Caroline Maria Lupton (10 September 1872 – 10 March 1930),
[Peter Bailey]
"Studholme, Marie (1872–1930)"
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press (2004), Retrieved on 27 June 2008 known professionally as Marie Studholme, was an English actress and singer of the
Victorian and
Edwardian era
The Edwardian era or Edwardian period of British history spanned the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910 and is sometimes extended to the start of the First World War. The death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 marked the end of the Victori ...
s, known for her supporting and sometimes starring roles in
Edwardian musical comedy
Edwardian musical comedy was a form of British musical theatre that extended beyond the reign of King Edward VII in both directions, beginning in the early 1890s, when the Gilbert and Sullivan operas' dominance had ended, until the rise of the A ...
. Her attractive features made her one of the most popular postcard beauties of her day.
Studholme's theatre career spanned from 1891 to 1915. She was one of producer
George Edwardes
George Joseph Edwardes (né Edwards; 8 October 1855 – 4 October 1915) was an English theatre manager and producer of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond.
Edwardes started out in theatre ma ...
' famous
Gaiety Girls
Gaiety Girls were the chorus girls in Edwardian musical comedies, beginning in the 1890s at the Gaiety Theatre, London, in the shows produced by George Edwardes. The popularity of this genre of musical theatre depended, in part, on the beautifu ...
and originated several roles in musical comedies. Studholme toured widely in the British provinces and abroad in shows that had enjoyed successful London productions, and she became extremely popular in the British provinces. She ended her career in
music hall
Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...
comedy sketches. After her retirement from the stage, she fostered a boy and adopted a girl.
Early life
Studholme was born in
Eccleshill,
Bradford
Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...
,
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. It is an inland and upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into exi ...
, England, the only child of Joseph Ludholme Lupton, an auctioneer, and his wife Emma Greaves.
[ She was raised in ]Baildon
Baildon is a town and civil parish in the Bradford Metropolitan Borough in West Yorkshire, England and within the historic boundaries of the West Riding of Yorkshire.
It lies north of Bradford city centre. The town forms a continuous urban ...
by her mother, her paternal grandparents and in Shipley by her father's two half-sisters, one being Mrs. Frank Rhodes, and educated at Salt Grammar School on the Saltaire mill estate. She became interested in theatre while still at school.[
]
Career
She joined her mother in London and started her stage career in 1891 at the Lyric Theatre in London in the chorus of Edmond Audran
Achille Edmond Audran (12 April 184017 August 1901) was a French composer best known for several internationally successful comic operas and operettas.
After beginning his career in Marseille as an organist, Audran composed religious music and ...
's operetta ''La Cigale'' and, at the same theatre in early 1892, was in the chorus of ''The Mountebanks
''The Mountebanks'' is a comic opera in two acts with music by Alfred Cellier and Ivan Caryll and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The story concerns a magic potion that causes the person to whom it is administered to become what he or she has pre ...
'', where she met her future husband, actor Gilbert Porteous, who was playing the role of Beppo. Charles Wyndham asked her to join his company at the Criterion Theatre
The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre at Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a seating capacity of 588.
Building the theatre
In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond began development ...
in 1892. She appeared as Rhea Porter in the musical comedy
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...
''Morocco Bound
''Morocco Bound'' is a farcical English Edwardian musical comedy in two acts by Arthur Branscombe, with music by F. Osmond Carr and lyrics by Adrian Ross. It opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, on 13 April 1893, under the management of ...
'' at the Shaftesbury Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. Opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, it was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue.
History
The theatre was d ...
in 1893, where she came to the attention of the manager George Edwardes
George Joseph Edwardes (né Edwards; 8 October 1855 – 4 October 1915) was an English theatre manager and producer of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond.
Edwardes started out in theatre ma ...
, the leading promoter of Edwardian musical comedy
Edwardian musical comedy was a form of British musical theatre that extended beyond the reign of King Edward VII in both directions, beginning in the early 1890s, when the Gilbert and Sullivan operas' dominance had ended, until the rise of the A ...
.[ Edwardes's musicals, beginning at this time, would feature his popular chorus line of glamorous yet respectable ]Gaiety Girls
Gaiety Girls were the chorus girls in Edwardian musical comedies, beginning in the 1890s at the Gaiety Theatre, London, in the shows produced by George Edwardes. The popularity of this genre of musical theatre depended, in part, on the beautifu ...
