Marie Pavey

{{Short description|American stage actress}} thumb|Photograph of a scene from the 1912 Broadway production of ''Little Women''. Subjects at top of stairs: Marie Pavey (Jo), Donald McLaren (Laurie) Subjects seated: John Cromwell (John Brooke), Alice Brady (Meg) '''Marie Pavey''', born '''Emma Marie Pavey''',<ref name="Census"/><ref name="Debut"/> (September 1881 – {{circa|1947}})<ref name="Missing"/><ref name="death">{{cite news|title=Two on the Aisle|first=Harold L.|last=Cail|work=Evening Express|date= November 4, 1948|page= 33}}</ref> was an American stage actress and vaudeville performer who had an active career in the United States during the first four decades of the twentieth century. Trained as an actress in Chicago, she began her career in that city in 1900. In her early career she toured widely in vaudeville as a stage partner to Bert Coote.

Pavey's first major success as an actress was as Mabel Gray in A. H. Woods ''The Gambler of the West''; a role she performed on tour in the United States and in Canada from 1906 through 1908. She is best known for creating the role of Jo March in the original production of Marian de Forest's ''Little Women''; a play adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott. Pavey performed the role on Broadway in 1912 and toured nationally in the production for several years.<ref name="Afterlife"/> She remained active on the American stage as late as 1937.<ref name="late"/> She was reported missing and possibly dead in 1947,<ref name="Missing"/> and a follow-up report in 1948 stated she was likely dead.<ref name="death"/>

==Education and early career== Emma Marie Pavey was the daughter of George and Marie Pavey.<ref name="Census">Emma M Pavey in the ''1900 United States Federal Census'', Illinois Cook, Chicago Ward 24, District 0716, Sheet No. 8</ref> She was born in September 1881<ref name="Census"/> in Grand Rapids, Michigan,<ref name="IS"/> and during her early childhood she moved to Chicago with her family.<ref name="IS"/> She graduated from the School of Acting at the Chicago Musical College in the Spring of 1900 where she studied acting with Hart Conway.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vaudevill Burlesque|work=The Inter Ocean|date=23 September 1900|page=15}}</ref>

Pavey made her professional stage debut in Chicago in February 1900 with the Herbert Kelcey—Effie Shannon Theatre Company in Clyde Fitch's ''The Moth and the Flame''.<ref name="Debut">{{cite news|title=Theatrical News|work=The Inter Ocean|date=11 February 1900|page= 15}}</ref> She then toured in vaudeville with Bert Coote's company; portraying Angelica opposite Coote as Oscar in his one act comedy ''Supper For Two'' in theatres in Brooklyn (1900),<ref>{{cite news|title=New Music Hall Opened|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=28 August 1900|page=6}}</ref> Boston (1900 and 1901),<ref>{{cite news|title=Boston Music Hall|work=Boston Evening Transcript|date=9 October 1900|page= 11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Boston Playhouses|work=Boston Evening Transcript|date=31 January 1901|page= 11}}</ref> Buffalo (1900),<ref>{{cite news|title=Shea's Merry Show|work=The Buffalo Enquirer|date=11 December 1900|page= 5}}</ref> New York City (1900),<ref>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|title=Proctor's Twenty–Third Street Theatre|date=4 September 1900|page=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Proctor's Palace|work=The New York Times|date=11 September 1900|page= 5}}</ref> Philadelphia (1901), and Atlanta (1901)<ref>{{cite news|title=The Theatres|work=The Atlanta Constitution|date=11 July 1901|page= 8}}</ref> among other locations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Double Bill At the Grand|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=8 January 1901|page= 3}}</ref> ''The Boston Globe'' in its review of the production stated that "Miss Pavey is an animated actress and makes a capitol foil to Mr. Coote's quiet and dry methods."<ref>{{cite news|title=Amusement notes|work=The Boston Globe|date=11 October 1900|page= 11}}</ref>

