Charlotte Josephine Collins (23 May 1887 – 6 December 1958) was an English actress and singer known by her stage name, José Collins, who was celebrated for her performances in musical comedies, such as the long-running ''

The Maid of the Mountains ''The Maid of the Mountains'', called in its original score a musical play, is an operetta or "Edwardian" musical comedy in three acts. The music was by Harold Fraser-Simson, with additional music by James W. Tate, lyrics by Harry Graham an ...

'', and early motion pictures.

Life and career

Charlotte Josephine Collins was born in London 1887 to music hall performer and comedian Lottie Collins, who popularized the song "

Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay" is a vaudeville and music hall song. Its first known public performance was in Henry J. Sayers' 1891 revue ''Tuxedo'' in Boston, Massachusetts. The song became widely known in the version sung by Lottie Collins in London mu ...

!". Her mother later married her music coach, Stephen Patrick Cooney, and Collins took the name Charlotte Josephine Cooney. Collins got her start as a child performer, and by the age of 17 she had appeared in both

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speakin ...

and music hall as a singer and actress. She made her West End debut in a principal role in ''The Antelope'' (1908). On Broadway, she appeared in ''Vera Violetta'' (1911), ''The Merry Countess'' (1912), (and sharing a duet with

Al Jolson Al Jolson (born Eizer Yoelson; June 9, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-American Jewish singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-billed ...

), ''The Whirl of Society'' (1912), among others. Her revue appearances included the

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as '' The Ziegfeld Follies of the ...

(1913), and '' The Passing Show'' (1914). Collins recorded the song ''Just You and I and the Moon'', composed by Dave Stamper with lyrics by Gene Buck, from the

(1913). She also starred in ''

The Happy Day ''The Happy Day'' is a Edwardian musical comedy, musical comedy in two acts by Seymour Hicks, with music by Sidney Jones (composer), Sidney Jones and Paul Rubens (composer), Paul Rubens, and lyrics by Adrian Ross and Rubens. It was produced by Ge ...

'' in London and ''Alone at Last'' on Broadway (both in 1916). Collins played the title role of Teresa, the gypsy bandit maid, in the hit musical ''

'' (1917) to great acclaim, and as a result became known by the nickname of "Maid of the Mountains". The musical ran for 1,352 performances. In that show, she introduced the songs "Love Will Find a Way" and "A Paradise For Two." Collins played throughout the long run of this show and in many revivals over the years. Collins later appeared in ''Our Peg'' (1919), '' A Southern Maid'' (1920), ''Sybil'' (1921), '' The Last Waltz'' (1922), ''Catherine'' (1923), '' Our Nell'' (1924) and ''Frasquita'' (1925). She spent the remainder of her career in revues, variety and non-musical roles, as well as in films. In her film career, she starred as Bessie, the vengeful model, in ''The Light That Failed'', (1916, based on

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much o ...

's poem), and she appeared in ''The Imposter'' (1915), ''A Woman's Honor'' (1916), and ''

The Sword of Damocles Damocles is a character who appears in an (likely apocryphal) anecdote commonly referred to as "the sword of Damocles", an allusion to the imminent and ever-present peril faced by those in positions of power. Damocles was a courtier in the co ...

'' (1920),The Sword of Damocles (1920)
IMDb among others. Her only musical film was '' Facing the Music'' (1933). Jose Collins was married three times: firstly, in 1911, to Leslie Chatfield; secondly in 1920 to Lord Robert Edward Innes-Ker (brother of Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe); and lastly to Dr Gerald Kirkland. Collins had no children by any of her marriages; her second marriage ended in divorce in 1935. She is commemorated by a

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 Loughton. When erected, the plaque was on the actual house in which she lived towards the end of her life. This was demolished, and replaced by a block of flats called Collins Court.

Filmography

* ''The Impostor'' (1915) * ''A Woman's Honor'' (1916) * '' The Light That Failed'' (1916) * '' Victory and Peace'' (1918) * '' Nobody's Child'' (1919) * ''

'' (1920) * ''The Velvet Woman'' (1923)*short * ''The Last Stake'' (1923)*short * ''The Courage of Despair'' (1923)*short * ''The Battle of Love'' (1923)*short * ''The Shadow of Death'' (1923)*short * ''Secret Mission'' (1923)*short * '' Facing the Music'' (1933)

References

Sources

*Collins, José. ''The Maid of the Mountains: Her Story. The reminiscences of José Collins''. With 60 Illustrations. (1932, Hutchinson) *Gammond, Peter. ''Oxford Companion to Popular Music'' (1993, Oxford University Press) *Larkin, Colin Ed. ''Guinness Who's Who of Stage Musicals''

External links

* * *
Profile of Collins portrait gallery
City Museum of New York)
Jose Collins portraits
archived) {{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Jose 1887 births 1958 deaths English child actresses English silent film actresses English people of Irish descent Music hall performers People from Loughton Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses 20th-century English singers 20th-century English women singers