 1922, J and four … Continue reading J on This Day: 13 August 1922
Tag: Book Research
J’s Celluloid Dreams: Publicity or Reality?
When J was born in 1900, film was still in its infancy. She grew up with the "new" medium. By the time she graduated high school (1918), it was a true cultural phenomenon. Since starting this project, I've often wondered about her attitude toward the movies. Her love affair with stage theatricals, especially operettas, was … Continue reading J’s Celluloid Dreams: Publicity or Reality?
[Book Review] Haunted Memphis
*Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all book reviews on Alternative Muses are for volumes I’ve read as part of my J biography research. I hesitated to use the word review, as this series heavily focuses on WHY I chose to read a book and what I got out of it research-wise. As a compromise, I’ll end each post … Continue reading [Book Review] Haunted Memphis
Never a Dull Day in Biographyville
When not working my part-time day job or helping out at the family business, my head has been buried in book research. I've unearthed an absurd amount of information about J and her husband, R, especially as it relates to what I had previously thought of as a lost decade: the 1930s. Her scrapbook covers … Continue reading Never a Dull Day in Biographyville
J on This Day: 25 May 1921
25 MAY 1921: One hundred years ago today, J was still enjoying success in her big professional break: portraying Annabel (Dame Durden's daughter) in a famous touring production of Robin Hood, Reginald De Koven's comic opera masterpiece. The cast and crew were in Richmond, Indiana, for three performances. The star attraction for those dates was … Continue reading J on This Day: 25 May 1921
J’s Places: Victory/Victoria Theatre (Dayton, Ohio)
March 1926 found J in Dayton, Ohio. The Student Prince company gave four performances at The Victory Theatre (now known as The Victoria Theatre). It opened on January 1, 1866 as The Turner Opera House, was renamed The Victory Theatre in 1919 in honor of WWI, and was most recently remodeled in 1989. It went … Continue reading J’s Places: Victory/Victoria Theatre (Dayton, Ohio)
[Book Review] A Brief History of Memphis
*Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all book reviews on Alternative Muses are for volumes I’ve read as part of my J biography research. I hesitated to use the word review, as this series heavily focuses on WHY I chose to read a book and what I got out of it research-wise. As a compromise, I’ll end each post … Continue reading [Book Review] A Brief History of Memphis
Milestone! Milestone! Milestone!
I finally finished cataloging the contents of J's main scrapbook (and my eyes are super relieved). I've already added the relevant items to her Master Timeline. This mini-project dates back to January and I'm glad that it's in the rear view mirror. It consumed a substantial amount of time. Moving forward, I can focus on … Continue reading Milestone! Milestone! Milestone!
Wedding Announcement
I just found a wedding announcement for J + R. The information was printed in a newspaper hundreds of miles from her hometown of Memphis. It was tucked into an article about her new husband's theatrical pursuits in said other city. Here is a partial clipping.
A List of Lists
I am an inveterate list maker down to my core. Of all the things that are "my" thing, it is one of the top things. This natural mindset has already come in handy during the early days of my book project. However, I'll need to harness it even more going forward. Writing the biography of … Continue reading A List of Lists
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