Grace Van Studdiford (''née'' Quivey; January 8, 1873 – January 29, 1927) was an early twentieth-century American opera singer and actress. She never recorded for gramophone but made a few motion pictures. Her Broadway roles are limited as she toured all over the country.
Early life
Grace Quivey was born in
North Manchester, Indiana
North Manchester is a town in Chester Township, Wabash County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 6,112 at the 2010 census.
Geography
North Manchester is located at (41.003951, -85.772573).
According to the 2010 census, North ...
to August Jane Burns and Robert E. Quivey. She had four siblings; Iva Maude Quivey, Ralph B. Quivey, Mary Quivey Gregory and Claude E. Quivey a miniature portrait artist. She made her first appearance on the stage in Chicago in ''The Black Hussar''. In 1899 she toured with
Jefferson De Angelis
Thomas Jefferson De Angelis (November 30, 1859 – March 20, 1933), born in San Francisco was an American century stage actor who specialized in comedy and acrobatic clowning and who achieved fame in vaudeville and on Broadway. He was also a ...
in ''The Jolly Musketeer''. After her tour with De Angelis she started to perform opera and on October 24, 1900, appeared at the
Metropolitan Opera House in the title role of ''Martha''. She also appeared there as Michaela in ''
Carmen
''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the Carmen (novella), novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first perfo ...
'', Marguerite in ''
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540).
The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads ...
'', Fleur-de-Lys in ''Esmerelda'', Josephine in ''
H.M.S. Pinafore
''H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, whic ...
'' and Leonora in ''
Il trovatore
''Il trovatore'' ('The Troubadour') is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto largely written by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play ''El trovador'' (1836) by Antonio García Gutiérrez. It was García Gutiérrez's mos ...
''.
Stardom
In 1903 Van Studdiford opened the opera ''Maid Marian'' and later debuted ''The Red Feather'' which was specially written for her. This opera also boasted some of the most elaborate costumes up to that date. She played in and toured ''The Red Feather'' for two years. After touring with ''The Red Feather'', Van Studdiford chose her next title part in the opera ''Lady Teazle'' which was not performed on Broadway but at several popular music halls throughout the country. In July 1908 she was back on Broadway in ''The Mimic World''. In October 1908 she was at New York's Broadway Theater as Ilma Walden in ''The Golden Butterfly'' and toured this opera into 1909. 1910 found Van Studdiford in the popular opera ''
The Bohemian Girl
''The Bohemian Girl'' is an Irish Romantic opera composed by Michael William Balfe with a libretto by Alfred Bunn. The plot is loosely based on a Miguel de Cervantes' tale, ''La Gitanilla''.
The best-known aria from the piece is " I Dreamt I Dwe ...
'' in the part of Arline. In late 1910 she toured in ''A Bridal Trip'' before bringing it to Broadway's
Herald Square Theater
The Herald Square Theatre was a Broadway theatre in Manhattan, New York City, built in 1883 and closed in 1914. The site is now a highrise designed by H. Craig Severance.
History
The Park Theatre opened in 1883 (also known as the New Park Thea ...
in January 1911 under the name ''The Paradise of Mahomet''. In 1911 she appeared at the
Winter Garden Theatre
The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre at 1634 Broadway in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It opened in 1911 under designs by architect William Albert Swasey. The Winter Garden's current design dates to 1922, when ...
in ''
La Belle Paree'' as Mimi and later toured in ''A Bridal Trip'' now renamed ''The Paradise of Mahomet''. In 1914 Van Studdiford toured the US in ''
Oh! Oh! Delphine'' playing the title character. Her last recorded performance in an opera or play is in the musical comedy ''
A Trip to Chinatown
''A Trip to Chinatown'' is a musical comedy in three acts by Charles H. Hoyt with music by Percy Gaunt and lyrics by Hoyt. In addition to the Gaunt and Hoyt score, many songs were interpolated into the score at one time or another during the run ...
'' as Mrs Guyer. In this play Van Studdiford toured many military camps as World War I wound to a finish. This musical was later made into a 1926 silent movie by
Fox Studios
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
. After her last stage credit in 1918, she appeared in a small number of silent films using the name Grace Studiford and Grace Studdiford, her last film credit being in 1921.
Grace Van Studdiford Amusement Company
In 1908 Van Studdiford and Charles Bradley partnered to form a production company in her name. This was seemingly for the sole purpose of producing the opera she performed in that season ''The Golden Butterfly''. The venture didn't last long as they were sued in 1909 by a Joseph Weber for back wages.
Personal life
She married Charles Van Studdiford in 1897. In 1908 she sued for divorce for desertion. She died at Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 29, 1927, after an operation.
New York Times:EX PRIMA DONNA OF OPERA DEAD:Grace Van Studdiford, Who Sang at the Metropolitan Succumbs to Operation. CAME OF MUSICAL FAMILY Scored a Great Success in "The Red Feather",Which Was Written for Her (New York Times dated Sunday January 30, 1927)
/ref>
Filmography
* '' The Land of Promise'' (1917)
* '' Something Different'' (1920)
* ''The Branded Woman
''The Branded Woman'' is a 1920 American silent drama film released by First National Pictures. It stars Norma Talmadge who also produced the film along with her husband Joseph Schenck through their production company, Norma Talmadge Production ...
'' (1920)
* ''Nobody'' (1921)
* '' Pardon My French (1921)
References
External links
*
*
Grace Van Studdiford
portrait gallery New York Public Library Billy Rose Collection
Grace Van Studdiford portrait gallery
Univ of Washington J Willis Sayre Collection
Grace Van Studdiford
portrait gallery Univ. of Louisville Macauley Theatre Collection (enter her name)(Wayback)
Grace Van Studdiford
in The Actors Birthday Book by Johnson Briscoe
Grace Van Studdiford; findagrave.com
portrait
(City Museum of NY)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Studdiford, Grace
1873 births
1927 deaths
American operatic sopranos
19th-century American actresses
American stage actresses
People from North Manchester, Indiana
Singers from Indiana
Actresses from Indiana
20th-century American women opera singers
19th-century American women opera singers