Ethel Levey (November 22, 1880 – February 27, 1955), born Grace Ethelia Fowler, was an American actress, dancer, and singer in musical theatre and on the vaudeville stage. She was the first wife of George M. Cohan, and the second wife of aviator Claude Grahame-White.
Levey was born Grace Ethelia Fowler on November 22 1880 in San Francisco, California.[1] She was the daughter of David Fowler and Mattie McGee.[citation needed] Her stepfather was Solomon Levy; she used another spelling of his surname as her professional name.[1]
Careeredit
Dear Little Girly, Girly sheet music featuring a photo of Levey
Levey made her professional debut in San Francisco, in Charles H. Hoyt's A Milk White Flag in 1897. She appeared regularly on vaudeville programs in New York and on tour. After marrying George M. Cohan, she continued performing with him, in The Governor's Son (1901 and 1906), Running for Office (1903), Little Johnny Jones (1904), and George Washington Jr. (1906).[2] After their divorce, her Broadway appearances included roles in Nearly a Hero (1908),[3]Watch Your Step (1914), Go Easy, Mabel (1922), Sunny River (1941), and Marinka (1945). She was also seen in London, in the revues Hullo Ragtime (1912), Hullo Tango (1913), Look Who's Here! (1916),[4]Follow the Crowd (1916), Three Cheers (1917), Oh! Julie (1920), and Blue Kitten (1925).[1][5][6]
Irving Berlin recalled Levey's slower interpretation of his "Alexander's Ragtime Band": "I remember how upset I was at her rendition of it. The audience, of course, did not agree with me. She was a riot."[7]
She appeared in the film High Stakes (1931) and in a 1940 short comedy, "Tattle Television".
Levey married George M. Cohan in 1899, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[8] They had a daughter, Georgette (1900–1988),[9] before they separated in 1906 and divorced in 1907.[10] She was rumored to be engaged to actor Robert Edeson in 1907.[11][12] There was another rumor that Levey had married a French equestrian, Pierre Crespina, in 1910.[13] Levey and her daughter lived in Paris before World War I.[14] Levey married again, to English aviator Claude Grahame-White, in London in 1916.[15][16] With Grahame-White, she flew over wartime France and regularly commuted by air between Paris and London.[17] Grahame-White disliked her continuing stage career;[18] the couple divorced in 1939.[19][20]
In 1942 she unsuccessfully sued Warner Brothers for invasion of privacy over Yankee Doodle Dandy, a film biography of George M. Cohan. (His domestic life is highly fictionalized in the film.)[21]
Levey died in 1955, aged 74, in New York City.[22]
Referencesedit
^ abcCullen, Frank, Florence Hackman and Donald McNeilly (eds.) "Ethel Levey", Vaudeville Old & New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performances in America, Psychology Press (2004), pp. 679–680. ISBN9780415938532
^"American Best Dressed Says Miss Ethel Levey", Brooklyn Daily Eagle (July 18, 1911), p. 18. via Newspapers.com
^"Ethel Levey Bright of Grahame-White", Boston Globe (December 22, 1916), p. 9. via Newspapers.com
^"When You're Divorced Your Troubles Begin" The Times (December 11, 1921), p. 51. via Newspapers.com
^"About Ethel Levey", Brooklyn Daily Eagle (March 8, 1921), p. 8. via Newspapers.com
^"Grahame-White Detests Stage", Boston Post (March 30, 1921), p. 2. via Newspapers.com
^"Ethel Levey to File Petition for Divorce", The New York Times (December 3, 1937), p. 29.
^"Gay 90's Girl Divorced", Daily News (March 31, 1939), p. 570. via Newspapers.com
^John T. Aquino, Truth and Lives on Film: The Legal Problems of Depicting Real Persons and Events in a Fictional Medium (McFarland 2005), p. 31. ISBN9780786420445
^"Ethel Levey Dies of Heart Attack; Funeral is Tuesday", The Town Talk (February 26, 1955), p. 18. via Newspapers.com
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ethel Levey.
