Actress. Gertie Millar, an English actress, dancer, and singer of the early 20th century, was known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies for two decades. She was born to a working-class family. Beginning at age 13 in "Babes in the Woods," her career started on the stage as a singer and dancer, appearing in the many music halls near her home. Her first starring theatrical role was in 1901 when the famous theatre manager George Edwardes signed her as the leading lady in his production of "The Toreador" at the Gaiety Theatre. The next year in January, she starred in "Our Miss Gibbs" at the Gaiety, which firmly established her as the best-known musical comedy actress in England. The music for this performance was composed by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton, a 40-year-old bachelor, who would become her husband in 1902. Especially for her, her husband wrote many of the successful songs for her singing performances. Among the songs she made famous were "Keep Off the Grass," from "The Toreador" in 1901; "Berlin Is On The Spree," from "The Girls of Gottenberg," in 1907 and "Moonstruck" from "Our Miss Gibbs" in 1909. Although the couple were successful professionally, they had a stormy marriage with her requesting a divorce at one point, but the couple remained married until his death, after a long period of ill health, in 1924. Two months after Monckton's death, she married William Humble Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, thus she became Countess of Dudley. Ward had been the fourth Governor-General of Australia in 1908. Her second husband died in 1932 and she remained a widow for the next two decades of her life. On October 26, 1903, she performed in the presence of His Majesty King Edward VI and Queen Alexandra when Gaiety re-opened following refurbishment with the premiere of the musical comedy "The Orchid," a show which had 559 performances. At the top of her career, she was a beautiful recognized talent. Being one of the most photographed persons in England, she has over 50 photographs at the National Portrait Gallery in the 21st century. Performing with American-born actor Joseph Coyne in 1910, she had a role in one of the best-loved of all musical comedies, "The Quaker Girl," which opened at the Adelphi Theatre on November 5, 1910, running for 536 performances. She appeared at the Palace Theatre in Monckton's "Bric-à-Brac" in 1915 and "Airs and Graces" in 1917." Her stardom continued in a succession of long-running comedies until Edwardes' death in 1915 and then Monckton's in 1924. At that point, her career faded.
Contributor: Linda Davis (46609907)
Lady Dudly, English actress and singer of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Beginning her career at age 13, Millar was a prominent star of musical comedies for two decades. She married composer Lionel Monckton, who composed many of her shows and songs that she made famous. After Monckton died in 1924, Millar married the 2nd Earl of Dudley.
∼Gertie Millar was born in Bradford, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on February 20th, 1879. She first took to the stage as a singer and dancer appearing in the many music halls of her native Yorkshire.
Her first starring theatrical role came in 1901 when the famous theatre manager George Edwardes recruited her to be leading lady in his production of 'The Toreador' at the Gaiety Theatre. But it would be her next starring vehicle, "Our Miss Gibbs" opening at the Gaiety in January the following year, that firmly established her as the best known musical comedy actress in the country. The music for that show was co-written by Gertie's husband, Lionel Monckton (in collaboration with Ivan Caryll). The hit number of the show was a song entitled 'Moonstruck' which Monkton had written especially for his wife. Monkton would go on to write music for nearly all of her following successes.On October 26, 1903, Gertie performed in the presence of His Majesty King Edward VI and Queen Alexandra when Gaiety re-opened following refurbishment with the premiere of the musical comedy 'The Orchid' (a show which ran for 559 performances). Gertie was now at the pinnacle of her career as success after success followed.In 1910, she starred in one of the most best-loved of all musical comedies produced at the Gaiety, 'The Quaker Girl', in which her co-star was the celebrated American actor Joseph Coyne.She continued to star in a succession of long-running comedies produced by George Edwardes until his death in 1915. For a while she continued to perform occasionally in the variety theatres where her career had begun. Her final stage appearance in 1918 was appropriately at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, the city of her birth.Gertie's first husband, Lionel Monkton, who had been in poor health, died in 1924, and some time afterwards she married again, this time to William Humble Ward, the second Earl of Dudley. Gertie Millar, who began life as a simple working-class girl from Yorkshire, whose hard work and determination had established her as one of the best loved stars of the Edwardian theatre, would end her days a titled Lady.Lady Dudley, Gertie Millar, died in Chiddingford, England, on April 24, 1952.
