Emelie Melville (c. 1852 – 8 July 1932),[1] also known as Emelie Melville Derby, was an American actress, a star of comic opera, who had a considerable career in Australia.
She was the first in America to play the title role in The Grand Duchess, in San Francisco.[3][a] Around this time she married Thomas Derby; they were divorced by 1884.[4]
She first arrived in Australia in 1875 under engagement to W. S. Lyster to play in a series of operettas in Sydney, followed by Melbourne's Opera House, to packed houses.
She made a return tour of Australia in 1882.[3] A dispute over her contract led to her suing the J. C. Williamson organisation in 1883.[5] Costs involved led to her declaring insolvency in Melbourne.[6] In September 1884 she left Melbourne for India, heading a large company of performers[7] as the Emelie Melville Opera Company.
Returning to San Francisco a few months before her death in 1932, she told an interviewer: "I've had a long life with much in it. I longed for glory and life and I got it. I saw the world and met royal people. Now I'm back in good old San Francisco—with my heart back to those old days."[8]
Notesedit
^According to IBDB the Offenbach operetta's first American production was in New York (17 Jun 1868 – 18 July 1868)
Referencesedit
^ ab"The Woman's World". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 17, 208. Victoria, Australia. 9 July 1932. p. 22. Retrieved 27 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Emelie Melville". Daily Mercury. Vol. 64, no. 182. Queensland, Australia. 1 August 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 27 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Divorced". The Bulletin. Vol. 1, no. 39. 9 February 1844. Retrieved 27 March 2021 – via Trove.
^"A Theatrical Dispute". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 11, 449. Victoria, Australia. 1 March 1883. p. 4. Retrieved 27 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Insolvent Court". The Australasian. Vol. XXXVI, no. 939. Victoria, Australia. 29 March 1884. p. 20. Retrieved 27 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Figaro". The Lorgnette. Vol. XXXV. Victoria, Australia. 29 September 1884. p. 4 (Edition 1). Retrieved 27 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Miss Melville, Stage Star of Old days, Dies". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 21 May 1932. Retrieved 26 September 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
emelie, melville, 1852, july, 1932, also, known, derby, american, actress, star, comic, opera, considerable, career, australia, contents, history, notes, references, external, linkshistory, editshe, born, philadelphia, first, appeared, stage, several, juvenile. Emelie Melville c 1852 8 July 1932 1 also known as Emelie Melville Derby was an American actress a star of comic opera who had a considerable career in Australia Emelie Melville Contents 1 History 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksHistory editShe was born in Philadelphia and first appeared on stage at the age of 10 in several juvenile parts At age 16 she played Ophelia to John Wilkes Booth s Hamlet 2 She was the first in America to play the title role in The Grand Duchess in San Francisco 3 a Around this time she married Thomas Derby they were divorced by 1884 4 She first arrived in Australia in 1875 under engagement to W S Lyster to play in a series of operettas in Sydney followed by Melbourne s Opera House to packed houses She made a return tour of Australia in 1882 3 A dispute over her contract led to her suing the J C Williamson organisation in 1883 5 Costs involved led to her declaring insolvency in Melbourne 6 In September 1884 she left Melbourne for India heading a large company of performers 7 as the Emelie Melville Opera Company Around 1930 she had a small part in Margaret Anglin s revival of A Woman of No Importance which was greatly appreciated by the audience 1 Returning to San Francisco a few months before her death in 1932 she told an interviewer I ve had a long life with much in it I longed for glory and life and I got it I saw the world and met royal people Now I m back in good old San Francisco with my heart back to those old days 8 Notes edit According to IBDB the Offenbach operetta s first American production was in New York 17 Jun 1868 18 July 1868 References edit a b The Woman s World The Herald Melbourne No 17 208 Victoria Australia 9 July 1932 p 22 Retrieved 27 March 2021 via National Library of Australia Emelie Melville Daily Mercury Vol 64 no 182 Queensland Australia 1 August 1930 p 10 Retrieved 27 March 2021 via National Library of Australia a b Our Illustration The Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern Coast Advertiser Vol XX no 95 New South Wales Australia 8 December 1883 p 1 Retrieved 27 March 2021 via National Library of Australia Divorced The Bulletin Vol 1 no 39 9 February 1844 Retrieved 27 March 2021 via Trove A Theatrical Dispute The Argus Melbourne No 11 449 Victoria Australia 1 March 1883 p 4 Retrieved 27 March 2021 via National Library of Australia Insolvent Court The Australasian Vol XXXVI no 939 Victoria Australia 29 March 1884 p 20 Retrieved 27 March 2021 via National Library of Australia Figaro The Lorgnette Vol XXXV Victoria Australia 29 September 1884 p 4 Edition 1 Retrieved 27 March 2021 via National Library of Australia Miss Melville Stage Star of Old days Dies San Francisco Examiner San Francisco California 21 May 1932 Retrieved 26 September 2022 via Newspapers com External links editEmelie Melville at IMDb nbsp Emelie Melville at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Emelie Melville at Playbill Vault nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Emelie Melville amp oldid 1181293586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
