Elita Proctor Otis (1851 or 1860 – August 10, 1927) was an American actress.[1] She had a long distinguished stage career before her foray into early silent films. In 1909 she may have been the first actress to play Nancy Sikes on screen in a Vitagraph produced version of Oliver Twist.[2]
She was born around 1860 in Cleveland, Ohio.[3] Her father, William Henry Otis,[4] was a banker.[5]Redfield Proctor, who was a senator from Vermont, was her great-uncle.[4]
Otis's stage debut came with the Kemble Dramatic Society.[6] She made her professional debut as Ernestine Echo in Crust of Society at the Globe Theatre in Boston.[7]
Broadway plays in which Otis performed included The House of Bondage (1914), Potash and Perlmutter (1913), Are You a Crook? (1913), The Purple Road (1913), The Greyhound (1912), The Three Romeos (1911), The Girl from Rector's (1909), Mary's Lamb (1908), Society and the Bulldog (1908), The Little Michus (1907), About Town (1906), The Two Orphans (1904), In the Midst of Life (1902), The Brixton Burglary (1901), Quo Vadis (1900), Woman and Wine (1900), and A Ward of France (1897).[8]
For the last 12 years of her life she was an invalid. She died on August 10, 1927, in Pelham, New York.[1] Her funeral was held at the Church of the Transfiguration on August 17, 1927, and she was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.[11]
Filmographyedit
Adventures of a Drummer Boy (1909) (credited as Elita Otis)
^ ab"Elita Proctor Otis Dies. Once Prominent Actress Had Been an Invalid for 12 Years". The New York Times. August 15, 1927.
^Pictorial History of the Silent Screen by Daniel Blum c. 1953 pg. 14
^The 1870 census lists an "Ella P. Otis" born in 1860 and this may be her. Her parents were married on 14 September 1860. She listed herself as age 30 on 27 June 1901 on her marriage license. This would have her born in 1874. In the 1920 census her age would have her born in 1871. IMDB and IBDB use "1851" but the primary source for that information is not known.
^ abBrowne, Walter; Koch, E. De Roy (1908). Who's Who on the Stage ... W. Browne & F. A. Austin. pp. 336–337. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
^Fisher, James; Londré, Felicia Hardison (November 22, 2017). Historical Dictionary of American Theater: Modernism. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 502. ISBN978-1-5381-0786-7. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
^"Elita Proctor Otis at the Columbia". The Brooklyn Citizen. February 15, 1903. p. 16. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Theatres This Week". The Baltimore Sun. April 27, 1902. p. 8. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^. Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^"Mrs. Thorne wins in $100,000 suit". The New York Times. June 13, 1926. p. 26. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
^"William C. Camp". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 8, 1935. p. N 11. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
^"Ella Proctor Otis Rites". The New York Times. August 18, 1927. p. 21. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elita Proctor Otis.
elita, proctor, otis, 1851, 1860, august, 1927, american, actress, long, distinguished, stage, career, before, foray, into, early, silent, films, 1909, have, been, first, actress, play, nancy, sikes, screen, vitagraph, produced, version, oliver, twist, portrai. Elita Proctor Otis 1851 or 1860 August 10 1927 was an American actress 1 She had a long distinguished stage career before her foray into early silent films In 1909 she may have been the first actress to play Nancy Sikes on screen in a Vitagraph produced version of Oliver Twist 2 Elita Proctor Otisportrait of Proctor OtisBorn1860 1860 Cleveland Ohio U S DiedAugust 10 1927 1927 08 10 aged 66 67 Pelham New York U S NationalityAmericanOccupationActressYears active1909 1926SpouseWilliam C CampRelativesRedfield Proctor great uncle Contents 1 Early years and career 2 Later years and death 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksEarly years and career editShe was born around 1860 in Cleveland Ohio 3 Her father William Henry Otis 4 was a banker 5 Redfield Proctor who was a senator from Vermont was her great uncle 4 Otis s stage debut came with the Kemble Dramatic Society 6 She made her professional debut as Ernestine Echo in Crust of Society at the Globe Theatre in Boston 7 Broadway plays in which Otis performed included The House of Bondage 1914 Potash and Perlmutter 1913 Are You a Crook 1913 The Purple Road 1913 The Greyhound 1912 The Three Romeos 1911 The Girl from Rector s 1909 Mary s Lamb 1908 Society and the Bulldog 1908 The Little Michus 1907 About Town 1906 The Two Orphans 1904 In the Midst of Life 1902 The Brixton Burglary 1901 Quo Vadis 1900 Woman and Wine 1900 and A Ward of France 1897 8 Later years and death editOtis was married to William C Camp 9 10 For the last 12 years of her life she was an invalid She died on August 10 1927 in Pelham New York 1 Her funeral was held at the Church of the Transfiguration on August 17 1927 and she was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery 11 Filmography editAdventures of a Drummer Boy 1909 credited as Elita Otis Oliver Twist 1909 as Nancy Sykes Les Miserables Part I 1909 aka The Galley Slave A Midsummer Night s Dream 1909 as Hippolyta The Great Diamond Robbery 1914 as Mother Rosenbaum The Greyhound 1914 as Deep Sea Kitty Doyle The Triflers 1920 as Olita Otis as Effie Stilwell Under Northern Lights 1920 credited as Oleta Ottis as Madge Carson The Torrent 1921 credited as Oleta Ottis as Anne Mayhew While the Devil Laughs 1921 credited as Oleta Ottis as Pearl De La Marr The Secret of the Hills 1921 credited as Oleta Otis as Mrs Miltimore The Infidel 1922 credited as Oleta Otis as Miss Parliss Refuge 1923 credited as Olita Otis as The Princess Miss Nobody 1926 credited as Oleta Otis as Miriam Arnold The Lost Express 1926 as Mrs Arthur StandishReferences edit a b Elita Proctor Otis Dies Once Prominent Actress Had Been an Invalid for 12 Years The New York Times August 15 1927 Pictorial History of the Silent Screen by Daniel Blum c 1953 pg 14 The 1870 census lists an Ella P Otis born in 1860 and this may be her Her parents were married on 14 September 1860 She listed herself as age 30 on 27 June 1901 on her marriage license This would have her born in 1874 In the 1920 census her age would have her born in 1871 IMDB and IBDB use 1851 but the primary source for that information is not known a b Browne Walter Koch E De Roy 1908 Who s Who on the Stage W Browne amp F A Austin pp 336 337 Retrieved June 12 2021 Fisher James Londre Felicia Hardison November 22 2017 Historical Dictionary of American Theater Modernism Rowman amp Littlefield p 502 ISBN 978 1 5381 0786 7 Retrieved June 12 2021 Elita Proctor Otis at the Columbia The Brooklyn Citizen February 15 1903 p 16 Retrieved June 12 2021 via Newspapers com Theatres This Week The Baltimore Sun April 27 1902 p 8 Retrieved June 12 2021 via Newspapers com Elita Proctor Otis Internet Broadway Database The Broadway League Archived from the original on March 8 2021 Retrieved March 8 2021 Mrs Thorne wins in 100 000 suit The New York Times June 13 1926 p 26 Retrieved June 12 2021 William C Camp The New York Times Associated Press December 8 1935 p N 11 Retrieved June 12 2021 Ella Proctor Otis Rites The New York Times August 18 1927 p 21 Retrieved June 12 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elita Proctor Otis Elita Proctor Otis at IMDb Elita Proctor Otis at the Internet Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elita Proctor Otis amp oldid 1181392624, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
