Kate Condon
Encyclopedia
Kate Condon was an American contralto
who sang in light and grand operas over the early decades of the twentieth century.
, the second youngest of six children raised by William and Bridget Condon. Some records give her birth date as February 4, 1880; unlikely since her brother Thomas was born in October, 1879. Condon’s parents both came to America from Ireland in the years leading up to the American Civil War
and married in 1859, settling in Bloomington, where in 1860 their first child was born. William Condon went on to be a well known Illinois merchant.
at the Metropolitan Opera House. She had previously been a member of the Castle Square Company
in Boston. and would go on to perform on Broadway
and elsewhere with such stars as Jefferson De Angelis
, De Wolf Hopper, Fritzi Scheff
and Tyrone Power, Sr.
Her first role on Broadway was Molly O'Grady in The Emerald Isle
in 1902. Among other Broadway appearances, in 1913 she appeared in revivals of two Gilbert and Sullivan
operas. Condon crossed the Atlantic during the First World War to entertain troops serving with the American Expeditionary Force
in France. In 1917–18, near the end of her career, she was in the Broadway cast of the musical Chu Chin Chow
.
Five years later Condon traveled to Rome to ask for a Papal dispensation
releasing her from her marriage to Scott so she could wed comedian Peter F. Dailey
. She cabled Bailey on May 23, 1908 to inform him that the Pope had granted their request; unaware that the forty year old comedian had fallen ill and would not live to see her message delivered.
In September, 1926, William B. Victor, a partner in a successful New Orleans real estate firm, committed suicide. Sometime later Kate Condon was contacted by a relative of her husband’s and told that Victor and Scott might be one in the same. This was confirmed when she traveled to New Orleans in February, 1927 and identified her husband's remains.
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
who sang in light and grand operas over the early decades of the twentieth century.
Early Life
Kate Condon was born in 1877 in Bloomington, IllinoisBloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, the second youngest of six children raised by William and Bridget Condon. Some records give her birth date as February 4, 1880; unlikely since her brother Thomas was born in October, 1879. Condon’s parents both came to America from Ireland in the years leading up to the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and married in 1859, settling in Bloomington, where in 1860 their first child was born. William Condon went on to be a well known Illinois merchant.
Career
Kate Condon first appearance in a major production on the New York stage came in November, 1900 playing Siebel in the English Grand Opera Company’s production of Gounod's FaustFaust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
at the Metropolitan Opera House. She had previously been a member of the Castle Square Company
Castle Square Theatre
The Castle Square Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, was located on Tremont Street in the South End.-Further reading:* : containing portraits and sketches of the principal singers and a record of the casts of characters of the various operas produced together with a short story of each. Boston:...
in Boston. and would go on to perform on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and elsewhere with such stars as Jefferson De Angelis
Jefferson De Angelis
Jefferson De Angelis born Thomas Jefferson De Angelis in San Francisco was a 19th-20th century stage actor who specialized in comedy and acrobatic clowning and who achieved fame in Vaudeville and on Broadway. He was also a stage director and producer. He began in Baltimore at age 10...
, De Wolf Hopper, 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...
and Tyrone Power, Sr.
Tyrone Power, Sr.
Frederick Tyrone Edmond Power was an English-born American stage and screen actor, who acted under the name Tyrone Power.-Early life:Power was born in London in 1869, the son of Harold Littledale Power and Ethel Lavenu...
Her first role on Broadway was Molly O'Grady in The Emerald Isle
The Emerald Isle
The Emerald Isle; or, The Caves of Carrig-Cleena, is a two-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and Edward German, and a libretto by Basil Hood. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 27 April 1901, closing on 9 November 1901 after a run of 205 performances...
in 1902. Among other Broadway appearances, in 1913 she appeared in revivals of two Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
operas. Condon crossed the Atlantic during the First World War to entertain troops serving with the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
in France. In 1917–18, near the end of her career, she was in the Broadway cast of the musical Chu Chin Chow
Chu Chin Chow
Chu Chin Chow is a musical comedy written, produced and directed by Oscar Asche, with music by Frederic Norton, based on the story of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves...
.
Marriage
On May 16, 1903 Condon married Edward Burke Scott at New Haven, Connecticut. E. Burke Scott was a theatrical advance man and treasurer for the Frank Daniel’s Opera Company, then under the management of Charles Dillingham. He was born in Paris, Kentucky, the son of Marie (née Victor) Prescott, a noted Shakespearean actress and Edward Burke, a well known Kentucky lawyer. In November, just six months after they wed, Scott disappeared while Condon was touring the Midwest and was never seen again. Eventually foul play was dismissed as it was learned several thousand dollars had vanished from the firm’s accounts.Five years later Condon traveled to Rome to ask for a Papal dispensation
Papal dispensation
Papal dispensation is a reserved right of the Pope that allows for individuals to be exempted from a specific Canon Law. Dispensations are divided into two categories: general, and matrimonial. Matrimonial dispensations can be either to allow a marriage in the first place, or to dissolve one...
releasing her from her marriage to Scott so she could wed comedian Peter F. Dailey
Peter F. Dailey
Peter F. Dailey was an American burlesque comedian and singer who became popular over the era remembered as the Gay Nineties-Early Life:...
. She cabled Bailey on May 23, 1908 to inform him that the Pope had granted their request; unaware that the forty year old comedian had fallen ill and would not live to see her message delivered.
In September, 1926, William B. Victor, a partner in a successful New Orleans real estate firm, committed suicide. Sometime later Kate Condon was contacted by a relative of her husband’s and told that Victor and Scott might be one in the same. This was confirmed when she traveled to New Orleans in February, 1927 and identified her husband's remains.