Clarita Vidal (20 January 1883 – 17 June 1919) was an actress in Edwardian musical comedies, later known for her wartime work in Italy as Countess Chiquita Mazzuchi.
Vidal's origins were unclear, even to herself. "I really don't know what my nationality is," she confessed to a reporter in 1901.[2] She said she was born in Singapore, the daughter of a Spanish ambassador and an Englishwoman.[3] Elsewhere she was described as a native of the "Sunny South", raised in Spanish diplomatic circles in Algiers,[4] possibly as Chiquita Saavedra de Cervantes.[5][6][7]
Career
Clarita Vidal, from a 1909 publication.
Vidal was a Florodora girl,[3] and counted among the "beauties" of the stage.[8] Her Broadway appearances included roles in The Silver Slipper (1902-1903)[9] and Cynthia (1903). In London, she was seen in The New Regime (1903), The School Girl (1903), and His Highness, My Husband (1904).[10] "All the beauties of the day were in The School Girl," recalled actress Billie Burke. "I remember Clarita Vidal, famous and smick-smack, who posed as if she were made of wax, with just one expression of sheer beauty."[11]
"Chick" Mazzuchi driving an ambulance, from a 1917 publication.
She married in 1909 and left the stage, but reappeared in the news by late 1915[12] as "Mme. Daisy Mazzuchi"[13] or "Countess Chiquita 'Chick' Mazzuchi",[14] working as a nurse at Latisana, or an ambulance driver,[15] or both,[16] during World War I.[17][18] In 1917 she was a speaker at war relief fundraisers in New York,[19] telling of wounds she received (including a bullet[20]) in her work in Italy.[21]
Her use of the title "Countess" was criticized by the Italian consul in Chicago,[22] and her speeches were found to contain "grossly exaggerated" claims of her nursing experiences in the war zone.[3][23] She agreed to stop speaking or collecting money for war relief[24] when New York district attorney Edward Swann inquired about her work.[25][26][27]
Personal life
She married her first husband, an Englishman called Lord Seymour,[28] when she was sixteen; he was killed on their honeymoon in South Africa.[2] She married E. G. Mazzuchi in 1909.[5] She had a daughter named Rita. She divorced her second husband before 1918.[3]
^ ab"Recruiting the Ranks of the Famous Florodora Sextette" 2018-09-15 at the Wayback MachineSan Francisco Examiner (December 29, 1901): 28. via Newspapers.com
^ abcdUnited States Congress, Senate Committee on Military Affairs, Regulating Collection of Money: Hearings Before the Committee on Military Affairs (U.S. Government Printing Office 1919): 23-24.
^"Clarita Vidal" The Royal Magazine (October 1903): 483.
^ ab"To be Married To-Morrow" Sketch (June 30, 1909): 389.
^Jack Drouillard, "Sister Chick, in Trenches since 1914, Decorated Twice for Bravery" 2018-09-16 at the Wayback MachineEvening World (May 21, 1918): 16. via Newspapers.com
^"Countess Gives War Talk Here" 2018-09-16 at the Wayback MachineIndianapolis Star (November 12, 1917): 4. via Newspapers.com
^Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen 2d., "Beauty in the Modern Chorus" Cosmopolitan (March 1903): 494.
^Leslie Stuart, Owen Hall, W. H. Risque, The Silver Slipper: A Musical Comedy (T. B. Harms 1901).
^J. P. Wearing, The London Stage 1900-1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel (Scarecrow Press 2013): 140, 149, 201.ISBN9780810892941
^Billie Burke, With a Feather on my Nose (Pickle Partners Publishing 2015). ISBN9781786256126
^"Wounded Soldiers Nursed in Cellars" 2018-09-16 at the Wayback MachineBoston Globe (December 17, 1915): 4. via Newspapers.com
^"Sails for War Zone with Ambulances" 2018-09-16 at the Wayback MachineChicago Tribune (February 1, 1916): 21. via Newspapers.com
^"Sister Chick the White Devil of Rheims" 2018-09-16 at the Wayback MachineAtlanta Constitution (September 16, 1917): 4. via Newspapers.com
^"Shell-Torn Wounded Tended Under Fire by Woman Nurse and Hospital Organizer on Italian Front" Chicago Commerce (August 3, 1917): 3.
