She was born Elizabeth McDermont. She changed her name to Vivian when she began performing on stage. Started the "Picture Show" west of the Mississippi with husband Clair.
Mrs. Vivian Patee was the founder of the movie picture business in Lawrence. The death of Mrs. Patee is a distinct blow to the people of Lawrence, men, women and children, for she knew them all. It was known all along that her illness was critical, but at times she seemed to rally, and that natural bouyancy gave rise to the hope that she could pull through, and there was a constant, fervent wish on the part of her hundreds of friends here that a turn for the better might come, that would set her on the road to recovery". While not a Kansas-born woman, Mrs. Patee came to Lawrence when but a young girl, and got her early education at the White school house in Grant township, where her parents settled. When about 16 years old she went to work as a compositor m the office of the old Lawrence Tribune,and stayed there two or three years. She then went to Topeka and went to work in the state printing office under the man agement of Mr. Crane. It was while she was in Topeka that she she met Mr. Patee and that acquaintance resulted in their wedding which took place at Lawrence on July 11, 1885. Mr. Patee was manager of a theatrical company and she traveled with him with the result that she finally went on the stage herself. Her success was marked and she soon became well acquainted in the theatrical circles of the countrv. Mrs. Patee "made" Lawrence several times while playing a part, and her last appearance here was as "Madam San Gene" in the "Merry World." Mrs. Patee graduated from the stage to the movie business when it was in its infancy, and she came back to Lawrence, her old home town, to open the first moving picture show in Kansas. Her mother, Mrs. Allen, who survives her, lived in Lawrence, and she wanted to come back to home and mother. Her friends here shook their heads when thev heard of her proposed amusement enterprise, but she built the first "Nickle" in the old Journal building at 70S Massachusetts street, and it at once leaped into the popularity it has never left. Mrs. Patee pioneered in the movie business and made a success of it.
The Jeffersonian Gazette, page 5, Wednesday, 26 May 1915, Lawrence, Kansas.
I originally created the records for Clair and Vivian Patee. They were made famous and years later, the famous status was removed.
Mrs. Vivian Patee was the founder of the movie picture business in Lawrence. The death of Mrs. Patee is a distinct blow to the people of Lawrence, men, women and children, for she knew them all. It was known all along that her illness was critical, but at times she seemed to rally, and that natural bouyancy gave rise to the hope that she could pull through, and there was a constant, fervent wish on the part of her hundreds of friends here that a turn for the better might come, that would set her on the road to recovery". While not a Kansas-born woman, Mrs. Patee came to Lawrence when but a young girl, and got her early education at the White school house in Grant township, where her parents settled. When about 16 years old she went to work as a compositor m the office of the old Lawrence Tribune,and stayed there two or three years. She then went to Topeka and went to work in the state printing office under the man agement of Mr. Crane. It was while she was in Topeka that she she met Mr. Patee and that acquaintance resulted in their wedding which took place at Lawrence on July 11, 1885. Mr. Patee was manager of a theatrical company and she traveled with him with the result that she finally went on the stage herself. Her success was marked and she soon became well acquainted in the theatrical circles of the countrv. Mrs. Patee "made" Lawrence several times while playing a part, and her last appearance here was as "Madam San Gene" in the "Merry World." Mrs. Patee graduated from the stage to the movie business when it was in its infancy, and she came back to Lawrence, her old home town, to open the first moving picture show in Kansas. Her mother, Mrs. Allen, who survives her, lived in Lawrence, and she wanted to come back to home and mother. Her friends here shook their heads when thev heard of her proposed amusement enterprise, but she built the first "Nickle" in the old Journal building at 70S Massachusetts street, and it at once leaped into the popularity it has never left. Mrs. Patee pioneered in the movie business and made a success of it.
The Jeffersonian Gazette, page 5, Wednesday, 26 May 1915, Lawrence, Kansas.
I originally created the records for Clair and Vivian Patee. They were made famous and years later, the famous status was removed.
She was born Elizabeth McDermont. She changed her name to Vivian when she began performing on stage. Started the "Picture Show" west of the Mississippi with husband Clair.
