Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-06
Lillian Russell
Is Dead at 81


Continued from Psse One
Faratively few thcatrcsoers who do not
know something Of the story Of her life.
Russell's name was Helen Louise Leon |.
ard. She, was born December 4, 1851,
in Clinton. Iowa, where her father,
Charles Leonard. was editor and pub
Usher Of the Clinton Herald. When
she was about five months old her par.
ents moved to Chicago. where her father
engaged IN the printing business as a
member of the firm Of Knight & Leon
ard. One Of Miss Russelfs earliest
recollections was the burning Of the
city.
As n Young miss Helen went to the
Elizabeth Street School. Later she at.
tended the Brown Street School and
finished at Miss Bates Private School
for Girls. Her first appearance on any
stage was in little play given by the
sisters Of the Sacred Heart Convent.
The audience consisted of her, fellow
pupils and the sisters. She played the
role Of n stolen child in a play called
The Gypsy"
None Of Miss Russell's family were
actors, although all were musical. Her
father was u guitar player Of some note
and her mother was a singer. Miss
Russell, first venture as vocalist was
In the choir Of St. Johns Church, of
which the Rev. DR.. Powers was rector.
On one occasion she cracked peanuts
while the tenor was singing solo. DR..
not return the next Sunday.
studies Under Damrosch
Like many other young and talented
singers. Miss Leonard had an ambition
TO sing in grand opera. Shortly after
her graduation from Miss Bates's school
she went to New York with her mother
and two elder sisters TO study under
DR.. Leopold Damrosch. She was thea
about sixteen years old. The Leonards
we're living in boarding house in Ninth
street. Tony Pastor called Mt the house
one evening and henrd her sing and
offered her fifty dollars a
week to sing few songs under an as
sumed name She was to dress at
home. drive to the theatre in n carriage
at 10 o'clock md return nt the end Of
her performance. Her mother did not
know Of the arrangement. Tony Pastor
invented the name Of Lillian Russell for
her to conceal her identity. 1t was
made up from the first and last
names OF TWO perloIWCIs WI" WIZ "
tho bill the same week. Miss Russell
was a success from the first. The next
day the papers spoke of the discovery
Of new beauty. Her salary jumped
to $50 n week. 1t was no longer
possible to conceal from her mother the
fact that she was singing on the stage.
When DR.. Dnmrosch heard she was
singing In music hall. he refused to
sec her and he never spoke TO her again.
Makes First Hit
Miss Russell's first hit was made in
New York in light opera entitled
THE Snake Charmer." which was fol-
lowed BY an even greater success In
the opcrctta. "Billec Taylor. The
composer Of this operetta was Edward
Solomon, by whom she was subsequently
engaged to go to London for the prin-
cipal role in another Of his compost
tions. entitled "Polly.' Returning to
America. she was engaged by the Aron.
sons, who featured her in THE Grand
Duchess" and other light and comic
operas, including The Brigands. Fol.
lowing this, James Duff engaged Miss
Russell for season Mt the Broadway
Theatre, in which she appeared with
Camille DArville in THE Queens
Mate" Aftcrward T. Henry French.
then in the zenith Of his man.
aeerial career. engaged Miss Russell.
her with n most excellent
company, and produced number Of
OPERAS more than sumptuously. Chief
OF these productions was La Cigale.
and with this opera for his piece de
resistan and with "Girofle. Girofla'
and Gilbert and Sullivan "Mounte.
banks" In these operas Miss Russell
achieved such distinct success In Chi
cago that Messrs. Hayman and Davis,
then directing the fortunes of the old
Columbia Theatre. secured the Organi.
cation for the summer Of the Worlds
Fair in '93. 1t is doubtful il Miss
Russell ever played more artistic
engagement in all her career, the COM
pany including such well known and
popular artists ms Hayden Coffin. Will
liam 7. Carleton. James Pcakes and
Louis Harrison. In The Mounte-
banks" Miss Russell was accorded the
distinction of having n more perfect
appreciation of the wit and satire of
Sir William 8. Gilbert than any other
artist in America accorded the reading
OF his lines.
From the worlds fair season Miss
Russell went directly TO New York and
took an engagement with Canary 4
Ledercr. opening the same fall at the
Casino Theatre in the Princes Nico-
tine" The following spring these man
ayers revived for her "Girofle -Girofa. y
Then Abbey. Schoeffel & Grau took her
to London. presenting her in an opera
entitled THE Queen Of Brilliants. V
Failing Of the success they had antici.
pated they brought her back to Amer
lea and toured the country, presenting
her in "Pericho,e" and la Tzigane.
Subsequently she made tour under the
management of Canary & Lederer In
what might be termed musical com.
edy entitled AN American Beauty.'
Her next engagement was In company
with Della Fox and Jefferson de An
CELLS. the triple star alliance appearing
in an opera called "The Wedding
Day" This was both an artistic and
financial success of 10 mean proper
tions. The summer following Miss Rus
sell sang in Berlin at the Winter Gar
den. achieving very notable success.
Upon returning to the United States
she was induced by the offer of an ex-
travagantly large salary TO join the
Weber and Fields organization, play
ing throughout each regular season at
their house in New York and appearing
In the principal American cities during
the brief spring seasons.
When a chorus girl In ''Pinafore, "
in 1878, Miss Russell married Harry
Braham. the musical conductor. She
attracted attention by her beauty and
voice. and finally accepted an offer from
the Casino. Edward Solomon was the
musical director there. and he and rho
fair singer became mutually infatuated.
Braham got a divorce. and four days
later Solomon and Lillian stole over to
Hoboken. were married. and sai!ed al
o,,o Cor E,,ropa Two vearS Inter Miss