Elsie Cotton (''

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

'' Hodder, 8 April 1886 – 16 December 1962), known professionally as Lily Elsie, was an English actress and singer during the

Edwardian In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian era was a period in the early 20th century that spanned the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910. It is commonly extended to the start of the First World War in 1914, during the early reign of King Ge ...

era. She was best known for her starring role in the London premiere of

Franz Lehár Franz Lehár ( ; ; 30 April 1870 – 24 October 1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas, of which the most successful and best known is '' The Merry Widow'' (''Die lustige Witwe''). Life and career L ...

operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs and including dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, and length of the work. Apart from its shorter length, the oper ...

The Merry Widow ''The Merry Widow'' ( ) is an operetta by the Austria-Hungary, Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The Libretto, librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein (writer), Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's ...

''. Beginning as a child star in the 1890s, Elsie built her reputation in several successful

Edwardian musical comedies Edwardian musical comedy is a genre of British musical theatre that thrived from 1892 into the 1920s, extending beyond the reign of King Edward VII in both directions. It began to dominate the English musical stage, and even the American musical ...

before her great success in ''The Merry Widow'', opening in 1907. Afterwards, she starred in several more successful operettas and musicals, including '' The Dollar Princess'' (1909), '' A Waltz Dream'' (1911) and ''

The Count of Luxembourg ''The Count of Luxembourg'' is an operetta in two acts with English lyrics and libretto by Basil Hood and Adrian Ross, music by Franz Lehár, based on Lehár's three-act German operetta '' Der Graf von Luxemburg'' which had premiered in Vienna in ...

'' (1911). Admired for her beauty and charm on stage, Elsie became one of the most photographed women of Edwardian times.

Life and career

Elsie was born in

Armley Armley is a district in the west of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It starts less than from Leeds city centre. Like much of Leeds, Armley grew in the Industrial Revolution and had several mills, one of which now houses the Leeds Industrial ...

West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...

. Her mother, Charlotte Elizabeth Hodder (1864–1922), was a dressmaker who operated a lodging-house. She married William Thomas Cotton, a theatre worker, in 1891, and Elsie became Elsie Cotton. The family lived in

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

.Lily Elsie biography page
at Miss Lily Elsie website Elsie was also the niece of Wilfred Cotton, who married actress Ada Reeve."Lily Elsie"
StageBeauty.net, accessed 4 December 2019

Child star

A precocious child star, Elsie appeared in

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

and variety entertainments as a child impersonator known as Little Elsie. Nevertheless, she was reportedly painfully shy, even as an adult. By 1895–96, she appeared in concerts and

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...

s in theatres in

Salford Salford ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in Greater Manchester, England, on the western bank of the River Irwell which forms its boundary with Manchester city centre. Landmarks include the former Salford Town Hall, town hall, ...

. In 1896, she played the role of Princess Mirza in ''The Arabian Nights'' at the Queen's Theatre in

. Then, at Christmas 1896–97, at the age of ten, she appeared in the title role of ''Little Red Riding Hood'' at the same theatre for six weeks and then on tour for six additional weeks. Her first London appearance was at Christmas 1898 in ''King Klondike'' at Sara Lane's Britannia Theatre as Aerielle, the Spirit of the Air. Elsie then toured the provinces, travelling as far as

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

and Hull for a full year in ''McKenna's Flirtation'', a farce by American E. Selden, in 1900.Edwards, G. Spencer. ''

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News The ''Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News'' was a British weekly magazine founded in 1874 and published in London. In 1945 it changed its name to the ''Sport and Country'', and in 1957 to the ''Farm and Country'', before closing in 1970. His ...

'', 28 May 1904, pp. 474–75 She then played in Christmas pantomimes, including ''Dick Whittington'' (1901), ''The Forty Thieves'' (1902), and ''Blue Beard'' (1903) and toured in

, including ''The Silver Slipper'' by Owen Hall, with music by

Leslie Stuart Leslie Stuart (15 March 1863 – 27 March 1928) born Thomas Augustine Barrett was an English composer of Edwardian musical comedy, best known for the hit show ''Florodora'' (1899) and many popular songs. He began in Manchester as a church orga ...

(1901–02), and '' Three Little Maids'' (1903). From about 1900, she adopted the stage name Lily Elsie.Gänzl, Kurt
"Elsie, Lily (1886?–1962)"
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 18 September 2008, Elsie then joined

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 ...

' company at

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 impresa ...

in London as a chorus girl. In 1903, she took over the role of Princess Soo-Soo in the hit musical '' A Chinese Honeymoon'' and then starred in the flop, ''Madame Sherry'', by Hugo Felix, at the

Apollo Theatre The Apollo Theatre is a listed building, Grade II listed West End theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, in central London.

