Lizzie Evans

Lizzie Evans

Theatrical poster
Born 1864 or 1865
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Died ?
Nationality American
Other names Mrs. Harry Mills
Occupation actress, vaudeville entertainer, musical theatre, comedian

Lizzie Evans was an entertainer in vaudeville and musical theatre in New York City and Chicago, Illinois, from the 1880s into the 20th century. A New York Times article described her as "a bright little person of the Lotta Crabtree physique and school, but with less naturalness and more nasal twang".[1]

Biography

Lizzie Evans was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1864 or 1865, and was the wife of Harry Mills, who was also a well-known comedian. At the time of their marriage in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1891, he was playing in her company. Miss Evans first appeared on the stage at the age of seventeen on August 25, 1882, with Barney McAuley as Clip in A Messenger from Jarvis Section. She was next seen with Milton and Dolly Nobles in their well-known play, The Phoenix. After leaving Mr. Nobles' company, she joined C.E. Callahan, in whose plays she starred for nine years in such roles as Chip in Fogg's Ferry and Jane in The Buckeye. Miss Evans also took the leading part in Our Angel and a number of other plays (see the list below). A reviewer for the New York Times observed about her acting:

Miss Lizzie Evans, who fills the part around which Fogg's Ferry is built, is a bright little person of the Lotta physique and school, but with less naturalness and more nasal twang. Her performance, however, is earnest and vivacious; she emphasizes her comic lines with her nether limbs and feet, more or less in accordance with Shakespeare's advice as to suiting the action to the word and the word to the action, but always with a marked effect upon the spectator, and her pathos, although scarcely profound, is a good deal more genuine and touching than that of her prototype. Miss Evans has no voice for song, and her cleverness as an actress is sufficiently appreciable to warrant her avoidance of vocal efforts.[1]

After severing her connection with Mr. Callahan, Miss Evans retired from the stage for two years. Afterwards she returned to play the part of Madge in Old Kentucky, meeting with great success. She was next seen in vaudeville until the 1900-01 season, when she was featured in A Romance of Coon Hollow. By this time she had formed her own troupe. She also returned to her favorite role of Chip, the character in which she had made her debut when she was only seventeen years old.[2]

List of vaudeville and theater credits

Evans in Fogg's Ferry circa 1882

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tony Pastor's Theatre", New York Times, May 20, 1884, pg. 4.
  2. The Players Blue Book, edited by A.D. Storm, 1901, p. 268.
  3. "Amusements", New York Times, August 22, 1881, pg. 5.
  4. EJ Phillips' Manhattan, Standard Theatre. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
  5. Cache, past shows, National Theater
  6. History of the Lexington Opera House
  7. 1 2 "The Chicago Playhouse", New York Times, January 28, 1890, pg. 9.
  8. Cinema Treasures, Haymarket Theatre. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
  9. 1 2 "The Chicago Playhouses", New York Times, April 14, 1890, p.4.
  10. Cinema Treasures, Windsor Theatre. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
  11. "Chicago Playhouses", New York Times, November 30, 1890, pg. 13.
  12. 1 2 "The Chicago Playhouses", New York Times, May 17, 1891, pg. 13.
  13. Cinema Treasures, Wabash Theatre. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
  14. "Theatrical Gossip", New York Times, March 3, 1893, pg. 8.
  15. TheaterMania 14th Street Theater. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
  16. "Proctor's Pleasure Palace", New York Times, Wednesday, September 1, 1895, pg. 11.
  17. "Notes Of The Week", New York Times, January 10, 1897, pg. 11.
  18. 1 2 "Notes of the Stage", New York Times, April 19, 1896, pg. 10.
  19. IBDB Grand Opera House. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
  20. "Notes of the Stage", New York Times, April 21, 1896, pg. 5.
  21. (display ad—no title), New York Times, July 18, 1897, pg. 8.
  22. Cinema Treasures, Union Square Theatre. Retrieved 12-24-07.
  23. "Theatres", New York Times, August 22, 1897, pg. 8.
  24. 1 2 "This Week's New Bills", February 20, 1898, pg. 5.
  25. Cinema Treasures, Harlem Opera House. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
  26. "Notes Of The Week", New York Times, December 3, 1899, pg. 18.
  27. "Vaudeville and Concerts", New York Times, July 27, 1902, pg. 10.
  28. (display ad 9—no title), New York Times, June 2, 1903, pg. 10.
  29. NewYorkvisit.com Apollo Theatre. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
  30. "Harlem Opera House", New York Times, February 22, 1898, pg. 6.
  31. Two Little Sailor Boys, New York Times, May 4, 1904, pg. 5.
  32. 1 2 (display ad 12—no title), New York Times, September 16, 1906, pg. SM9.
  33. "The Real Estate Field", New York Times, Friday, October 3, 1913, pg. 17.
  34. Cinema Treasures, Criterion Theatre. Retrieved on 12-24-07.
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