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Margaret McWade

January 01, 1970

Margaret McWade (born Margaret May Fish; September 3, 1871 – April 1, 1956) was an American stage and film actress. She began her career in vaudeville in the early 1890s. Her most memorable role was as one of the Pixilated Sisters, a comedic stage act with actress Margaret Seddon. Later in 1936, they reprised their roles in the movie Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.

Margaret McWade
McWade with Louis Calhern in The Blot (1921)
Born
Margaret May Fish

(1871-09-03)September 3, 1871
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 1, 1956(1956-04-01) (aged 84)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Burial placeRosehill Cemetery
Other namesMargaret May
OccupationActress
Years active1892–1945
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1897; died 1943)​

Biography edit

Margaret May Fish was born September 3, 1871, in Chicago, Illinois, the eldest of three daughters. A number of short biographies state that Fish was born in 1872;[citation needed] however, the 1900 U.S. Census reports her birth in 1871.[1]

Career edit

During her early career, Margaret May Fish went by the stage name Margaret May.[2][3][4][page needed] In the late 1890s, while performing in vaudeville, she met fellow actress Margaret Seddon. The two actresses teamed to create a stage act known as the Pixillated Sisters. The act proved to be a hit for the duo. Years later, they would reprise the Pixilated Sisters in the 1936 movie Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.

On September 4, 1897, she married actor Edward McWade. The couple had appeared in a number of stage performances together in Boston and New York before their marriage, starting in March 1892. They were cast as supporting characters in County Fair at the Whitney Opera House. Until late 1919, Margaret continued to use her stage name Margaret May.[5]

McWade made her screen debut in the 1914 silent film The Drama of Heyville, starring Marc McDermott and directed by Ashley Miller. She was under contract to the Edison Film Company and was later picked up by the Vitagraph Film Company. She acted in a total of 59 films from 1914 to 1954.[citation needed]

Between films, she was a prolific stage actress, touring the U.S. with various theatrical companies. She also toured with her husband in theater shows, several of which he wrote. In April 1901, Edward McWade wrote and produced the play Winchester at the American Theater in New York. The play was based upon an event during the Civil War. He wrote a supporting role for his wife. In 1902, he wrote the play The Land of Mystery, a romantic drama in which Margaret also had a role.[6][4]

In 1922, Margaret was cast in the movie The Blot, produced and directed by Lois Weber and considered by many critics to be Weber's greatest film. McWade played Mrs. Griggs, and she is described in reviews as the "old mother hubbard, shouldering most of the burden for the penny pinching family". The movie received critical acclaim, which paved the way for more acting roles. McWade was most often described as playing the mother, aunt, older sister, spinster, and later in her career, the grandmother. In the Louisiana newspaper Monroe Morning World on June 5, 1938, she is described physically as "the one with the angular face and black hair".[7][8][9]

In 1935, producers approached both McWade and Seddon and asked them to reprise their roles as the Pixilated Sisters for the 1936 movie Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, starring Gary Cooper and directed by Frank Capra. In the film, the two actresses play sisters who believe that Cooper's character is "pixilated". Reprising these characters set off a brief resurgence of stage and film performances for the duo. In The Corsicana Daily Sun, McWade is quoted regarding having played the Pixilated Sisters in the movie: "it's a one chance in a million, like something out of a book. It's not hard to understand. It wasn't we who clicked individually or even collectively. It was a grand part. If you recall, we turned the tide by our testimony in favor of Gary Cooper at an insanity hearing. He was a beloved character, and by helping him we helped ourselves."[citation needed]

The two actresses teamed for a variety of films throughout the late 1930s and into the 1940s, often playing spinster sisters in comedic roles written for them, such as One Man's Bonus. After 1936, they often were billed in newspapers and posters as those "beloved Pixilated Sisters".[10][11]

Later years and death edit

Two years after performing in her last movie, Margaret McWade died on April 1, 1956, in Los Angeles at the age of 83. She was buried in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois in Rosehill Cemetery.[12][13]