Mrs. Vivian Patee was the founder of the movie picture business in Lawrence. The death of Mrs. Patee is a distinct blow to the people of Lawrence, men, women and children, for she knew them all. It was known all along that her illness was critical, but at times she seemed to rally, and that natural bouyancy gave rise to the hope that she could pull through, and there was a constant, fervent wish on the part of her hundreds of friends here that a turn for the better might come, that would set her on the road to recovery". While not a Kansas-born woman, Mrs. Patee came to Lawrence when but a young girl, and got her early education at the White school house in Grant township, where her parents settled. When about 16 years old she went to work as a compositor m the office of the old Lawrence Tribune,and stayed there two or three years. She then went to Topeka and went to work in the state printing office under the man agement of Mr. Crane. It was while she was in Topeka that she she met Mr. Patee and that acquaintance resulted in their wedding which took place at Lawrence on July 11, 1885. Mr. Patee was manager of a theatrical company and she traveled with him with the result that she finally went on the stage herself. Her success was marked and she soon became well acquainted in the theatrical circles of the countrv. Mrs. Patee "made" Lawrence several times while playing a part, and her last appearance here was as "Madam San Gene" in the "Merry World." Mrs. Patee graduated from the stage to the movie business when it was in its infancy, and she came back to Lawrence, her old home town, to open the first moving picture show in Kansas. Her mother, Mrs. Allen, who survives her, lived in Lawrence, and she wanted to come back to home and mother. Her friends here shook their heads when thev heard of her proposed amusement enterprise, but she built the first "Nickle" in the old Journal building at 70S Massachusetts street, and it at once leaped into the popularity it has never left. Mrs. Patee pioneered in the movie business and made a success of it.
The Jeffersonian Gazette, page 5, Wednesday, 26 May 1915, Lawrence, Kansas.
I originally created the records for Clair and Vivian Patee. They were made famous and years later, the famous status was removed.
Mrs. Vivian Patee was the founder of the movie picture business in Lawrence. The death of Mrs. Patee is a distinct blow to the people of Lawrence, men, women and children, for she knew them all. It was known all along that her illness was critical, but at times she seemed to rally, and that natural bouyancy gave rise to the hope that she could pull through, and there was a constant, fervent wish on the part of her hundreds of friends here that a turn for the better might come, that would set her on the road to recovery". While not a Kansas-born woman, Mrs. Patee came to Lawrence when but a young girl, and got her early education at the White school house in Grant township, where her parents settled. When about 16 years old she went to work as a compositor m the office of the old Lawrence Tribune,and stayed there two or three years. She then went to Topeka and went to work in the state printing office under the man agement of Mr. Crane. It was while she was in Topeka that she she met Mr. Patee and that acquaintance resulted in their wedding which took place at Lawrence on July 11, 1885. Mr. Patee was manager of a theatrical company and she traveled with him with the result that she finally went on the stage herself. Her success was marked and she soon became well acquainted in the theatrical circles of the countrv. Mrs. Patee "made" Lawrence several times while playing a part, and her last appearance here was as "Madam San Gene" in the "Merry World." Mrs. Patee graduated from the stage to the movie business when it was in its infancy, and she came back to Lawrence, her old home town, to open the first moving picture show in Kansas. Her mother, Mrs. Allen, who survives her, lived in Lawrence, and she wanted to come back to home and mother. Her friends here shook their heads when thev heard of her proposed amusement enterprise, but she built the first "Nickle" in the old Journal building at 70S Massachusetts street, and it at once leaped into the popularity it has never left. Mrs. Patee pioneered in the movie business and made a success of it.
The Jeffersonian Gazette, page 5, Wednesday, 26 May 1915, Lawrence, Kansas.
I originally created the records for Clair and Vivian Patee. They were made famous and years later, the famous status was removed.
Inscription
Courage, Good Cheer, The love of God, Humanity and the child, without conceit, greed, or selfish motive, is the Supreme test and triumph of life.
Vivian Patee
Mary Elizabeth McDermott
Country girl, printer, journalist, philanthropist, and beloved loyal friend. Died May 1930
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