In December 1901 Pavey created the role of Ruby Redgrave in the world premiere of Max Goldberg's ''The Rich and Poor of London'' at the Standard Theatre in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Melodrama At Standard|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=3 December 1901|page= 2}}</ref> She was seen in several more plays at that theatre in 1902 including the roles of Celeste in George H. Jessop's ''Sam'l of Posen; or, The Commercial Drummer''<ref>{{cite news|title=Other Offerings–Standard Theatre|work=The Philadelphia Times|date=25 March 1902|page= 5}}</ref> and Selina Khor in the world premiere of Louis Eagan's ''Slaves of Russia''.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Play, Old Story: Such is 'Slaves of Gold' Which Was Unfolded Last Night|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=22 April 1902|page=4}}</ref> She then returned to Chicago in August and September 1902 for performances at the New American Theatre where she first appeared in the military drama ''Heart of Virginia''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Attractions of the Week|work=Chicago Tribune|date=31 August 1902|page=21}}</ref> This was followed by the roles of Anna in ''Leah the Forsaken''<ref>{{cite news|title=Attractions of the Week|work=Chicago Tribune|date=14 Sep 1902|page= 39}}</ref> and Nina Chauncey in ''A False Friend''.<ref>{{cite news|title=A False Friend At The New American|work=Chicago Tribune|date=22 September 1902|page= 7}}</ref> In October 1902 she performed at the Lyceum Theater in Minneapolis as Nell in ''The Lost Paradise''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Entertainments; "The Lost Paradise"|work=Star Tribune|author=Janet Priest|date=7 October 1902|page= 4}}</ref>

Pavey toured the United States as a leading actress with first the Grace Hayward Company in late 1902,<ref>{{cite news|title=Say Its Good|work=Belvidere Daily Republican|date=18 November 1902|page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Marie Pavey|work=Kansas City Journal|date=20 October 1902|page= 3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Amusements; The Grace Hayward Company|work=The South Bend Tribune|date=25 Nov 1902|page= 4}}</ref> and then the Ferris Stock Company in 1903.<ref>{{cite news|title=Amusements: Ferris Stock Company at the Oliver|work=Lincoln Nebraska State Journal|date=30 May 1903|page= 4}}</ref> She returned to Hayward's company in September 1903,<ref>{{cite news|title=Marie Pavey With The Grace Hayward Company|work=The Topeka Daily Herald|date=12 September 1903|page= 12}}</ref> and remained committed to touring with that company in 1904.<ref>{{cite news|title=When We Were Twenty-One At The Metropolitan|work=The Saint Paul Globe|date=6 March 1904|page= 41}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Amusements; The Grace Hayward Company|work=Arkansas Democrat|date=16 October 1904|page= 8}}</ref> In`1905 she was once again a member of the Ferris Stock Company; performing mainly with that organization in Omaha.<ref>{{cite news|title=Amusements|work=Evening World-Herald|date=15 May 1905|page= 5}}</ref>

==''The Gambler of the West'' and work in stock theatre== From 1906-1908 Pavey had the first major success of her career when she toured North America as the heroine Mabel Gray in A. H. Woods ''The Gambler of the West'';<ref name="NJ">{{cite news|title=Amusements; The Lyceum Theatre|work=The News Journal|date=14 August 1906|page= 4}}</ref> a role she first performed in that play's world premiere at the American Theater in Buffalo, New York in August 1906.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gossip About Theatrical Folk|author=G.K.R.|work=The Buffalo Enquirer|date=9 Aug 1906|page=2}}</ref> She received consistently positive reviews as the romantic lead opposite David Landau who portrayed the title role.<ref name="BSUN"/><ref name="NJ"/><ref name="Tribune"/><ref name="Globe"/><ref name="PI">{{cite news|title=Western Drama At Girard|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=23 October 1906|page= 4}}</ref> Stops on the tour included performances at the West End Theatre in Manhattan,<ref name="Tribune">{{cite news|title=Summer Amusements|work=New-York Tribune|date=19 August 1906|page= 53}}</ref> the Grand Opera House in Boston,<ref name="Globe">{{cite news|title=The Gambler of the West|work=The Boston Globe|date=18 September 1906|page= 11}}</ref> the Grand Opera House in Brooklyn,<ref>{{cite news|title=Grand Opera House|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=9 October 1906|page= 28}}</ref> the Girard Theatre in Philadelphia,<ref name="PI"/> the Holliday Street Theater in Baltimore,<ref name="BSUN">{{cite news|title=Pistols Pop At Holliday: 'Gambler of the West' A Thrilling Melodrama|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=30 October 1906|page= 7}}</ref> the Krug Theater in Omaha,<ref>{{cite news|title=Miss Marie Pavey, Formerly of Omaha, So Pleased Manage He Wanted Encore|work=Evening World-Herald|date=21 February 1908|page= 1}}</ref> the Park Theatre in Indianapolis,<ref>{{cite news|title=Music and Drama|work=The Indianapolis Star|date=10 April 1908|page= 9}}</ref> the Majestic Theatre in Toronto,<ref>{{cite news|title=The Majestic's Melodrama|work=The Toronto Star|date=21 April 1908|page= 11}}</ref> and several theaters owned by the Bijou Amusement Company including Bijou Theatres in Nashville,<ref>{{cite news|title=Attractions At the Playhouses: The Gambler of the West Draws Large First Night Audiences|work=Nashville Banner|date=24 December 1907|page=12}}</ref> Brooklyn,<ref>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|date=10 November 1907|page= 48|title=Brooklynn Amusements; Bijou Theatre}}</ref> Chattanooga,<ref>{{cite news|title=The Gambler of the West|work=The Chattanooga Star|date=14 January 1908|page= 5}}</ref> Minneapolis,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bijou|work=Star Tribune|date=10 February 1908|page=4}}</ref> and Pittsburgh among other locations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mid-Week Stories From Pittsburgh's Theaters|work=The Pittsburgh Post|date=21 November 1907|page= 6}}</ref> The tour ended in the city where it began almost two years earlier; closing after performances given at the Academy of Music in Buffalo, New York in May 1908.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Academy|work=The Buffalo News|date=5 May 1908|page= 8}}</ref>