^"Soldiers Worship 'Chick'" Traralgon Record (August 9, 1918): 6. via Trove
^"Italian Nurse Hurt in Aeroplane Raid" New York Times (August 20, 1916): 14. via ProQuest
^Chloe Arnold, "Mrs. Mazzuchi's Work in War Inspiring to Women Throughout the World" 2018-09-16 at the Wayback MachineThe Sun (January 13, 1918): 43. via Newspapers.com
^"'Countess' Ordered to End 'War Fund'" 2018-09-16 at the Wayback MachineNew-York Tribune (August 3, 1918): 7. via Newspapers.com
^"Swann Summons Countess" New York Times (June 23, 1918): 14. via ProQuest
^"Countess Quits War Work" New York Times (August 3, 1918): 16. via ProQuest
^"Wiping Out the War Charity Profiteers and Wasters" 2018-09-15 at the Wayback MachineSan Francisco Examiner (September 22, 1918): 47. via Newspapers.com
^"Italian Countess from War Zone to Make Talk Here" 2018-09-15 at the Wayback MachineIndianapolis Star (November 4, 1917): 61. via Newspapers.com
The 1915 Italian passport of "Chick Mazzuchi", in nurse's uniform; in the collection of the Library of Congress.
"Chick Mazzuchi driving an ambulance in France", a photograph in the collection of the Library of Congress.
April 18, 2023
clarita, vidal, january, 1883, june, 1919, actress, edwardian, musical, comedies, later, known, wartime, work, italy, countess, chiquita, mazzuchi, from, 1903, publicationborn, 1883, january, 1883died17, june, 1919, 1919, aged, other, namescomtesse, gaaverda, . Clarita Vidal 20 January 1883 17 June 1919 was an actress in Edwardian musical comedies later known for her wartime work in Italy as Countess Chiquita Mazzuchi Clarita VidalClarita Vidal from a 1903 publicationBorn 1883 01 20 20 January 1883Died17 June 1919 1919 06 17 aged 36 Other namesComtesse de Gaaverda 1 Mme Daisy MazzuchiCountess Chiquita MazzuchiChick MazzuchiOccupationActressSpouse s Lord Seymour E G Mazzuchi m 1909 div 1917 Children1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditVidal s origins were unclear even to herself I really don t know what my nationality is she confessed to a reporter in 1901 2 She said she was born in Singapore the daughter of a Spanish ambassador and an Englishwoman 3 Elsewhere she was described as a native of the Sunny South raised in Spanish diplomatic circles in Algiers 4 possibly as Chiquita Saavedra de Cervantes 5 6 7 Career Edit Clarita Vidal from a 1909 publication Vidal was a Florodora girl 3 and counted among the beauties of the stage 8 Her Broadway appearances included roles in The Silver Slipper 1902 1903 9 and Cynthia 1903 In London she was seen in The New Regime 1903 The School Girl 1903 and His Highness My Husband 1904 10 All the beauties of the day were in The School Girl recalled actress Billie Burke I remember Clarita Vidal famous and smick smack who posed as if she were made of wax with just one expression of sheer beauty 11 Chick Mazzuchi driving an ambulance from a 1917 publication She married in 1909 and left the stage but reappeared in the news by late 1915 12 as Mme Daisy Mazzuchi 13 or Countess Chiquita Chick Mazzuchi 14 working as a nurse at Latisana or an ambulance driver 15 or both 16 during World War I 17 18 In 1917 she was a speaker at war relief fundraisers in New York 19 telling of wounds she received including a bullet 20 in her work in Italy 21 Her use of the title Countess was criticized by the Italian consul in Chicago 22 and her speeches were found to contain grossly exaggerated claims of her nursing experiences in the war zone 3 23 She agreed to stop speaking or collecting money for war relief 24 when New York district attorney Edward Swann inquired about her work 25 26 27 Personal life EditShe married her first husband an Englishman called Lord Seymour 28 when she was sixteen he was killed on their honeymoon in South Africa 2 She married E G Mazzuchi in 1909 5 She had a daughter named Rita She divorced her second husband before 1918 3 References Edit Sketch A Journal of Art and Actuality 1909 a b Recruiting the