Contributor: Linda Davis (46609907)
Lady Dudly, English actress and singer of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Beginning her career at age 13, Millar was a prominent star of musical comedies for two decades. She married composer Lionel Monckton, who composed many of her shows and songs that she made famous. After Monckton died in 1924, Millar married the 2nd Earl of Dudley.
∼Gertie Millar was born in Bradford, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on February 20th, 1879. She first took to the stage as a singer and dancer appearing in the many music halls of her native Yorkshire.
Her first starring theatrical role came in 1901 when the famous theatre manager George Edwardes recruited her to be leading lady in his production of 'The Toreador' at the Gaiety Theatre. But it would be her next starring vehicle, "Our Miss Gibbs" opening at the Gaiety in January the following year, that firmly established her as the best known musical comedy actress in the country. The music for that show was co-written by Gertie's husband, Lionel Monckton (in collaboration with Ivan Caryll). The hit number of the show was a song entitled 'Moonstruck' which Monkton had written especially for his wife. Monkton would go on to write music for nearly all of her following successes.On October 26, 1903, Gertie performed in the presence of His Majesty King Edward VI and Queen Alexandra when Gaiety re-opened following refurbishment with the premiere of the musical comedy 'The Orchid' (a show which ran for 559 performances). Gertie was now at the pinnacle of her career as success after success followed.In 1910, she starred in one of the most best-loved of all musical comedies produced at the Gaiety, 'The Quaker Girl', in which her co-star was the celebrated American actor Joseph Coyne.She continued to star in a succession of long-running comedies produced by George Edwardes until his death in 1915. For a while she continued to perform occasionally in the variety theatres where her career had begun. Her final stage appearance in 1918 was appropriately at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, the city of her birth.Gertie's first husband, Lionel Monkton, who had been in poor health, died in 1924, and some time afterwards she married again, this time to William Humble Ward, the second Earl of Dudley. Gertie Millar, who began life as a simple working-class girl from Yorkshire, whose hard work and determination had established her as one of the best loved stars of the Edwardian theatre, would end her days a titled Lady.Lady Dudley, Gertie Millar, died in Chiddingford, England, on April 24, 1952.
Actress. Gertie Millar, an English actress, dancer, and singer of the early 20th century, was known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies for two decades. She was born to a working-class family. Beginning at age 13 in "Babes in the Woods," her career started on the stage as a singer and dancer, appearing in the many music halls near her home. Her first starring theatrical role was in 1901 when the famous theatre manager George Edwardes signed her as the leading lady in his production of "The Toreador" at the Gaiety Theatre. The next year in January, she starred in "Our Miss Gibbs" at the Gaiety, which firmly established her as the best-known musical comedy actress in England. The music for this performance was composed by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton, a 40-year-old bachelor, who would become her husband in 1902. Especially for her, her husband wrote many of the successful songs for her singing performances. Among the songs she made famous were "Keep Off the Grass," from "The Toreador" in 1901; "Berlin Is On The Spree," from "The Girls of Gottenberg," in 1907 and "Moonstruck" from "Our Miss Gibbs" in 1909. Although the couple were successful professionally, they had a stormy marriage with her requesting a divorce at one point, but the couple remained married until his death, after a long period of ill health, in 1924. Two months after Monckton's death, she married William Humble Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, thus she became Countess of Dudley. Ward had been the fourth Governor-General of Australia in 1908. Her second husband died in 1932 and she remained a widow for the next two decades of her life. On October 26, 1903, she performed in the presence of His Majesty King Edward VI and Queen Alexandra when Gaiety re-opened following refurbishment with the premiere of the musical comedy "The Orchid," a show which had 559 performances. At the top of her career, she was a beautiful recognized talent. Being one of the most photographed persons in England, she has over 50 photographs at the National Portrait Gallery in the 21st century. Performing with American-born actor Joseph Coyne in 1910, she had a role in one of the best-loved of all musical comedies, "The Quaker Girl," which opened at the Adelphi Theatre on November 5, 1910, running for 536 performances. She appeared at the Palace Theatre in Monckton's "Bric-à-Brac" in 1915 and "Airs and Graces" in 1917." Her stardom continued in a succession of long-running comedies until Edwardes' death in 1915 and then Monckton's in 1924. At that point, her career faded.