Stage performances edit

  • 1892: The County Fair. The Whitney Opera House; Boston, MA; ** Edward McWade in production.[14]
  • 1893: Comic Stage Sketches. Boston, MA; **Edward McWade in production.[15]
  • 1901: Winchester. The American Theater, New York; Written by Edward McWade.[6]
  • 1902: The Land of Mystery. New York Theater Company; New York; Written by husband Edward McWade.[4]
  • 1912: Robert A. Hudson Theater; San Francisco, CA; New York Stage Production Company.[16]
  • 1925: The Painted Lady.The William Fox Players. Touring theatrical show. Bar Harbor Maine.[17]

Partial filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ 1900, United States Census, West Township, Cook County, Illinois; pg. 13, family 208, dwelling 849, lines 31-34; June 12, 1900.
  2. ^ Edward McWade, Margaret May, theater review, Fitchburg [MA] Sentinel, May 30, 1892.
  3. ^ Edward McWade, Margaret May theater review, Boston, MA, Boston Sunday Post, January 23, 1893.
  4. ^ a b c Margaret May theater review, New York Times, May 2, 1902.
  5. ^ "The County Fair". Fitchburg Sentinel. March 30, 1892. p. 6. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "The Week's Playbills". The New York Times. April 21, 1901. p. 20. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Strangers click as film sisters". Monroe Morning World. Louisiana, Monroe. June 5, 1938. p. 26. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Lois Weber movie review, tcm.com, October 31, 2014.
  9. ^ Lois Weber, The Blot movie review, Medicine Hat Daily News, May 29, 1922, pg. 6.
  10. ^ Margaret McWade movie review, New York, New York, The New York Times; July 31, 1936; pg. 22.
  11. ^ Margaret McWade movie review, The Corsicana [TX] Daily Sun, November 14, 1936.
  12. ^ Death Record for Margaret May McWade, September 3, 1956, California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics.
  13. ^ Wilson, Scott (August 19, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). McFarland & Company. p. 506. ISBN 9781476625997. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ Theater review, Fitchburg [MA] Sentinel, March 30, 1892.
  15. ^ Theater review, Boston Sunday Post, January 23, 1893.
  16. ^ Theater review, San Francisco Call, June 13, 1912, pg. 15.
  17. ^ Theater Review, "The Painted Lady", Bar Harbor Times, July 15, 1925.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Margaret McWade.

