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Euphemia "Effie" Ellsler (September 17, 1855 – October 8, 1942) was an American actress of stage and screen whose career had its beginnings when she was a child and lasted well into the 1930s. She was best remembered over her early career for playing the title role in Steele MacKaye's hit play ''
Hazel Kirke ''Hazel Kirke'' is a play in four acts written by American actor and dramatist Steele MacKaye. Overview The play was written between 1878 and 1879 in the town of Dublin, New Hampshire.Quinn, p. 497 MacKaye meant it to be expressly for New York ...
'', and as the self-sacrificing Bessie Barton in Frank Harver's ''Woman Against Woman''. Ellsler remained active during her later years appearing between 1901 and 1936 in at least six Broadway productions and twenty-two motion pictures.


Early life

Euphemia "Effie" Ellsler was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of actors John and Euphemia "Effie" (née Murray) Ellsler. She first appeared on stage at the age of three in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Academy of Music; by then under the management of her father. Ellsler's first role was the Genie of the Ring in a production called, ''Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp ''. At age four she was cast as Little Eva in an adaptation of
Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (; June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was an American author and abolitionist. She came from the religious Beecher family and became best known for her novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1852), which depicts the harsh ...
's ''
Uncle Tom's Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U. ...
''. As a young girl Ellsler often was asked to play juvenile roles with her father's stock company while attending school at the local Ursuline Convent and, with the aid of her mother, ballet dance classes.''The_Illustrated_American
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It was during this period, and while still very young, she was called upon to do one of the apparitions in ''Macbeth.'' At the cue, she appeared behind the boiling caldron, when a flash of red fire startled her and caused her to forget her lines. Suddenly recovering her presence of mind, she thrust her hand into the bosom of her dress, drew forth a book of the play, and read the words. ''The Illustrated American,'' 1892


Stage

At the age of sixteen Ellsler became a regular player with her father's company performing roles ranging from minor
bit parts In acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British televisi ...
to a
leading lady A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typica ...
in Shakespearean plays. When she was about twenty-three Ellsler starred at her father's new Euclid Avenue Opera House in the original production of '' A Heroine in Rags'', a comedy-drama written specifically for her by the playwright
Bartley Campbell Bartley Theodore Campbell (August 12, 1843 – July 30, 1888) was an American playwright of the latter 19th century. Early years Campbell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 12, 1843, to parents who had emigrated from Ireland. His wr ...
.Effie Ellsler, 87, Retired Actress. ''The New York Times'', October 10, 1942, p. 15 Ellsler's big break came in 1880 when she created the title role in ''Hazel Kirke'' at the
Madison Square Theatre ''The Madison Square Theatre'' was a Broadway theatre in Manhattan, on the south side of 24th Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway (which intersects Fifth Avenue near that point.) It was built in 1863, operated as a theater from 1865 to 1908, ...
, New York. She continued in the part, nearly without break, for three years and only stopped after her doctor advised her to do so. On November 26, 1884, in New York, Ellsler opened as Priscilla Sefton at the
Union Square Theatre Union Square Theatre was the name of two different theatres near Union Square, Manhattan, New York City. The first was a Broadway theatre that opened in 1870, was converted into a cinema in 1921 and closed in 1936.(8 October 1921)Two landmarks to ...
in the American debut of Robert W. Buchanan's ''Storm Beaten'' and at the same venue two months later appeared as Mabel Blair in the premier production of Bartley Campbell's '' Separation.'' By late 1885 journalist
Marcus Klaw Marc Klaw, (born Marcus Alonzo Klaw, May 29, 1858 – June 14, 1936) was an American lawyer, theatrical producer, theater owner, and a leading figure of the Theatrical Syndicate. Life and work Referred to as both Mark and Marc, he was born in P ...
had signed Ellsler to star in a national tour of the Frank Harver play, ''Woman Against Woman,'' a drama that tells the story of Bessie Barton and her sacrifice that saved the reputation of an ungrateful sister. With
A. L. Erlanger Abraham Lincoln Erlanger (May 4, 1859 – March 7, 1930) was an American theatrical producer, director, designer, theater owner, and a leading figure of the Theatrical Syndicate. Biography Erlanger was born to a Jewish family
as the company's advance man ''Woman Against Woman'' with Ellsler toured successfully for three seasons. Over the following decades plays of note that Ellsler starred in, either in New York or on the road, would include ''Camille'' from the novel by
Alexandre Dumas, fils Alexandre Dumas (; 27 July 1824 – 27 November 1895) was a French author and playwright, best known for the romantic novel ''La Dame aux Camélias'' (''The Lady of the Camellias''), published in 1848, which was adapted into Giuseppe Verdi's 1 ...
, Clinton Stuart's ''The Keepsake'', ''Judge Not'' by Frank Hervey, Laura Don's ''Egypt: or a Daughter of the Nile'' and as
Julia Marlowe Julia Marlowe (born Sarah Frances Frost; August 17, 1865 – November 12, 1950) was an English-born American actress, known for her interpretations of William Shakespeare's plays. Life and career Marlowe was born as Sarah Frances Frost at Cald ...
's replacement in ''
Barbara Frietchie ''Barbara Frietchie, The Frederick Girl'' is a play in four acts by Clyde Fitch and based on the heroine of John Greenleaf Whittier's poem "Barbara Frietchie" (based on a real person: Barbara Fritchie). Fitch takes a good bit of artistic libe ...
'' by
Clyde Fitch Clyde Fitch (May 2, 1865 – September 4, 1909) was an American dramatist, the most popular writer for the Broadway stage of his time (c. 1890–1909). Biography Born in Elmira, New York, and educated at Holderness School and Amherst College (c ...
. Ellsler last appeared on the Broadway stage at the
Morosco Theatre The Morosco Theatre was a Broadway theatre near Times Square in New York City from 1917 to 1982. It housed many notable productions and its demolition, along with four adjacent theaters, was controversial. History Located at 217 West 45th Stree ...
in September 1922 after a two-year run in '' The Bat'', a three-act mystery melodrama by
Mary Roberts Rinehart Mary Roberts Rinehart (August 12, 1876September 22, 1958) was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie.Keating, H.R.F., ''The Bedside Companion to Crime''. New York: Mysterious Press, 1989, p. 170. Rinehart published her fir ...
and Avery Hopwood. Two nights before the play's finale, Ellsler collapsed during her performance, but against advice, insisted on returning for the play's last two engagements.