After ''The Gambler of the West'' tour closed, Pavey joined the roster of resident players of Keith's Theatre Stock Company in Portland, Maine; making her debut with the company as Minnie in David Belasco's ''The Girl of the Golden West'' with Sidney Toler as Dick Johnson on July 4, 1908.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sidney Toler Leading Man|work=Portland Sunday Telegram|date=5 July 1908|page= 20}}</ref> Other repertoire she performed with the company included Nance Olden in Channing Pollock's ''In the Bishop's Carriage'',<ref>{{cite news|title=In the Bishop's Carriage At Keith's|work=Portland Sunday Telegram|date=12 July 1908|page= 9}}</ref> and Eileen MacLane in Rida Johnson Young's ''The Boys of Company B''.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Boys of Company B At Keith's|work=Portland Sunday Telegram|date=23 August 1908|page= 5}}</ref> In 1909 she was the headliner for the Jefferson Theater in Memphis,<ref>{{cite news|title=Notes of the Stage|work=The Washington Herald|date=25 April 1909|page= 14}}</ref> and returned to Portland, Maine for performances as Jo in Augustin Daly's ''The Lottery of Love'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Keith's|work=Portland Sunday Telegram|date=17 October 1909|page= 10}}</ref> Nellie Collins in Hermann Sudermann's ''Honour'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Keith's|work=Portland Sunday Telegram|date=19 December 1909|page= 8}}</ref> and Elspeth Tyrell in Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland and Beulah Marie Dix's ''The Road to Yesterday''.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Road To Yesterday at Keith's|work=Portland Sunday Telegram|date=2 May 1909|page= 4}}</ref> In September 1909 she portrayed the title role in ''Zaza'' at the Bush Temple of Music in Chicago,<ref>{{cite news|title=With the Stock Companies|work=Chicago Tribune|date=5 September 1909|page= 16}}</ref> and soon after starred at that same theater in a stage adaptation of Augusta Jane Evans Wilson's novel ''St. Elmo''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stock Companies|work=Chicago Tribune|date=26 September 1909|page= 18}}</ref>

