Effie Atherton
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Effie Atherton (born Euphemia Walker Anderson; 3 July 1907 – 11 February 2005), was a British singer, dancer, film actress, and
musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatre, 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, ...
performer, known initially for her stage appearances in the West End of London and 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 Stre ...
in New York, before moving into prime musical shows on British radio in the 1930s, where she captivated her audiences with her sophisticated songs and monologues, many of which were her own compositions.


Selected filmography

* ''Aroma of the South Seas'' (1931 UK version) directed by W. P. Kellino. * ''
Temptation Temptation is a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals.Webb, J.R. (Sep 2014). Incorporating Spirituality into Psychology of temptation: Conceptualization, measurement, and clinical implications. Sp ...
'' (1934), directed by
Max Neufeld Max Neufeld (13 February 1887 – 2 December 1967) was an Austrian film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 70 films between 1919 and 1957. He directed the 1934 film ''The Song of the Sun'', which starred Vittorio De Sica. Selecte ...
* ''
School for Stars ''School for Stars'' is a 1935 British romance film directed by Donovan Pedelty and starring Fred Conyngham, Jean Gillie and Torin Thatcher. It was made at British and Dominions Elstree Studios as a quota quickie.Chibnall p.285 Cast * Fred Con ...
'' (1935), produced by
Anthony Havelock-Allan Sir Anthony James Allan Havelock-Allan, 4th Baronet (28 February 1904 – 11 January 2003) was a British film producer and screenwriter whose credits included '' This Happy Breed'', '' Blithe Spirit'', '' Great Expectations'', '' Oliver Twist'', ...


Early life and career

Born Euphemia Walker Anderson in Edinburgh, Scotland, she was the daughter of Andrew Thomas Anderson and the younger sister of the silent movie actress, Ella Atherton. Effie Atherton made many radio broadcasts and a total of three films, however, her foundation was as a stage performer and she was particularly associated with the works of
Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time (magazine), Time'' called "a sense of personal style, a combination of c ...
. Atherton was a clever comedienne who later broadcast on the British radio with Ambrose and his Band; and The Three Rhythm Aces, a successful cabaret trio. Her early years and her first time on the stage is unknown. By 1924 she had been introduced to the West End stage as a chorus girl in London Calling! Atherton first travelled to the United States in 1924 to take to the Broadway stage as a chorus girl, along with
Gertrude Lawrence Gertrude Lawrence (4 July 1898 – 6 September 1952) was an English actress, singer, dancer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York. Early life Lawrence was born in 1 ...
,
Jessie Matthews Jessie Margaret Matthews (11 March 1907 – 19 August 1981) was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1920s and 1930s, whose career continued into the post-war period. After a string of hit stage musicals and films in the mid-1930s, suc ...
and
Constance Carpenter Constance Emmeline Carpenter (19 April 1904 – 26 December 1992) was an English-born American film and musical theatre actress. Biography Carpenter was born in Bath, Somerset, in 1904, the daughter of Harold Carpenter and his wife Mabel Anne ...
in
André Charlot Eugène André Maurice Charlot (26 July 1882 – 20 May 1956) was a French-born impresario known primarily for the musical revues he staged in London between 1912 and 1937. He later worked as a character actor in numerous American films. Born in ...
Revue, which commenced its run on 23 September 1924, with a total of 513 performances. It was Charlot who gave Noël Coward his first break. Atherton was her professional name and immigration records to the United States and the Far East using her professional name. During this time she made connections in the industry, including
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is considered o ...
and comic actress, Wyn Clare. Atherton was part of Charlot's Review of 1925. This followed a number of weeks on Broadway. She returned to London with Charlot and the revue girls, departing New York on on 24 October 1925, returning to the stage 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 ...
to star in "The Charlot Show of 1926", a musical by
Ronald Jeans Ronald Jeans (10 May 1887 – 16 May 1973) was a British playwright with a career spanning nearly 50 years. Early life Ronald Jeans was born in Oxton, Merseyside, the younger son of Sir Alexander Grigor Jeans (1849–1924), the founder and ma ...
. She was still only 18 years of age, yet played multiple roles in the production including the Duchess of Bridlington. Atherton returned the following year to the United States. The tour included Los Angeles, and the troupe of young girls met
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is considered o ...
. Aged only 19, Atherton's social circle included Gertrude Lawrence, Charlie Chaplin,
Merna Kennedy Merna Kennedy (born Maude Kahler; September 7, 1908 – December 20, 1944) was an American actress of the late Silent film, silent era and the transitional period into Sound film, talkies. Career She was born in Kankakee, Illinois, Kankakee, o ...
, Amy Reeves and Wyn Clare. Atherton continued to work with Charlot and Coward and was one of the stars of his revues for the next 4 years. Atherton is first named along with Gertrude Lawrence in Coward's 1928 song, "Alas the time is past". With the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
, theatre attendance dropped dramatically, and Charlot was forced into temporary bankruptcy after the failure of Wonder Bar in 1930.