. Edwardes engaged Studholme to play the small role of Gladys Stourton, one of these Gaiety Girls, in the hit musical ''A Gaiety Girl
''A Gaiety Girl'' is an English Edwardian musical comedy, musical comedy in two acts by a team of musical comedy neophytes: Owen Hall (book, on an outline by James T. Tanner), Harry Greenbank (lyrics) and Sidney Jones (composer), Sidney Jones (mu ...
'' (1893) at the Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre in Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in London. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner. The theatre ...
, and when the piece transferred to Daly's Theatre
Daly's Theatre was a theatre in the City of Westminster. It was located at 2 Cranbourn Street, just off Leicester Square. It opened on 27 June 1893, and was demolished in 1937.
The theatre was built for and named after the American impresar ...
in 1894, she was promoted to the title role.
After that, she played a series of roles for Edwardes in London and on tour. She understudied Letty Lind
Letitia Elizabeth Rudge (21 December 1861 – 27 August 1923), known professionally as Letty Lind, was an English actress, singer, dancer and acrobat, best known for her work in burlesque at the Gaiety Theatre, and in musical theatre at Daly's ...
as Daisy Vane in ''An Artist's Model
''An Artist's Model'' is a two-act musical by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank and music by Sidney Jones, with additional songs by Joseph and Mary Watson, Paul Lincke, Frederick Ross, Henry Hamilton and Leopold Wenzel. It opened at Dal ...
'', eventually taking over the role and recreating it in the New York production in 1895. In 1897 she toured the United States with Edwardes' Gaiety company. She also appeared on Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
in a revival of '' In Town'' in 1897. Studholme succeeded Marie Tempest
Dame Mary Susan Etherington, (15 July 1864 – 15 October 1942), known professionally as Marie Tempest, was an English singer and actress.
Tempest became a famous soprano in late Victorian light opera and Edwardian musical comedies. Later, sh ...
in 1899 in the title role of ''San Toy
''San Toy, or The Emperor's Own'' is a "Chinese" musical comedy in two acts, first performed at Daly's Theatre, London, on 21 October 1899, and ran for 768 performances (edging out the same composer's '' The Geisha'' as the second longest run f ...
'' on tour in the British provinces. In 1900 she took over the role of Nora from Violet Lloyd in ''The Messenger Boy
''The Messenger Boy'' is a musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Alfred Murray, lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank, with music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton, with additional numbers by Paul Rubens (composer), Paul Rubens ...
'' at the Gaiety Theatre, London
The Gaiety Theatre was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was first established as the Strand Musick Hall in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. In 1868, it became known a ...
, where she enjoyed great success with the wartime song hit, "When the boys come home once more".[
In 1901, she created the role of Dora Selby in the London production of '']The Toreador
''The Toreador'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Harry Nicholls, with lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton. It opened at the Gaiety Theatre in London, mana ...
''. She also created the role of Cicely Marchmont in ''The School Girl
''The School Girl'' is an Edwardian musical comedy, in two acts, composed by Leslie Stuart (with additional songs by Paul Rubens) with a book by Henry Hamilton and Paul M. Potter, and lyrics by Charles H. Taylor and others. It concerns a Frenc ...
'' in 1903. In 1904, she played Josephine Zaccary in ''The Orchard'', Part Two, in London and the title role in a revival of ''The Geisha
''The Geisha, a story of a tea house'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts. The score was composed by Sidney Jones to a libretto by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank. Additional songs were written by Lionel Monckton and James Ph ...
''. At Prince's Theatre, in Bristol, she appeared in ''San Toy'' in 1903–1904 and in ''Lady Madcap
''Lady Madcap'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts, composed by Paul Rubens with a book by Paul Rubens and Nathaniel Newnham-Davis, and lyrics by Paul Rubens and Percy Greenbank. The story concerns a mischievous Earl's daughter who ho ...
'' in 1905–1906. The petite Studholme sometimes played juvenile roles, for example the title role in ''Alice in Wonderland
''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...