In 1910 Pavey was hired as the resident headlining actress at the Bijou Theatre in Brooklyn;<ref>{{cite news|title=Stock Companies|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=4 September 1910|page= 42}}</ref> making her debut with the company as the romantic lead in Langdon Elwyn Mitchell's ''The New York Idea'' opposite Corse Payton.<ref>{{cite news|title=Corse Payton Opens Bijou With Flood of Oratory|work=Times Union|date=6 September 1910|page= 3}}</ref> She portrayed Payton's love interest in several more plays at that theatre, including roles in Paul Armstrong's ''Going Some'' and Winchell Smith's ''Brewster's Millions''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brewster's Millions Seen At Payton's Bijou Theatre|work=Times Union|date=4 October 1910|page= 3}}</ref> Other parts she portrayed at that theatre included Agnes Rodman in Belasco's ''Men and Women'',<ref>{{cite news|title=The Stage; Men and Women|work=Times Union|date=29 October 1910|page= 4}}</ref> Mrs. Guyer in the musical ''A Trip to Chinatown'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Laughs Oust Tears At Payton's Bijou|work=Times Union|date=25 October 1910|page= 4}}</ref> Elinor Hillary in Olive Porter's ''The Ringmaster'',<ref>{{cite news|title=News of the Theatre|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=11 September 1910|page= 31}}</ref> Eleanor Downs in David Higgins and Baldwin G. Cooke's ''His Last Dollar'',<ref>{{cite news|title=His Last Dollar|work=The Brooklyn Citizen|date=6 November 1910|page= 20}}</ref> Fifi Oraton Ki in William Gillette's ''All the Comforts of Home'',<ref>{{cite news|title=All the Comforts of Home|work=Times Union|date=19 November 1910|page= 8}}</ref> Mabel Wilson in Theodore Kremer's ''The Fatal Wedding'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Stock Companies|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=25 September 1910|page= 21}}</ref> Edna Kingsly in Kremer's ''For her children's sake'',<ref>{{cite news|title=For her children's sake|work=The Brooklyn Citizen|date=13 November 1910|page=21}}</ref> and the title role in Alexandre Dumas's ''Camille''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Camille At Paton's Bijou|work=The Standard Union|date=18 October 1910|page= 3}}</ref>

==Jessie Bonstelle and ''Little Women''== In December 1910 Pavey met director Jessie Bonstelle when she was hired for performances during the Christmas season at the Nesbitt Theatre in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania;<ref>{{cite news|title=At the Nesbitt|work=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader|date=17 December 1910|page= 13}}</ref> making her debut with the Nesbitt Players as the Dominican nun Giovanna in Francis Marion Crawford and Walter Hackett's ''The White Sister''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Miss Pavey Scores in Maiden Effort of Nesbitt Players|work=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader|date=27 December 1910|page= 1}}</ref> Bonstelle was the director of the Nebitt Players and Pavey remained with the company as their resident lead actress in the following year. Roles she performed with the Nesbitt Players in 1911 under Bonstelle's direction included Marion Stanton in Thompson Buchanan's ''A Woman's Way'',<ref>{{cite news|title="A Woman's Way" at the Nesbitt|work=Times Leader|date=3 January 1911|page= 19}}</ref> Frank Ware in Rachel Crothers's ''A Man's World'',<ref>{{cite news|title="A Man's World" at the Nesbitt|work=Times Leader|date=10 January 1911|page= 16}}</ref> Nat-u-ritch in Edwin Milton Royle's ''The Squaw Man'',<ref>{{cite news|title="The Squaw Man" At the Nesbitt|work=Times Leader|date=17 January 1911|page= 12}}</ref> and the title role in Israel Zangwill's ''Merely Mary Ann''.<ref>{{cite news|work=Times Leader|date=24 January 1911|page= 4|title="Merely Mary Ann" At the Nesbitt}}</ref>

Bonstelle spent eight years trying to obtain the rights to Louisa May Alcott's novel ''Little Women''; ultimately obtaining permission from the Alcott family in 1910. She approached the playwright Marian de Forest to adapt the work for her.<ref name="Afterlife">{{cite book|title=The Afterlife of "Little Women"|first= Beverly Lyon|last=Clark|year=2014|chapter=Chapter 2: Waxing Nostalgic: 1900-1930|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|isbn=9781421415598}}</ref> Bonstelle cast Pavey in the critical role of Jo March, and the play premiered at the Teck Theatre in Buffalo, New York on January 22, 1912, in a production directed by Bonstelle and produced by William A. Brady.<ref name="premiere">{{cite news|work=Buffalo Courier|date=January 23, 1912|page= 8|title="Little Women"- Tech}}</ref>