1930s

On 29 September 1930 she starred alongside Edward Cooper and
Queenie Leonard Queenie Leonard (born Pearl Walker; 18 February 1905 – 17 January 2002) was a British actress. She was the last surviving cast member of ''And Then There Were None'' (1945) until her death in 2002. Biography She was born as Pearl Walke ...
in the play 'We Three', at the Cafe Anglais, London, which was located on
Leicester Square Leicester Square ( ) is a pedestrianised town square, square in the West End of London, England, and is the centre of London's entertainment district. It was laid out in 1670 as Leicester Fields, which was named after the recently built Leice ...
, which was the show place for dance orchestras of the 1920s and the 1930s such as
Lew Stone Louis Stone known professionally as Lew Stone (28 May 1898 – 13 February 1969) was a British bandleader and arranger of the British dance band era, and was well known in Britain during the 1930s. He was known as a skillful, innovative an ...
and
Roy Fox Roy Fox (October 25, 1901 – March 20, 1982) was an American-born British dance bandleader who was popular in Britain during the British dance band era. Early life and career Roy Fox was born in Denver, Colorado, United States in 1901. He ...
. Atherton, Leonard, and Cooper were part of Cochran's 1931 Revue. Atherton, Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough in the leading roles. The song "Bright young people" was described by Coward as a "Mixed trio" of young rich people doing peculiar things. In 1932, Atherton was already accepting lead performer roles starring in the play "The Mews", by Theodore de Serannes, which ran at the Arts Theatre Club on 24 April 1932, starring alongside
Jack Livesey Jack Edwards Livesey (11 June 1901 – 12 October 1961) was a British film actor. He was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, the son of Sam Livesey, the brother of Barry Livesey, and the cousin and step-brother of Roger Livesey. He died in B ...
,
Alexander Archdale Alexander Mervyn Archdale (26 November 190513 May 1986) was a British actor, manager and theatre producer. He had a very long career in both the theatre and in film, stretching from the 1930s to the 1980s. He spent the latter part of his life an ...
and her sister Ella Atherton. She worked primarily with
Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time (magazine), Time'' called "a sense of personal style, a combination of c ...
for his revue and musical play Words and music. Produced for Cochran and also featuring Ivy St. Helier,
Moya Nugent Moya Nugent (27 March 1901 – 26 January 1954) was a British actress and singer. She made a few broadcasts and three silent films but was chiefly known as a stage performer, and was particularly associated with the works of Noël Coward, appeari ...
,
Joyce Barbour Joyce Barbour (27 March 1901 – 16 March 1977) was an English actress. She was the wife of the actor Richard Bird. Barbour was born in Birmingham on 27 March 1901 the daughter of Horace and Miriam Barbour, her father was an assurance cler ...
,
Romney Brent Romney Brent (born Romulo Larralde; 26 January 1902 – 24 September 1976) was a Mexican actor, director and dramatist. Most of his career was on stage in North America, but in the 1930s he was frequently seen on the London stage, on television ...
,
Doris Hare Doris Breamer Hare (1 March 1905 – 30 May 2000) was a Welsh actress, comedian, singer, and dancer best known for portraying Ethel Butler in the British sitcom ''On the Buses'' and its film spin-offs, after replacing the original actress Cicel ...
,
John Mills Sir John Mills (born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills; 22 February 190823 April 2005) was an English actor who appeared in more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades. He excelled on camera as an appealing British everyman who often portray ...
and
Graham Payn Graham Payn (25 April 1918 – 4 November 2005) was a South African-born English actor and singer, also known for being the life partner of the playwright Noël Coward. Beginning as a boy soprano, Payn later made a career as a singer and actor i ...
. It contained eighteen Coward numbers, notably "Housemaids' Knees". The stage production was presented at the
Manchester Opera House The Opera House in Quay Street, Manchester, England, is a 1,920-seater commercial touring Theatre (structure), theatre that plays host to touring Musical theatre, musicals, ballet, concerts and a Christmas pantomime. It is a Grade II listed buil ...
on 25 August 1932; this was her earliest recording. The play transferred to the
Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...
in London and ran for 164 performances. The earliest surviving recordings are from this season. Atherton's performance in
Temptation Temptation is a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals.Webb, J.R. (Sep 2014). Incorporating Spirituality into Psychology of temptation: Conceptualization, measurement, and clinical implications. Sp ...
, a Franco-British film, about a retired singer who flirts with her niece's fiancé, was well-received during 1934. Soon after Atherton began dating film producer Leslie L. Landau. On 1 June 1935 she featured in Bitter Sweet, a Romantic opera by Coward, adapted for the microphone supporting
Anne Ziegler Anne Ziegler (born Irené Frances Eastwood; 22 June 1910 – 13 October 2003) was an English singer, known for her light operatic duets with her husband Webster Booth. The pair were known as the "Sweethearts in Song" and were among the most famo ...
, also featuring
Evelyn Laye Evelyn Laye (''née'' Elsie Evelyn Lay; 10 July 1900 – 17 February 1996) was an English actress and singer known for her performances in operettas and musical theatre, musicals. Born into a theatrical family, she made her professional dé ...
,
Betty Huntley-Wright Betty Huntley-Wright (3 December 1911 – 27 May 1993) was a British actress and vocalist. Daughter of the comic actor Huntley Wright, she had a long career on stage, chiefly in comedy and pantomime, and in film, radio and television. Later she ...