ethel, levey, november, 1880, february, 1955, born, grace, ethelia, fowler, american, actress, dancer, singer, musical, theatre, vaudeville, stage, first, wife, george, cohan, second, wife, aviator, claude, grahame, white, portrait, levey, sarony, published, 1. Ethel Levey November 22 1880 February 27 1955 born Grace Ethelia Fowler was an American actress dancer and singer in musical theatre and on the vaudeville stage She was the first wife of George M Cohan and the second wife of aviator Claude Grahame White Ethel LeveyPortrait of Levey by Sarony published in 1910BornGrace Ethelia Fowler 1880 11 22 November 22 1880San Francisco California USDiedFebruary 27 1955 1955 02 27 aged 74 OccupationActorSpousesGeorge M Cohan m 1899 div 1907 wbr Claude Grahame White m 1916 div 1939 wbr Children1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editLevey was born Grace Ethelia Fowler on November 22 1880 in San Francisco California 1 She was the daughter of David Fowler and Mattie McGee citation needed Her stepfather was Solomon Levy she used another spelling of his surname as her professional name 1 Career edit nbsp Dear Little Girly Girly sheet music featuring a photo of LeveyLevey made her professional debut in San Francisco in Charles H Hoyt s A Milk White Flag in 1897 She appeared regularly on vaudeville programs in New York and on tour After marrying George M Cohan she continued performing with him in The Governor s Son 1901 and 1906 Running for Office 1903 Little Johnny Jones 1904 and George Washington Jr 1906 2 After their divorce her Broadway appearances included roles in Nearly a Hero 1908 3 Watch Your Step 1914 Go Easy Mabel 1922 Sunny River 1941 and Marinka 1945 She was also seen in London in the revues Hullo Ragtime 1912 Hullo Tango 1913 Look Who s Here 1916 4 Follow the Crowd 1916 Three Cheers 1917 Oh Julie 1920 and Blue Kitten 1925 1 5 6 Irving Berlin recalled Levey s slower interpretation of his Alexander s Ragtime Band I remember how upset I was at her rendition of it The audience of course did not agree with me She was a riot 7 She appeared in the film High Stakes 1931 and in a 1940 short comedy Tattle Television Personal life edit nbsp Arnold Daly Irving Berlin Grahame White Levey her daughter Georgette and Georgette s husband 1921Levey married George M Cohan in 1899 in Atlantic City New Jersey 8 They had a daughter Georgette 1900 1988 9 before they separated in 1906 and divorced in 1907 10 She was rumored to be engaged to actor Robert Edeson in 1907 11 12 There was another rumor that Levey had married a French equestrian Pierre Crespina in 1910 13 Levey and her daughter lived in Paris before World War I 14 Levey married again to English aviator Claude Grahame White in London in 1916 15 16 With Grahame White she flew over wartime France and regularly commuted by air between Paris and London 17 Grahame White disliked her continuing stage career 18 the couple divorced in 1939 19 20 In 1942 she unsuccessfully sued Warner Brothers for invasion of privacy over Yankee Doodle Dandy a film biography of George M Cohan His domestic life is highly fictionalized in the film 21 Levey died in 1955 aged 74 in New York City 22 References edit a b c Cullen Frank Florence Hackman and Donald McNeilly eds Ethel Levey Vaudeville Old amp New An Encyclopedia of Variety Performances in America Psychology Press 2004 pp 679 680 ISBN 9780415938532 Ethel Levey AllMusic Scenes in Sam Bernard s New Piece Nearly a Hero Theatre Magazine April 1908 p 91 Our Captious Critic The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News August 5 1916 p 646 Slide Anthony The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville University Press of Mississippi 2012 311 312 ISBN 9781617032509 Hischak Thomas The Oxford Companion to the American Musical Oxford University Press 2008 ISBN 9780199891474 Hamm Charles Irving Berlin Songs from the Melting Pot The Formative Years 1907 1914 Oxford University Press 1997 p 136 ISBN 9780195361148 Cohans have Separated Boston Globe December 28 1906 1 via Newspapers com nbsp Georgette Cohan photographs and memorabilia 1895 1978 New York Public Library Archives amp Manuscripts Ethel Levey Isn t Earning Any Money Now Wichita Beacon October 11 1913 p 11 via Newspapers com nbsp Ethel Levey Injured Washington Post August 25 1907 p 3 via Newspapers com nbsp Strongheart to Wed Ethel Levey Daily Arkansas Gazette March 4 1907 p 4 via Newspapers com nbsp Ethel Levey Married Abroad The New York Times July 8 1910 p 7 via Newspapers com nbsp American Best Dressed Says Miss Ethel Levey Brooklyn Daily Eagle July 18 1911 p 18 via Newspapers com nbsp Ethel Levey Bright of Grahame White Boston Globe December 22 1916 p 9 via Newspapers com nbsp When You re Divorced Your Troubles Begin The Times December 11 1921 p 51 via Newspapers com nbsp About Ethel Levey Brooklyn Daily Eagle March 8 1921 p 8 via Newspapers com nbsp Grahame White Detests Stage Boston Post March 30 1921 p 2 via Newspapers com nbsp Ethel Levey to File Petition for Divorce The New York Times December 3 1937 p 29 Gay 90 s Girl Divorced Daily News March 31 1939 p 570 via Newspapers com nbsp John T Aquino Truth and Lives on Film The Legal Problems of Depicting Real Persons and Events in a Fictional Medium McFarland 2005 p 31 ISBN 9780786420445 Ethel Levey Dies of Heart Attack Funeral is Tuesday The Town Talk February 26 1955 p 18 via Newspapers com nbsp External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ethel Levey Ethel Levey at IMDb Ethel Levey at the Internet Broadway Database Ethel Levey at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ethel Levey amp oldid 1162919112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
