Genealogy Chat

l recently found out that my grt aunt was living at the empire theatre at the time of her death in 1941.Is sounds strange to me, but that was what was on the will. She was Beatrice Wilson, and does anyone live near chatham and have access to any library records to see if she owned or managed the theatre? Thanks.

sorry everyone for the message going twice...had problems with the site tonight.

No problem, just delete one of them.

Is this her?

From Olivier's Career in the Theatre website:

1925 Lennox in Macbeth (Shakespeare). Norman V. Norman and Beatrice Wilson's production at the St Christopher Theatre, Letchworth.

According to the ultra-unrealiable Wikepedia, Norman V Norman and Beatrice Wilson were "other main cast members":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_stage,_film_and_television_performances_given_by_Laurence_Olivier

Thanks for looking. l have never seen a photo of the actress in those plays to compare with the one l have of her...so don't know. l saw her will...and thought it odd that it said she was living at the empire theatre.

Yes, madmeg, she seems to have been a Shakespearean actor 1925-1929. So may not be her.

Ozi

there's apicture of the theatre here

http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=2348.0

Ozi, why might it not be her? She only seems to have appeared in a couple of things.

Moggy, when was she born?

It might be worth contacting the two theatres, and even the Stratford theatre. Given that she appeared with Laurence Olivier, she must be on their records somewhere.

She was born in 1881 in bristol. On the 1901 census she was down as an "actress". Yes...might be worth trying . l really wanted to know why she was living at the theatre.

Madmeg, I had a hunch it might be her but was playing devil's advocate as 1925 is a long way from 1941.

Now that Moggy tells us she was an actress in 1901 seems even more possible.

Ozi

Perhaps a possible obituary may help. You could email Chatham library to see if they hold old newspapers.

From google this is the email address

[email protected]

Linda

Thank you everyone. Just come on-line so am interested in the library. Didn't think of that. Been onto the site where she was in the shakespeare plays....looks likely that it was her.

Let us know if you find out anything about her, Moggy. You've stirred my curiosity.

Ozi

Will do Ozbird. Will e-mail the library tomorrow.

Just to say to everyone who helped me....l am awaiting the obituary for my ancestor from the archive in Kent. The library that linda suggested forwarded my e-mail. Apparently she was married.....that was a surprise...and he was the manager of the empire theatre...and she managed the bar and food. he was an actor too.They had living accommadation there....and he actually died there......2 months before her.

Amazing where this hobby can lead you. Fantastic stuff.

Ozi

Thanks for updating us. Let us know what the Obit says.

Margaret

Just an update on this. l received the obituaries from the kent library....and it was her husband who was managing the Empire Theatre. He was an actor...from a theatrical family...and appeared on stage at 6yrs of age.He died of a heart attack in his office at the Empire....and 2 months later Beatrice had a stroke...also at the theatre...and died in hospital. It also said that she was an original tiller girl. Didn't realise that they started in the late 1800's.Thanks to Linda who told me to apply to the library.

Hi Moggyrud. Your great aunts "husband" was my great grandfather. I can fill in a few details for you. They were not married, well at least not to each other!!!! Please respond and I'll update you.