,
Patricia Burke Patricia Burke (23 March 191723 November 2003), was an English singer and actress in cinema, stage and TV. She was the daughter of actress Marie Burke and British operatic tenor Thomas Burke. On stage she enjoyed success in the 1943 West End mu ...
,
Patrick Waddington Patrick William Simpson Waddington (19 August 19014 February 1987) was an English actor, educated at Gresham's School at Holt in Norfolk. He was born and died in York, England. Biography Waddington was the grandson of William Waddington, the ...
and
Norah Howard Norah Howard (12 December 1900 – 2 May 1968) was a British actress of stage and screen. Biography She was born as Norah Lillian Emily Smeed on 12 December 1900, in Fulham, London, England, her father was Alfred Howard Smeed. She changed her st ...
. That same year she worked with the composer, Arthur Le Clerq and had a prime time evening slot on the radio waves. Atherton featured prominently in the ''
Radio Times ''Radio Times'' is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in September 1923 by John Reith, then general manage ...
'' on 8 August 1935 and the 9 August 1935, leading in the radio show "The Air-do wells", produced by
Max Kester Max Kester Dodgson (11 December 1901 – 14 December 1991), known professionally as Max Kester, was a British scriptwriter and lyricist. Biography He was born in Leeds, the son of James Dodgson, an artist who drew cartoons for ''The Yorkshire ...
, with Atherton in the lead role, accompanied by
Jean Colin Jean Colin (24 March 1905 – 7 March 1989) was an England, English actress. She began her career on stage in pantomime, musical theatre and operettas. She appeared in several films beginning in the 1930s. Colin was born in Brighton, Sussex an ...
, Marjorie Stedeford, Brian Lawrence, and Ronald Hill. The
Gramophone magazine ''Gramophone'' (known as ''The Gramophone'' prior to 1970) is a magazine published monthly in London, devoted to classical music, particularly to reviews of recordings. It was founded in 1923 by the Scottish author Compton Mackenzie who continue ...
reported in December 1935 that "My young man's ever so nice" and "Dennis the Menace from Venice",
His Master's Voice His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...
BD 187, were among the most outstanding records nominated by its loyal readers that year. At the peak of her career, she was reputedly one of the most beautiful women in England. She married Landau in 1935, and she refocused her career from the stage to the radio waves with the prime time show "Radio Air do", impacting her ability to perform in any future Coward production. The following year, Coward named a "malodorous" stage dog "Atherton" in his 1936 underperforming play
Star Chamber The court of Star Chamber () was an English court that sat at the royal Palace of Westminster, from the late to the mid-17th century (), and was composed of privy counsellors and common-law judges, to supplement the judicial activities of the ...
. Atherton embarked on a "Radio Air do" tour of the U.S. in January 1936, following the success of
Jack Hylton Jack Hylton (born John Greenhalgh Hilton; 2 July 1892 – 29 January 1965) was an English pianist, composer, band leader and impresario. Hylton rose to prominence during the British dance band era, being referred as the "British King of Jazz ...
, departing from Southampton to New York on MV ''Lafayette'', on 8 January 1936, accompanied by her husband and her sister, Ella. A year later she was living in 719 N. Rodeo Drive,
Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hills ...
. By now her broadcasting career was coming to an end. Records show that she traveled to Mexico using her "alias" Effie Atherton. In 1938 she performed on Rudy Vallee's Royal Variety Hour on NBC alongside Cyril Smith as an “English Comedy Act” called “On the Rolly Coaster”. Her hit songs at the time included “The smell of the soil”, “Don't put your daughter on the stage, Mrs. Worthington” and “I'm only her mother, that's all”. Her period of residence in the United States coincided with that of a theatrical entrepreneur,
Bertie Alexander Meyer Bertie Alexander Meyer (17 June 1877 – mid November 1967) was a British theatre producer and entrepreneur. Biography Meyer was born on 17 June 1877 to a Jewish family. In 1902, he worked under director Arthur Lewis (director), Arthur Lewis at ...
, and the man that launched her career on stage, André Charlot. Atherton returned to England a few months before the outbreak of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Just days before the outbreak of hostilities she was part of the Rinso Radio Revue on
Radio Luxembourg Radio Luxembourg was a multilingual commercial broadcaster in Luxembourg. It is known in most non-English languages as RTL (for Radio Television Luxembourg). The English-language service of Radio Luxembourg began in 1933 as one of the earlies ...
, alongside
Bebe Daniels Phyllis Virginia "Bebe" () Daniels (January 14, 1901 – March 16, 1971) was an American actress, singer, dancer, writer, and producer. She began her career in Hollywood during the silent film era as a child actress, became a star in musicals s ...
and
Ben Lyon Ben Lyon (February 6, 1901 – March 22, 1979) was an American film actor and a studio executive at 20th Century-Fox who later acted in British radio, films and TV. Early life and career Lyon was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Alvine W ...
,
Tommy Handley Thomas Reginald Handley (17 January 1892 – 9 January 1949) was an English comedian, best known for the BBC radio programme ''It's That Man Again'' ("''ITMA''") which ran between 1939 and 1949. Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, Handley went on th ...
, Alice Mann and
Sam Browne General (United Kingdom), General Sir Samuel James Browne, (3 October 1824 – 14 March 1901) was a British Indian Army cavalry officer, known best as the creator of the Sam Browne belt. He was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the most prest ...
.