'' in a West End revival in 1906. In 1906-1907 in Southampton, she appeared in ''My Darling''. She again took the title role in a 1906-07 revival of ''Lady Madcap'' and then played Joy Blossom in ''My Darling'' (1907).[ She starred in the title role in '']Miss Hook of Holland
''Miss Hook of Holland'' is an England, English musical theatre, musical comedy (styled a "Dutch Musical Incident") in two acts, with music and lyrics by Paul Rubens (composer), Paul Rubens with a book by Austen Hurgon and Rubens. The show was p ...
'' on a long provincial tour from 1907 to 1910. She then played Paulette in ''My Mimosa Maid''. Studholme toured in South Africa during 1910 to 1911.[
By 1913, Studholme was appearing in ]music hall
Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...
comedy sketches, including one entitled "Her Ladyship", at the Wood Green Empire in London, and touring in variety shows. She had great success and popularity in the British provinces, and returned triumphantly to Bradford to perform at the opening of the town's Alhambra music-hall in 1914. Studholme retired from the stage in 1915.[
]
Personal life
Amid the demands of a busy theatre schedule, Studholme found time in 1907 to study Jujitsu with Yukio Tani
was a pioneering Japanese jujutsu and judo instructor and professional challenge wrestler, notable for being one of the first jujutsu stylists to teach and compete outside of Japan.
Biography
The precise details of Tani's early jujutsu trainin ...
. She married Porteous in 1891, and the marriage ended in divorce. She was married again on 4 September 1908 to Harold Giles Borrett, four years her junior, the son of Major-General Herbert Charles Borrett, who courted her under an assumed name.[ Studholme had no children of her own. She fostered ]Peter Lupino
Peter may refer to:
People
* List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* Peter (given name)
** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church
* Peter (surname), a sur ...
and then around 1916 adopted Jill (Granddaughter of Eardley Norton, former Attorney General of Madras), who was four years younger than Lupino. Borrett was not fond of the children, but he suffered them as he was dependent on Studholme's considerable wealth. He never worked.
Studholme loved animals and was often photographed with them. She reportedly charged a sixpence to autograph her postcards and gave the proceeds to animal and theatrical charities.[ In 1904, Studholme brought and won a lawsuit against Edward Foley, a London dentist, who altered her photographic image for use in an advertisement without permission. She converted to ]Christian Science
Christian Science is a set of beliefs and practices associated with members of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Adherents are commonly known as Christian Scientists or students of Christian Science, and the church is sometimes informally know ...
and lived out her retirement in Hampstead
Hampstead () is an area in London, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, and extends from Watling Street, the A5 road (Roman Watling Street) to Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland. The area forms the northwest part of the Lon ...
and Laleham
Laleham is a village on the River Thames, in the Borough of Spelthorne, about west of central London, England. Historically part of the county of Middlesex, it was transferred to Surrey in 1965. Laleham is downriver from Staines-upon-Thames a ...
where, in 1909, the young Architect Edward Maufe
Sir Edward Brantwood Maufe, Royal Academy, RA, FRIBA (12 December 1882 – 12 December 1974) was an English architect and designer. He built private homes as well as commercial and institutional buildings, and is remembered chiefly for his ...
designed a weekend house for her. She called the house 'The Barn', possibly after the Dutch Barn in the musical ''Miss Hook of Holland''. Studholme Court, a council block, was later built on part of the site of the garden of Studholme's former Hampstead home, off the Finchley Road.[
Studholme died at her home in London in March 1930 from a short but virulent attack of ]rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever (RF) is an inflammatory disease that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain. The disease typically develops two to four weeks after a streptococcal throat infection. Signs and symptoms include fever, multiple painful jo ...
, at the age of 57, and was buried in the St Marylebone Cemetery
East Finchley Cemetery is a cemetery and crematorium in East End Road, East Finchley. Although it is in the London Borough of Barnet, it is owned and managed by the City of Westminster.[East Finchley
East Finchley is an area in North London, immediately north of Hampstead Heath. Like neighbouring Muswell Hill it straddles the London Boroughs of Barnet and Haringey, with most of East Finchley falling into the London Borough of Barnet. It has ...]