Film

Ellsler made her film debut in '' Old Ironsides'' (1926), playing
Esther Ralston Esther Ralston (born Esther Louise Worth, September 17, 1902 – January 14, 1994) was an iconic American silent film star. Her most prominent sound picture was '' To the Last Man'' in 1933. Early life and career Ralston was born Esther Loui ...
's mother. Over a ten-year span she appeared in at least 22 pictures, including ''
The Front Page ''The Front Page'' is a Broadway comedy about newspaper reporters on the police beat. Written by former Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, it was first produced in 1928 and has been adapted for the cinema several times. Plot The ...
'' (1931) as
Mary Brian Mary Brian (born Louise Byrdie Dantzler, February 17, 1906 – December 30, 2002) was an American actress who made the transition from silent films to sound films. Early life Brian was born in Corsicana, Texas, the daughter of Taurrence J. ...
's mother, '' Daddy Long Legs'' (1931) in the role of Mrs. Semple, '' Black Fury'' (1935) playing Bubitschka, and the Western ''
Drift Fence ''Drift Fence'' (reissued as ''Texas Desperadoes'') is a 1936 American Western film, directed by Otho Lovering and released by Paramount Pictures. The film's sets were designed by art director David S. Garber. Cast * Buster Crabbe as "Slin ...
'' (1936) as Granny Dunn. She retired after playing Grandma Duval in the
Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragedy, ...
film version of Dumas' '' Camille'' (1936).


Marriage

Ellsler married fellow actor Frank Weston on May 25, 1881, in Chicago. Weston was a respected actor who had played opposite
Edwin Booth Edwin Thomas Booth (November 13, 1833 – June 7, 1893) was an American actor who toured throughout the United States and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869, he founded Booth's Theatre in New York. Some theatri ...
,
Edward Loomis Davenport Edward Loomis Davenport (1816September 1, 1877) was an American actor. Life and career Born in Boston, he made his first appearance on the stage in Providence, Rhode Island in support of Junius Brutus Booth. Afterwards he went to England, where ...
and
Lawrence Barrett Lawrence Barrett (April 4, 1838 – March 20, 1891) was an American stage actor. Biography A native of Paterson, New Jersey, Barrett was born in 1838 to Mary Agnes (née Read) Barrett and tailor Thomas Barrett, Irish immigrants who had settle ...
, and had been a leading actor at Mcvicker's Theatre in Chicago and with John Ellsler's company in Cleveland. Later Weston and Effie Ellsler would form their own stock company active over the latter years of the nineteenth century. Weston, who as a boy served in the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
, died at the age of 70 on January 27, 1922, from
pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
after a three days illness. Ellsler received the news of her husband's death while she was appearing in ''The Bat'' and chose to go on with the next performance because the company lacked an
understudy In theater, an understudy, referred to in opera as cover or covering, is a performer who learns the lines and blocking or choreography of a regular actor, actress, or other performer in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to ap ...
for her part.Acts Her Role in The Bat. ''The New York Times'' (January 28, 1922) p. 13


Later life

Ellsler was for a number of years a resident of Nutley, New Jersey, until the death of her sister Addie (Annie) in 1938. She then relocated to
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, where she died after a short illness on October 8, 1942. Her other siblings were John J. (died 1925) and William Cary (died 1936). Her nephew was John Park Ellsler (1882–1940), son of her brother, John J. Ellsler.


References


External links

* *
portraits
(NY Public Library, Billy Rose)
portrait gallery
(University of Louisville, Macauley Theatre collection)
''Effie Ellsler''
North American Theatre Online) *
Effie and her sister Annie with contemporary fellow actors, 1880
AlexanderStreet) {{DEFAULTSORT:Ellsler, Effie 1855 births 1942 deaths American stage actresses American silent film actresses American film actresses 19th-century American actresses 20th-century American actresses