Ranks of the Famous Florodora Sextette Archived 2018 09 15 at the Wayback Machine San Francisco Examiner December 29 1901 28 via Newspapers com a b c d United States Congress Senate Committee on Military Affairs Regulating Collection of Money Hearings Before the Committee on Military Affairs U S Government Printing Office 1919 23 24 Clarita Vidal The Royal Magazine October 1903 483 a b To be Married To Morrow Sketch June 30 1909 389 Jack Drouillard Sister Chick in Trenches since 1914 Decorated Twice for Bravery Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Evening World May 21 1918 16 via Newspapers com Countess Gives War Talk Here Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Indianapolis Star November 12 1917 4 via Newspapers com Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen 2d Beauty in the Modern Chorus Cosmopolitan March 1903 494 Leslie Stuart Owen Hall W H Risque The Silver Slipper A Musical Comedy T B Harms 1901 J P Wearing The London Stage 1900 1909 A Calendar of Productions Performers and Personnel Scarecrow Press 2013 140 149 201 ISBN 9780810892941 Billie Burke With a Feather on my Nose Pickle Partners Publishing 2015 ISBN 9781786256126 Wounded Soldiers Nursed in Cellars Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Boston Globe December 17 1915 4 via Newspapers com Sails for War Zone with Ambulances Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Chicago Tribune February 1 1916 21 via Newspapers com Sister Chick the White Devil of Rheims Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Atlanta Constitution September 16 1917 4 via Newspapers com Italy s First Woman Ambulance Driver Here Seeking Aid Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Riverside Daily Press July 18 1917 3 via California Digital Newspaper Collection Shell Torn Wounded Tended Under Fire by Woman Nurse and Hospital Organizer on Italian Front Chicago Commerce August 3 1917 3 Soldiers Worship Chick Traralgon Record August 9 1918 6 via Trove Italian Nurse Hurt in Aeroplane Raid New York Times August 20 1916 14 via ProQuest Chloe Arnold Mrs Mazzuchi s Work in War Inspiring to Women Throughout the World Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine The Sun January 13 1918 43 via Newspapers com Table Gossip Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Boston Globe June 24 1917 57 via Newspapers com Representatives Hear War Speakers Printers Ink October 4 1917 97 Angel of Marne Doffs Halo to Swear Vendetta Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Chicago Tribune November 16 1917 13 via Newspapers com Woman s Title False Italian Consul Says Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Chicago Examiner November 14 1917 1 via Chicago Public Library Countess Ordered to End War Fund Archived 2018 09 16 at the Wayback Machine New York Tribune August 3 1918 7 via Newspapers com Swann Summons Countess New York Times June 23 1918 14 via ProQuest Countess Quits War Work New York Times August 3 1918 16 via ProQuest Wiping Out the War Charity Profiteers and Wasters Archived 2018 09 15 at the Wayback Machine San Francisco Examiner September 22 1918 47 via Newspapers com Italian Countess from War Zone to Make Talk Here Archived 2018 09 15 at the Wayback Machine Indianapolis Star November 4 1917 61 via Newspapers com External links EditClarita Vidal at the Internet Broadway Database A 1904 postcard portrait of Clarita Vidal in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery UK A 1918 news photo of Countess Mazzuchi raising money for the American Red Cross in the collection of the Library of Congress The 1915 Italian passport of Chick Mazzuchi in nurse s uniform in the collection of the Library of Congress Chick Mazzuchi driving an ambulance in France a photograph in the collection of the Library of Congress Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clarita Vidal amp oldid 1144672638, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