. She next played the roles of Gwenny Holden in '' Lady Madcap'', Lady Patricia Vereker in '' The Cingalee'' in 1904, Madame du Tertre in '' The Little Michus'' in 1905, and Lady Agnes Congress in ''The Little Cherub'' (during which, she was fired by Edwardes for giggling, but soon rehired), Humming Bird in ''See See'' and Lally in '' The New Aladdin'' at the Gaiety Theatre, all in 1906. From 1900 to 1906, she appeared in 14 shows.

''Merry Widow'' and peak years

Elsie's biggest success came in creating the title role in the English-language version of ''The Merry Widow'' in the London production. Edwardes took Elsie to see the original German version (''Die Lustige Witwe'') in Berlin. Elsie was at first reluctant to take on the demanding part, thinking her voice too light for the role, but Edwardes persuaded her to accept.''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' obituary, 18 December 1962, p. 13 Edwardes brought her to see the famous designer, Lucile, for a style coaching. Lucile later wrote, "I realised that here was a girl who had both beauty and intelligence but who had never learnt how to make the best of herself. So shy and diffident was she in those days that a less astute producer than George Edwardes would in all probability have passed her over and left her in the chorus."Excerpts from ''Discretions and Indiscretions''
by Lucy Duff-Gordon, Jarrolds (1932) at Lily-Elsie.com The production, with English lyrics by

Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes (23 December 1859 – 11 September 1933), better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific English writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th ...

, opened in June 1907 and ran for 778 performances at Daly's Theatre. Elsie created the role at Daly's and toured with it beginning in August 1908. The show was an enormous success for its creators and made Elsie a major star. One critic at the opening night praised "the youthfulness, the dainty charm and grace, the prettiness and the exquisite dancing with which Miss Elsie invests the part.... I share the opinion of most of the first-nighters, who considered it could not have been in better hands, and could not have been better handled.... The night was a genuine triumph for Miss Elsie, and she well deserved all the calls she received." Lucile designed the costumes for Elsie in ''The Merry Widow'' (including the plumed hats that became an extraordinary fad) and thereafter used Elsie to promote her fashions, designing her personal clothes and costumes for several of her other shows. Lucile wrote, "That season was a very brilliant one, perhaps the most brilliant of the series which brought the social life of pre-war London to its peak. And just when it was at its zenith a new play was launched with a new actress, who set the whole town raving over her beauty...." Elsie's image was in great demand by advertisers and on postcards, and she received unsolicited gifts of great value from many male admirers (and even bequests). Lucile commented, "She was absolutely indifferent to most enfor she once told me she disliked the male character and considered that men only behaved tolerably to a woman who treated them coldly". Nevertheless, Elsie became one of the most frequently photographed beauties of the Edwardian era. According to the ''Atlanta Constitution'' newspaper in America, writing in 1915: After ''The Merry Widow'', Elsie appeared in another 16 shows, including in the very successful English-language versions of '' The Dollar Princess'' in 1909; as Franzi in the British premiere of '' A Waltz Dream'' in 1911; and as Angèle in ''

'', also in 1911, garnering continuous praise. One critic wrote that "it gave great pleasure merely to see her walk across the stage." Elsie left the cast of ''The Count of Luxembourg'' to marry 6' 3" Major John Ian Bullough (1885–1936), the son of a wealthy textile manufacturer, but the marriage was reported to be mostly unhappy. In addition, Elsie often suffered from ill health, including anaemia, among other ailments, and had several operations during her years onstage. The gossip column in ''The Pelican'' called her "the occasional actress". Bullough wanted his wife to retire from the stage. The publicity shy and exhausted Elsie was happy to leave the stage for the next several years, except for charity performances to benefit the war effort. She returned in the title role of Louis Parker's comedy play ''Malvourneen'' with

Herbert Beerbohm Tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (17 December 1852 – 2 July 1917) was an English actor and Actor-manager, theatre manager. Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre in the West End theatre, West End, winning ...

at His Majesty's Theatre, as Lady Catherine Lazenby in ''

The Admirable Crichton ''The Admirable Crichton'' is a comic stage play written in 1902 by J. M. Barrie. Origins Barrie took the title from the sobriquet of a fellow Scotland, Scot, the polymath James Crichton, a 16th-century genius and athlete. The epigram-loving E ...

'' in 1916 and in the title role in ''Pamela'' written by

Arthur Wimperis Arthur Harold Wimperis (3 December 1874 – 14 October 1953) was an English playwright, lyricist and screenwriter, who contributed lyrics and libretti to popular Edwardian musical comedies written for the stage. But, with the advent of talking f ...

, with songs by Frederic Norton (1917; with

Owen Nares Owen Ramsay Nares (11 August 1888 – 30 July 1943) was an English stage and film actor. Besides his acting career, he was the author of ''Myself, and Some Others'' (1925). Early life Educated at Reading School, Nares was encouraged by his m ...

