Christie MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Christie MacDonald was a Canadian-American actress and opera singer. She was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia
. and was the daughter of John MacClean MacDonald, a ship-builder, mariner and inn-keeper in the coastal town of Pictou and Jessie (née MacKenzie).
She began in theatre in 1893 in New York when she was cast in Francis Wilson's
popular play Erminie. She was thereafter successful in the operetta brand of musical theater. She was the star or co-star of The Belle of Mayfair (1906) co-starring Valeska Suratt, Miss Hook of Holland(1908) with Bertram Wallis
and The Mikado (1910) with Fritzi Scheff
. In 1910 she starred in one of her best known musicals The Spring Maid by Victor Herbert
. In 1913 she popularised Herbert's Sweethearts.
MacDonald made several gramophone
records before retiring in 1920. She was married first to William W. Jefferson, a son of the famous actor Joseph Jefferson
, in 1901 and ended in divorce several years thereafter. In 1903, Miss MacDonald conceived a child with prominent theatrical promoter and New York State Senator, Timothy Sullivan
who was soon placed in the New York Foundling Hospital. Miss MacDonald did not make any stage appearances until 1904.
In 1911, Miss MacDonald married Henry L. Gillespie, the scion of a wealthy Pittsburgh contracting family and had one daughter, Christie. As of 1950 MacDonald was living with her daughter and grandchildren in Westport, Connecticut. Christie MacDonald died in Fairfield, Connecticut on July 25, 1962.
Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou is a town in Pictou County, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Located on the north shore of Pictou Harbour, the town is approximately 10 km north of the larger town of New Glasgow....
. and was the daughter of John MacClean MacDonald, a ship-builder, mariner and inn-keeper in the coastal town of Pictou and Jessie (née MacKenzie).
She began in theatre in 1893 in New York when she was cast in Francis Wilson's
Francis Wilson (actor)
Francis Wilson was an American actor, born in Philadelphia.-Career:He began his career in a minstrel show, but by 1878 was playing at the Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, and the next year appeared in M'liss with Annie Pixley...
popular play Erminie. She was thereafter successful in the operetta brand of musical theater. She was the star or co-star of The Belle of Mayfair (1906) co-starring Valeska Suratt, Miss Hook of Holland(1908) with Bertram Wallis
Bertram Wallis
Bertram Wallis was an English actor and singer known for his performances in plays, musical comedies and operettas in the early 20th century, first as leading men and then in character roles. He also later appeared in several film roles.-Early years:Wallis was born in London...
and The Mikado (1910) with Fritzi Scheff
Fritzi Scheff
Fritzi Scheff was an American actress and vocalist.-Biography:Born in Vienna, Austria, she studied at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt and made her début in Munich in the title röle of Martha...
. In 1910 she starred in one of her best known musicals The Spring Maid by Victor Herbert
Victor Herbert
Victor August Herbert was an Irish-born, German-raised American composer, cellist and conductor. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is best known for composing many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway from the 1890s to World War I...
. In 1913 she popularised Herbert's Sweethearts.
MacDonald made several gramophone
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
records before retiring in 1920. She was married first to William W. Jefferson, a son of the famous actor Joseph Jefferson
Joseph Jefferson
Joseph Jefferson, commonly known as Joe Jefferson , was an American actor. He was the third actor of this name in a family of actors and managers, and one of the most famous of all American comedians....
, in 1901 and ended in divorce several years thereafter. In 1903, Miss MacDonald conceived a child with prominent theatrical promoter and New York State Senator, Timothy Sullivan
Timothy Sullivan
Timothy Daniel Sullivan was a New York politician who controlled Manhattan's Bowery and Lower East Side districts as a prominent figure within Tammany Hall. He was euphemistically known as "Dry Dollar", as the "Big Feller", and, later, as "Big Tim"...
who was soon placed in the New York Foundling Hospital. Miss MacDonald did not make any stage appearances until 1904.
In 1911, Miss MacDonald married Henry L. Gillespie, the scion of a wealthy Pittsburgh contracting family and had one daughter, Christie. As of 1950 MacDonald was living with her daughter and grandchildren in Westport, Connecticut. Christie MacDonald died in Fairfield, Connecticut on July 25, 1962.
Selected musicals
- ErminieErminieErminie is a comic opera in two acts composed by Edward Jakobowski with a libretto by Claxson Bellamy and Harry Paulton, based loosely on Charles Selby's 1834 Robert Macaire...
(1893) - The Bride Elect (1898)
- The ToreadorThe ToreadorThe Toreador is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Harry Nicholls, with lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton. It opened at the Gaiety Theatre in London, managed by George Edwardes, on 17 June 1901 and ran for an...
(1902) - The Sho-Gun (1904)
- The Belle of MayfairThe Belle of MayfairThe Belle of Mayfair is a musical comedy composed by Leslie Stuart with a book by Basil Hood, Charles Brookfield and Cosmo Hamilton. The story is inspired by the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet....
(1906) - Miss Hook of HollandMiss Hook of HollandMiss Hook of Holland is an English musical comedy in two acts, with music and lyrics by Paul Rubens with a book by Austen Hurgon and Rubens. The show was produced by Frank Curzon and opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 31 January 1907, running for a very successful 462 performances...
(1908) - The Spring Maid (1910)
- The MikadoThe MikadoThe Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
(1910) (revival) - SweetheartsSweetheartsSweethearts may be:*Sweethearts :*Sweethearts , a two-act comedy by W.S. Gilbert*Sweethearts , a 1938 MGM film starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy*Sweethearts , a book...
(1913) - FloradoraFloradora"Floradora", also called "Keyword," was a doubly enciphered diplomatic code used by the Germans during the Second World War. The Allies used tabulating equipment, created by IBM, to break the code over period of more than a year in 1941 and 1942....
(1920) (revival)
External links
- Christie MacDonald portrait NY Public Library Billy Rose Collection
- Christie MacDonald portrait Univ. of Washington, Sayre Collection
- Christie MacDonald portrait at the University of Louisville, Macauley Theatre Collection
- Christie MacDonald recordings 1911, 1913
- Collected Recordings of Christie MacDonald and Reinald Werrenrath