, survived by her second husband and children.[ She left an estate valued at £58,303.][ On 10 March 2012 ]The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America
The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America and the Theatre and Film Guild of Great Britain and America is a registered theatre charity and non-profit making theatre organisation based in London. The Guild's patrons include Brian Croucher ...
erected a commemorative blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker. The term i ...
at Studholme's last home in Hampstead, and restored her memorial at St. Marylebone Cemetery in East Finchley."Musical Comedy Actress Marie Studholme's final resting place is restored"
The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America, 14 April 2012, accessed 3 October 2014
Selected productions
* Daisy Vane in ''An Artist's Model
''An Artist's Model'' is a two-act musical by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank and music by Sidney Jones, with additional songs by Joseph and Mary Watson, Paul Lincke, Frederick Ross, Henry Hamilton and Leopold Wenzel. It opened at Dal ...
''. Studholme originated the role in the New York production at the Broadway Theatre on 23 December 1895, having played it as a replacement in London.
* '' In Town'', 1897 in New York.
* The title role in ''San Toy
''San Toy, or The Emperor's Own'' is a "Chinese" musical comedy in two acts, first performed at Daly's Theatre, London, on 21 October 1899, and ran for 768 performances (edging out the same composer's '' The Geisha'' as the second longest run f ...
'' on tour in 1899.
* Nora in ''The Messenger Boy
''The Messenger Boy'' is a musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Alfred Murray, lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank, with music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton, with additional numbers by Paul Rubens (composer), Paul Rubens ...
'' at the Gaiety Theatre in 1900.
* Dora Selby in ''The Toreador
''The Toreador'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Harry Nicholls, with lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton. It opened at the Gaiety Theatre in London, mana ...
'', 1901.
* Cicely Marchmont in ''The School Girl
''The School Girl'' is an Edwardian musical comedy, in two acts, composed by Leslie Stuart (with additional songs by Paul Rubens) with a book by Henry Hamilton and Paul M. Potter, and lyrics by Charles H. Taylor and others. It concerns a Frenc ...
'', at the Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre in Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in London. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner. The theatre ...
, London, in 1903.
* Josephine Zaccary in ''The Orchard'', Part Two (1904).
* The title role in ''The Geisha
''The Geisha, a story of a tea house'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts. The score was composed by Sidney Jones to a libretto by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank. Additional songs were written by Lionel Monckton and James Ph ...
'' (1904 revival).
* The title role in ''Alice in Wonderland
''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...
'' in 1906.
* The title role in a 1906-07 revival of ''Lady Madcap''.
* Joy Blossom in ''My Darling'' (1907).
* The title role in ''Miss Hook of Holland
''Miss Hook of Holland'' is an England, English musical theatre, musical comedy (styled a "Dutch Musical Incident") in two acts, with music and lyrics by Paul Rubens (composer), Paul Rubens with a book by Austen Hurgon and Rubens. The show was p ...
'', 1907 and afterwards, in a role she played extensively.[
* Paulette in ''My Mimosa Maid'', 1909.
]
Notes
References
*Gänzl, K. ''The encyclopedia of the musical theatre'', 2nd edn, 3 vols. (2001)
*Gänzl, K. ''The British musical theatre'', 1 (1986)
*Hunt, B. and J. Parker, eds. ''The green room book, or, Who's who on the stage (1906–09)''
*Reeve, A. ''Take it for a fact'' (1954)
*Short, E. ''Fifty years of vaudeville'' (1946)
*Waters, R. "Marie Studholme", ''Picture Postcard Annual'' (1994), pp. 14–17
*''The New York Times'', 29 December 1895
*''The New York Times, 7 September 1897
*''Daily Chronicle'', 12 September 1908
*Obituary: ''Bradford Telegraph and Argus'', 10 March 1930
*Obituary: ''Bradford Telegraph and Argus'', 13 March 1930
*Obituary: ''The Era'', 12 March 1930
*Obituary: ''Hampstead Gazette'', 14 March 1930
*Obituary: ''Hampstead and Highgate Express'', 15 March 1930
*Obituary: ''The Stage'', 13 March 1930
*Obituary: ''Yorkshire Observer'', 14 March 1930
*Obituary: ''Yorkshire Observer'', 8 May 1930
External links
*
Colourised photos of Studholme at the Zena Dare pages
Photos of Studholme from the OurPastHistory site
Numerous photos of Studholme at the National Library of Australia
* ttp://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1181041421013765966xskLFX Photo as Lady Madcap, 1907br>www.themusichallguild.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Studholme, Marie
1872 births
1930 deaths
English musical theatre actresses
People from Eccleshill, West Yorkshire
Actresses from Yorkshire
Burials at East Finchley Cemetery