). ''The Tatler'' wrote of her performance in ''Malvourneen'', "Everyone should see Miss Lily Elsie in this play, for it shows us that her comedy is as good as her musical comedy, which is saying a great deal."''The Tatler, 3 November 1915

Later years

In 1920, Elsie moved with her husband to the

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

village of Redmarley D'Abitot. She spent ten years away from the stage during this time, enjoying social events and fox hunting. She returned to performing, first touring and then appearing at the

Prince of Wales's Theatre The Scala Theatre was a theatre in Charlotte Street, London, off Tottenham Court Road. The first theatre on the site opened in 1772; the last was demolished in 1969, after a catastrophic fire. From 1865 to 1882, the theatre was known as th ...

in London in 1927 as Eileen Mayne in ''The Blue Train'', the English language adaptation of

Robert Stolz Robert Elisabeth Stolz (25 August 188027 June 1975) was an Austrian songwriter and conductor as well as a composer of operettas and film music.Stanley Sadie Ed. (2002) ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera'', Oxford University Press Biography ...

's German musical comedy ''Mädi''. Her last show before retiring was

Ivor Novello Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. He was born into a musical ...

's successful ''The Truth Game'' back at Daly's Theatre in 1928–1929. Finally, in 1930, Elsie's unhappy marriage ended in divorce as her health deteriorated further and she became subject to fits of ill temper. She spent much time in nursing homes and Swiss sanatoria. She was diagnosed as having serious psychological ailments and underwent brain surgery that reportedly resulted in an improvement in her health. Her last years were spent at St. Andrew's Hospital in London. Elsie died at St. Andrew's Hospital (demolished in 1973),

Cricklewood Cricklewood is a town in North London, England, in the London Boroughs of Camden, Barnet, and Brent. The Crown pub, now the Clayton Crown Hotel, is a local landmark and lies north-west of Charing Cross. Cricklewood was a small rural hamlet ...

, London, aged 76, and was cremated at

Golders Green Crematorium Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and is one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000 (the equivalent of £136,000 in 2021), ...

Recordings and films

From ''Pamela'', Duets with Owen Nares. Music by Frederick Norton. Lyrics by Arthur Wimperis. Recorded on 22 January 1918: *"I'm so very Glad I met You".

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 ...

04224 (Matrix No. HO-3046 af) *"It's not the things you've got". His Master's Voice 04225 (Matrix No. HO-3051 af) *"I Loved you so". His Master's Voice 03602 (Matrix No. HO 3048 af) *"Waltz theme and Cupid" (Finales, Act 2). His Master's Voice 04223 (Matrix No. HO 3053 af) *"Cupid, Cupid". His Master's Voice 03601 (Matrix No. HO 3054 af) From ''The Blue Train''. Music by Robert Stolz, Ivy St. Helier and Gorney, lyrics by

Dion Titheradge Dion Titheradge (30 March 1889 – 16 November 1934) was an Australian-born actor and writer of revues, plays and screenplays. Early life Dion Titheradge was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1889, son of the actor George Sutton Titheradge. He was ...

and Reginald Arkell. Recorded in 1927: *"The Blue Train". (Titheradge and Gorney) Columbia 4438 (Matrix No. 5661) *"When a Girl is in Love with a Man". (Titheradge, Arkell, and Stolz) Duet with Arthur Margetson. Columbia 9223 (Matrix No. AX 2866) *"Eileen". (Arkell and Stolz) Duet with Arthur Margetson. Columbia 4439 (Matrix No. A 5660) *"Swiss Fairyland". (Arkell and Stolz) Columbia 4438 (Matrix No. A 5662) *"You Didn't Ask Me First". (Arkell and St.Helier) Duet with Arthur Margetson. Columbia 9223 (Matrix No. AX 2867) Elsie appeared in two films: the

D. W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the n ...

film '' The Great Love'' (1918, a cameo role), and '' Comradeship'' (1919).

Gallery

File:Lily Elsie - Postcard - Postmarked Birmingham Sept 1909.jpg, Lily Elsie – Postcard, postmarked Birmingham September 1909 File:Lily Elsie - Postcard - Postmarked Oct 1907.jpg, Elsie as Sonia in ''

'', London – Postcard, postmarked October 1907 File:Lily Elsie in The Merry Widow.jpg, Elsie in ''

'' File:LilyElsie2.jpg, Elsie in '' A Chinese Honeymoon''

Notes

External links

French Resource on Lily ElsieDiscography of Lily ElsiePictures of Lily ElsieLily Elsie WebsitePictures of Elsie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elsie, Lily 1886 births 1962 deaths Actresses from Leeds Actresses from Manchester English women singers English stage actresses English film actresses English silent film actresses People from Armley Edwardian era 20th-century English actresses