''Little Women'' toured the United States and went through several changes before it ultimately reached Broadway nine months later.<ref name="HD">{{cite book|chapter=Little Women|title=Historical Dictionary of American Theater: Modernism|first1=James|last1= Fisher|first2= Felicia|last2= Hardison Londré|year= 2017|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=9781538107867}}</ref> Its Broadway premiere occurred at the Playhouse Theatre on October 14, 1912;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/10/17/archives/lovely-play-made-from-little-women-louisa-m-alcotts-famous-story.html|title=LOVELY PLAY MADE FROM 'LITTLE WOMEN'; Louisa M. Alcott's Famous Story Provides Something Worth Rejoicing Over|work=The New York Times|date=October 17, 1912|page= 11}}</ref> playing for a total of 184 performances.<ref name="HD"/> A critical and financial success, Pavey continued to tour nationally in the play after the Broadway run concluded.<ref name="Afterlife"/> Some of the theatres she performed the role in during the national tour included the Garrick Theater in Chicago,<ref>{{cite news|first=Ashton|last=Stevens|work=Chicago Examiner|date=February 15, 1912|page= 7|title=Theater and Hearts: Familiar Story of Alcott Characters Delights}}</ref> the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis,<ref name="IS">{{cite news|title=Marie Pavey|work=Indianapolis Star|date=April 11, 1912|page= 9}}</ref> the Lyric Theater in Cincinnati,<ref>{{cite news|title=Little Women Attracts An Appreciative Audience|work=Cincinnati Commercial Tribune|date= October 28, 1913|page=3}}</ref> the Adelphi Theatre in Philadelphia,<ref>{{cite news|title=Alcott Classic Well Created|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=November 11, 1913|page= 10}}</ref> and the Majestic Theatre in Boston.<ref>{{cite news|title=American Classic On Stage|work=Boston Post|date= December 30, 1913|page= 6}}</ref> She also appeared later in regional theatre productions of the work in 1917 and 1918.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marie Pavey of the Original Cast With Little Women|work=Lincoln Evening State Journal And Daily News|date=October 19, 1917|page= 3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Joplin Theater: Little Women Is Popular Story|work=Joplin Globe|date=November 1, 1917|page= 10}}</ref>

==Later career== After ''Little Women'', Pavey returned to performing in stock and vaudeville. In 1916-1917 she toured in May Robson's theatre company in the comic role of Florence in Maurice Hennequin's ''The Making Over of Mrs. Matt''.<ref>{{cite news|title=May Robson in 'The Making Over of Mrs. Matt|work=Dubuque Telegraph Herald|date= February 28, 1916}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=May Robson|work=Topeka State Journal|date=February 15, 1917|page= 7}}</ref> In 1919 she performed in the show ''Creole Fashion Plate'' in several vaudeville theaters owned by B.F. Keith; including Keith's Theatre in Boston<ref>{{cite news|title=Attractions At the Theatres; "Creole Fashion Plate" The Keith Feature|work=Boston Evening Globe|date=July 15, 1919|page= 3}}</ref> and the B. F. Keith Theatre in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Paul Decker In Vaudeville|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=July 27, 1919|page= 46}}</ref>

In the 1920s Pavey performed in several plays in Circuit Chautauquas in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chattaqua Play Has Enthusiastic Local Reception|work=Charleston Gazette|date=July 5, 1925|page= 6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Famous Players Coming Here|work=Hardin County Ledger|date=January 4, 1923|page=1}}</ref> She performed only one more time on Broadway during her career; portraying Miss Cornelia Carlyle in a stage adaptation of Mrs. Henry Wood's novel ''East Lynne'' in 1926 in a production that was directed by James Light at the Greenwich Village Theatre.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of the New York Stage, 1920-1930, Volume 1|first1=Samuel L.|last1= Leiter|first2=Holly|last2= Hill|year= 1985|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=9780313236150|page=234}}</ref> She was still active in regional theatre in the United States as late as 1937. That year she starred in a production of Floyd Dell and Thomas Mitchell's ''Little Accident''.<ref name="late">{{cite news|title=Hilarious Comedy at Deer Lake Theatre|work=Pottsville Republican|date= September 1, 1937|page= 8}}</ref>

In 1947 it was reported in the press that there were unsuccessful efforts made to locate Pavey, and that she was missing or possibly dead.<ref name="Missing">{{cite news|title=Two on the Aisle; Report on Miss Pavey|first=Harold L.|last=Cail|work=Evening Express|date= March 15, 1947|page= 5}}</ref> A follow up report in November 1948 stated she was most likely dead.<ref name="death"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IBDB name|id=55752}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pavey, Marie}} Category:1881 births Category:1940s deaths Category:20th-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Chicago Category:Actresses from Grand Rapids, Michigan Category:American stage actresses Category:American vaudeville performers Category:Chicago Musical College alumni