January 01, 1970
margaret, mcwade, born, margaret, fish, september, 1871, april, 1956, american, stage, film, actress, began, career, vaudeville, early, 1890s, most, memorable, role, pixilated, sisters, comedic, stage, with, actress, margaret, seddon, later, 1936, they, repris. Margaret McWade born Margaret May Fish September 3 1871 April 1 1956 was an American stage and film actress She began her career in vaudeville in the early 1890s Her most memorable role was as one of the Pixilated Sisters a comedic stage act with actress Margaret Seddon Later in 1936 they reprised their roles in the movie Mr Deeds Goes to Town Margaret McWadeMcWade with Louis Calhern in The Blot 1921 BornMargaret May Fish 1871 09 03 September 3 1871Chicago Illinois U S DiedApril 1 1956 1956 04 01 aged 84 Los Angeles California U S Burial placeRosehill CemeteryOther namesMargaret MayOccupationActressYears active1892 1945SpouseEdward McWade m 1897 died 1943 wbr Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 Later years and death 4 Stage performances 5 Partial filmography 6 References 7 External linksBiography editMargaret May Fish was born September 3 1871 in Chicago Illinois the eldest of three daughters A number of short biographies state that Fish was born in 1872 citation needed however the 1900 U S Census reports her birth in 1871 1 Career editDuring her early career Margaret May Fish went by the stage name Margaret May 2 3 4 page needed In the late 1890s while performing in vaudeville she met fellow actress Margaret Seddon The two actresses teamed to create a stage act known as the Pixillated Sisters The act proved to be a hit for the duo Years later they would reprise the Pixilated Sisters in the 1936 movie Mr Deeds Goes to Town On September 4 1897 she married actor Edward McWade The couple had appeared in a number of stage performances together in Boston and New York before their marriage starting in March 1892 They were cast as supporting characters in County Fair at the Whitney Opera House Until late 1919 Margaret continued to use her stage name Margaret May 5 McWade made her screen debut in the 1914 silent film The Drama of Heyville starring Marc McDermott and directed by Ashley Miller She was under contract to the Edison Film Company and was later picked up by the Vitagraph Film Company She acted in a total of 59 films from 1914 to 1954 citation needed Between films she was a prolific stage actress touring the U S with various theatrical companies She also toured with her husband in theater shows several of which he wrote In April 1901 Edward McWade wrote and produced the play Winchester at the American Theater in New York The play was based upon an event during the Civil War He wrote a supporting role for his wife In 1902 he wrote the play The Land of Mystery a romantic drama in which Margaret also had a role 6 4 In 1922 Margaret was cast in the movie The Blot produced and directed by Lois Weber and considered by many critics to be Weber s greatest film McWade played Mrs Griggs and she is described in reviews as the old mother hubbard shouldering most of the burden for the penny pinching family The movie received critical acclaim which paved the way for more acting roles McWade was most often described as playing the mother aunt older sister spinster and later in her career the grandmother In the Louisiana newspaper Monroe Morning World on June 5 1938 she is described physically as the one with the angular face and black hair 7 8 9 In 1935 producers approached both McWade and Seddon and asked them to reprise their roles as the Pixilated Sisters for the 1936 movie Mr Deeds Goes to Town starring Gary Cooper and directed by Frank Capra In the film the two actresses play sisters who believe that Cooper s character is pixilated Reprising these characters set off a brief resurgence of stage and film performances for the duo In The Corsicana Daily Sun McWade is quoted regarding having played the Pixilated Sisters in the movie it s a one chance in a million like something out of a book It s not hard to understand It wasn t we who clicked individually or even collectively It was a grand part If you recall we turned the tide by our testimony in favor of Gary Cooper at an insanity hearing He was a beloved character and by helping him we helped ourselves citation needed The two actresses teamed for a variety of films throughout the late 1930s and into the 1940s often playing spinster sisters in comedic roles written for them such as One Man s Bonus After 1936 they often were billed in newspapers and posters as those beloved Pixilated Sisters 10 11 Later years and death editTwo years after performing in her last movie Margaret McWade died on April 1 1956 in Los Angeles at the age of 83 She was buried in her hometown of Chicago Illinois in Rosehill Cemetery 12 