Contributor: Linda Davis (46609907)
Lady Dudly, English actress and singer of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Beginning her career at age 13, Millar was a prominent star of musical comedies for two decades. She married composer Lionel Monckton, who composed many of her shows and songs that she made famous. After Monckton died in 1924, Millar married the 2nd Earl of Dudley.
∼Gertie Millar was born in Bradford, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on February 20th, 1879. She first took to the stage as a singer and dancer appearing in the many music halls of her native Yorkshire.
Her first starring theatrical role came in 1901 when the famous theatre manager George Edwardes recruited her to be leading lady in his production of 'The Toreador' at the Gaiety Theatre. But it would be her next starring vehicle, "Our Miss Gibbs" opening at the Gaiety in January the following year, that firmly established her as the best known musical comedy actress in the country. The music for that show was co-written by Gertie's husband, Lionel Monckton (in collaboration with Ivan Caryll). The hit number of the show was a song entitled 'Moonstruck' which Monkton had written especially for his wife. Monkton would go on to write music for nearly all of her following successes.On October 26, 1903, Gertie performed in the presence of His Majesty King Edward VI and Queen Alexandra when Gaiety re-opened following refurbishment with the premiere of the musical comedy 'The Orchid' (a show which ran for 559 performances). Gertie was now at the pinnacle of her career as success after success followed.In 1910, she starred in one of the most best-loved of all musical comedies produced at the Gaiety, 'The Quaker Girl', in which her co-star was the celebrated American actor Joseph Coyne.She continued to star in a succession of long-running comedies produced by George Edwardes until his death in 1915. For a while she continued to perform occasionally in the variety theatres where her career had begun. Her final stage appearance in 1918 was appropriately at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, the city of her birth.Gertie's first husband, Lionel Monkton, who had been in poor health, died in 1924, and some time afterwards she married again, this time to William Humble Ward, the second Earl of Dudley. Gertie Millar, who began life as a simple working-class girl from Yorkshire, whose hard work and determination had established her as one of the best loved stars of the Edwardian theatre, would end her days a titled Lady.Lady Dudley, Gertie Millar, died in Chiddingford, England, on April 24, 1952.
Contributor: Linda Davis (46609907)
Lady Dudly, English actress and singer of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Beginning her career at age 13, Millar was a prominent star of musical comedies for two decades. She married composer Lionel Monckton, who composed many of her shows and songs that she made famous. After Monckton died in 1924, Millar married the 2nd Earl of Dudley.
∼Gertie Millar was born in Bradford, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on February 20th, 1879. She first took to the stage as a singer and dancer appearing in the many music halls of her native Yorkshire.
Her first starring theatrical role came in 1901 when the famous theatre manager George Edwardes recruited her to be leading lady in his production of 'The Toreador' at the Gaiety Theatre. But it would be her next starring vehicle, "Our Miss Gibbs" opening at the Gaiety in January the following year, that firmly established her as the best known musical comedy actress in the country. The music for that show was co-written by Gertie's husband, Lionel Monckton (in collaboration with Ivan Caryll). The hit number of the show was a song entitled 'Moonstruck' which Monkton had written especially for his wife. Monkton would go on to write music for nearly all of her following successes.On October 26, 1903, Gertie performed in the presence of His Majesty King Edward VI and Queen Alexandra when Gaiety re-opened following refurbishment with the premiere of the musical comedy 'The Orchid' (a show which ran for 559 performances). Gertie was now at the pinnacle of her career as success after success followed.In 1910, she starred in one of the most best-loved of all musical comedies produced at the Gaiety, 'The Quaker Girl', in which her co-star was the celebrated American actor Joseph Coyne.She continued to star in a succession of long-running comedies produced by George Edwardes until his death in 1915. For a while she continued to perform occasionally in the variety theatres where her career had begun. Her final stage appearance in 1918 was appropriately at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, the city of her birth.Gertie's first husband, Lionel Monkton, who had been in poor health, died in 1924, and some time afterwards she married again, this time to William Humble Ward, the second Earl of Dudley. Gertie Millar, who began life as a simple working-class girl from Yorkshire, whose hard work and determination had established her as one of the best loved stars of the Edwardian theatre, would end her days a titled Lady.Lady Dudley, Gertie Millar, died in Chiddingford, England, on April 24, 1952.
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