1940s

For the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
, Atherton made occasional studio broadcasts, as a singer on variety programmes, and as an actress in both light and serious drama. During World War II, Atherton was on the airwaves staring at morale-boosting radio programmes, aimed at British and Commonwealth troops. ''
The Radio Times ''Radio Times'' is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in September 1923 by John Reith, then general manage ...
'' evening schedule of 8 October 1940 included the show “Invitation to Romance”, songs by
Eric Maschwitz Albert Eric Maschwitz Order of the British Empire, OBE (10 June 1901 – 27 October 1969), sometimes credited as Holt Marvell, was an English entertainer, writer, editor, broadcaster and broadcasting executive. Life and work Born in Edgbaston, ...
, set to music from various composers, with Atherton, Anne Ziegler,
Horace Percival ''It's That Man Again'' (commonly contracted to ''ITMA'') was a BBC radio comedy programme which ran for twelve series from 1939 to 1949. The shows featured Tommy Handley in the central role, a fast-talking figure, around whom the other ch ...
and Ivor John. Atherton continued to be a regular on the Home Service, starring in the radio adaptation of "
Peggy-Ann ''Peggy-Ann'' is a musical comedy with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and book by Herbert Fields, based on the 1910 musical '' Tillie’s Nightmare'' by Edgar Smith. The plot of the musical takes place in Glens Falls, New York; N ...
", a play by
Herbert Fields Herbert Fields (July 26, 1897 – March 24, 1958) was an American librettist and screenwriter. Biography Born in New York City, Fields began his career as an actor, then graduated to choreography and stage direction before turning to writing. Fr ...
. By 1943 she was in a play by
Mabel Constanduros Mabel Constanduros (' Tilling; 29 March 1880 – 8 February 1957) was an English actress, screenwriter and BBC Radio personality. She gained public notice playing Mrs.Buggins on the radio programme ''The Buggins Family'', which ran from 1928 to ...
called "Charge for a Penny Farthing". Her songs continued to be played in on the Home Service during 1943 in the musical show "London, Paris and New York". In 1945 she featured in the show "Spotlight" and is listed in the now-defunct publication
London Calling ''London Calling'' is the third studio album by the English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records. ...
, along with Donald Edge.


1950s

Atherton continued to regularly visit the United States; now traveling in greater style on the , than during her early years and appears on the ship's passenger list of 9 June 1950. Whilst in Hollywood with her husband, she would stay at
Chateau Marmont The Chateau Marmont is a hotel located at 8221 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The hotel was designed by architects Arnold A. Weitzman and William Douglas Lee and completed in 1929. It was modeled loosely after the Château d'Ambois ...
. Her last transatlantic journey to New York and onto Hollywood for a month was in 1959.


Personal

In 1935 she married Leslie Landau (1904–1977), a script and screenplay writer and film producer, who had success during the 1930s to the 1950s. They had three children; Penelope, Michael, and Caroline. Her first husband died during the summer of 1977, in
Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...
, London. She remarried the following year to Theodore H. Hoare in London. Her last place of residence was 8 Elystan Place, London. She died at the age of 97, on 11 February 2005 in
Kensington Kensington is an area of London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around west of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up by Kensingt ...
, London.


Biography

*


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Atherton, Effie 1907 births 2005 deaths Scottish film actresses Scottish silent film actresses Entertainers from Edinburgh 20th-century Scottish women singers Scottish female dancers English film actresses English television actresses Scottish television actresses Actresses from Edinburgh