13 Stage performances edit1892 The County Fair The Whitney Opera House Boston MA Edward McWade in production 14 1893 Comic Stage Sketches Boston MA Edward McWade in production 15 1901 Winchester The American Theater New York Written by Edward McWade 6 1902 The Land of Mystery New York Theater Company New York Written by husband Edward McWade 4 1912 Robert A Hudson Theater San Francisco CA New York Stage Production Company 16 1925 The Painted Lady The William Fox Players Touring theatrical show Bar Harbor Maine 17 Partial filmography editThe Man Who Disappeared 1914 serial Landlady Ch 4 Blue Jeans 1917 Cindy Tutwiler To Hell with the Kaiser 1918 Flower of the Dusk 1918 Miriam The Great Victory 1919 Nurse Edith Cavell The Broken Commandments 1919 Mrs Banard When a Man Loves 1919 Yaki Stronger Than Death 1920 Mrs Boucicault The Confession 1920 Mrs Bartlett Shore Acres 1920 Ann Berry Martin s Wife Alias Miss Dodd 1920 Sarah Ross Darling Mine 1920 Agnes McCarthy Food for Scandal 1920 Senora Maria Serra The Blue Moon 1920 The Iron gray Woman Her Beloved Villain 1920 Madame Bergomat A Tale of Two Worlds 1921 Attendant The Foolish Matrons 1921 Mrs Eugenia Sheridan The Blot 1921 Mrs Theodore Griggs Garments of Truth 1921 Mrs Crope Her Mad Bargain 1921 Mrs Dunn Alice Adams 1923 Mrs Adams Broken Barriers 1924 Mrs Durland The Cyclone Rider 1924 Mrs Armstrong The Painted Lady 1924 Mrs Smith Sundown 1924 Mrs Brent The Lost World 1925 Mrs Challenger White Fang 1925 Mrs Black High Steppers 1926 Mrs Clancy Women Who Dare 1928 Mrs Kelly Una nueva y gloriosa nacion 1928 Balcarce s Mother Manslaughter 1930 Prison inmate uncredited The Last Days of Pompeii 1935 Calvus Wife uncredited Mr Deeds Goes to Town 1936 Amy uncredited Postal Inspector 1936 Old Maid Mrs Compton uncredited Theodora Goes Wild 1936 Aunt Elsie Let s Make a Million 1936 Aunt Lucy Lost Horizon 1937 Missionary uncredited We Have Our Moments 1937 Woman in Stateroom uncredited Wings Over Honolulu 1937 Nellie Curtis Love in a Bungalow 1937 Miss Lydia Bisbee Danger Love at Work 1937 Aunt Patty Forbidden Valley 1938 Mrs Scudd Holiday 1938 Farmer s Wife scenes deleted Having Wonderful Time 1938 Mrs G uncredited The Texans 1938 Middle Aged Lady uncredited Service de Luxe 1938 Small Towner uncredited I Stole a Million 1939 Matron uncredited When Tomorrow Comes 1939 Woman uncredited The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1939 Younger Sister uncredited Framed 1940 Nosy Woman uncredited Strike Up the Band 1940 Old Lady scenes deleted Remedy for Riches 1940 Gertrude Purdy The Remarkable Andrew 1942 Mrs Ballard uncredited Scattergood Survives a Murder 1942 Lydia Quentin The Meanest Man in the World 1943 Lady with Umbrella uncredited I Dood It 1943 Woman in Front Row uncredited The Man Who Dared 1946 Mrs Cheever uncredited It s a Joke Son 1947 Jennifer Whipple Copacabana 1947 Old Lady Witness uncredited The Bishop s Wife 1947 Miss Trumbull It Should Happen to You 1954 Elderly Lady at Macy s uncredited References edit 1900 United States Census West Township Cook County Illinois pg 13 family 208 dwelling 849 lines 31 34 June 12 1900 Edward McWade Margaret May theater review Fitchburg MA Sentinel May 30 1892 Edward McWade Margaret May theater review Boston MA Boston Sunday Post January 23 1893 a b c Margaret May theater review New York Times May 2 1902 The County Fair Fitchburg Sentinel March 30 1892 p 6 Retrieved November 28 2021 via Newspapers com a b The Week s Playbills The New York Times April 21 1901 p 20 Retrieved November 28 2021 via Newspapers com Strangers click as film sisters Monroe Morning World Louisiana Monroe June 5 1938 p 26 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Lois Weber movie review tcm com October 31 2014 Lois Weber The Blot movie review Medicine Hat Daily News May 29 1922 pg 6 Margaret McWade movie review New York New York The New York Times July 31 1936 pg 22 Margaret McWade movie review The Corsicana TX Daily Sun November 14 1936 Death Record for Margaret May McWade September 3 1956 California Department of Public Health Center for Health Statistics Wilson Scott August 19 2016 Resting Places The Burial Sites of More Than 14 000 Famous Persons 3rd ed McFarland amp Company p 506 ISBN 9781476625997 Retrieved November 28 2021 via Google Books Theater review Fitchburg MA Sentinel March 30 1892 Theater review Boston Sunday Post January 23 1893 Theater review San Francisco Call June 13 1912 pg 15 Theater Review The Painted Lady Bar Harbor Times July 15 1925 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Margaret McWade Margaret McWade at IMDb Margaret McWade at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margaret McWade amp oldid 1218375599, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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