Sadie Martinot
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Sarah Frances Marie Martinot (August 19, 1861 – May 7, 1923) was an American actress and
soprano singer A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261  Hz to A5 in choral music, or to ...
who performed on stage in dramas, musical comedy and comic opera. Her career began at the age fifteen as
Cupid In classical mythology, Cupid ( , meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars. He is also known as Amor (Latin: ...
in ''Ixion; or, the Man at the Wheel'' and, but for a few years absence, she remained active on stage in America and abroad until 1908. She was the first to play Hebe in an American production of ''
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, w ...
'', the first Katrina in the comic opera ''
Rip Van Winkle "Rip Van Winkle" () is a short story by the American author Washington Irving, first published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in Colonial history of the United States, colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who meets mysterious Du ...
'' and the first to play the title role in an English adaptation of the operetta ''Nanon''. Late in her life Martinot fell victim to
mental illness A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is ...
and spent her last few years confined to psychiatric institutions.


Early life

She was born Sarah Frances Marie Martinot in New York City on December 19, 1861, the daughter of William Alexander and Mary Lydia (née Randall) Martinot. Her father was the son of John P. Martinot, a French immigrant who founded a successful wholesale firm dealing in imported silk products. William Martinot worked for his father's firm and had served in the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
and later as a New York City police detective who once brought charges of corruption against a NYPD police captain.White, James Terry, ''The National Cyclopedia of American Biography'',1904, p. 556
accessed 6.15.13
Her mother was said to be of the family that once owned
Randall's Island Randalls Island (sometimes called Randall's Island) and Wards Island are conjoined islands, collectively called Randalls and Wards Island, in New York City.
in Manhattan. Before taking to the stage at 15, Martinot was educated at area public schools and the
Ursuline Convent The Ursulines, also known as the Order of Saint Ursula (post-nominals: OSU), is an enclosed religious order of women that in 1572 branched off from the Angelines, also known as the Company of Saint Ursula. The Ursulines trace their origins to th ...
in
New Rochelle, New York New Rochelle ( ; in ) is a Political subdivisions of New York State#City, city in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County, New York (state), New York, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately from Midtow ...
.''Opera Glass'', May, 1896, pp. 67-78
accessed 6.14.13
Some accountsGrau, Robert, ''Forty Years Observation of Music and the Drama'', pp. 156, 221-222
accessed 6.14.13
have her birth name as Sally Martin or Sally Eagan, the daughter of an Irish-American single mother who worked hard to ensure her a good education. In March 1894 Martinot stated to the press that, though she would have been proud to have been raised under such a circumstance, she in fact was the daughter of Mary and William Alexander Martinot.


Career

In 1876 Martinot joined Manhattan's Eagle Theatre as a $5-a-week walk-on player. Her debut came about in late August of that year when an injury prevented
chorus girl A chorus line is a large group of dancers who together perform synchronized routines, usually in musical theatre. Sometimes, singing is also performed. While synchronized dancing indicative of a chorus line was vogue during the first half of th ...
Maude Branscombe from performing Cupid in that evening's performance of F. C. Burnand's ''Ixion''. The next year she joined Adah Richmond's company at $18 a-week, touring in ''Chow Chow: or, A Tale of Pekin,'' in which she performed a popular imitation of Marie Aimee, singing ''Pretty as a Picture'' Later came a Christmas 1877 engagement at the Boylston Museum, Boston and a performance the following year at the city's Americus Club that led to an offer to join the Boston Museum stock company. That November she appeared at the Boston Museum in the original American production of
Gilbert and Sullivan's Gilbert may refer to: People and fictional characters *Gilbert (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gilbert (surname), including a list of people Places Australia * Gilbert River (Queensland) * Gilbert River (Sout ...
''H.M.S. Pinafore'' and, over the following few seasons, rose to be their leading
soubrette A soubrette is a female minor stock character in opera and theatre, often a pert lady's maid. By extension, the term can refer generally to any saucy or flirtatious young woman. The term arrived in English from Provençal via French, and means " ...
. Martinot left The Boston Museum after actor-manager
Dion Boucicault Dionysius Lardner "Dion" Boucicault (né Boursiquot; 26 December 1820 – 18 September 1890) was an Irish actor and playwright famed for his melodramas. By the later part of the 19th century, Boucicault had become known on both sides of the ...
offered her a substantial raise to join him in England and her request for a modest salary adjustment was rejected by the Museum's management. Martinot made her London debut on
Boxing Day Boxing Day, also called as Offering Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part ...
, 1880, at the
Alhambra Theatre The Alhambra Theatre was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built as the Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts, opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two yea ...
as the Spirit of the Bracken in the three-act comic opera ''Mefistofele II''. At the same theatre the following March, she played Celine in the
Opéra bouffe ''Opéra bouffe'' (, plural: ''opéras bouffes'') is a genre of mid- to late 19th-century French operetta, closely associated with Jacques Offenbach, who produced many of them at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, inspiring the genre's name. It ...
''Jeanne, Jeannette, et Jeanneton''. On October 14, 1882, she created at the Royal Comedy Theatre, London, the role Katrina in the comic opera
Rip Van Winkle "Rip Van Winkle" () is a short story by the American author Washington Irving, first published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in Colonial history of the United States, colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who meets mysterious Du ...
. By 1883 Martinot was back in New York with Boucicault for the inaugural season of his new Star Theatre (formerly
Wallack's Theatre Three New York City playhouses named Wallack's Theatre played an important part in the history of American theater as the successive homes of the stock company managed by actors James W. Wallack and his son, Lester Wallack. During its 35-year ...
). Their first production premiered on March 26 with Boucicault's ''Vice Versa'' with Martinot in the role of Mrs. Clingstone Peach. Later one critic declared the piece a failure and Martinot a success. On April 12 the season continued with Martinot playing Moya in ''
The Shaughraun ''The Shaughraun'' is a melodramatic Play (theatre), play written by Irish people, Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Wallack's Theatre, New York City, New York, on 14 November 1874. Dion Boucicault played Conn in the ...
''; Dora on April 19 in ''The Omadhaun''; and that May as Eily O'Connor in ''
The Colleen Bawn ''The Colleen Bawn, or The Brides of Garryowen'' is a melodramatic Play (theatre), play written by Irish people, Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Laura Keene's Theatre, New York City, New York, on 27 March 1860 with ...
''. At the
Fifth Avenue Theatre The Fifth Avenue Theatre was a Broadway theatre in Manhattan, New York City, United States, at 31 West 28th Street and Broadway (1185 Broadway). It was demolished in 1939. Built in 1868, it was managed by Augustin Daly in the mid-1870s. In ...
in January 1884, Martinot played Portia in the farce ''Distinguished Gentleman'' and that August at the
Union Square Theatre Union Square Theatre was the name of two different theatres near Union Square, Manhattan, New York City. The first was a Broadway theatre that opened in 1870, was converted into a cinema in 1921 and closed in 1936.(8 October 1921)Two landmarks ...
she was Florence Nightingale Fletcher in ''Queena''. In April of the following year she played Sophie in ''Dakolar'' at the Lyceum Theatre and on June 29, 1885, at the Casino Theatre, she became the first to sing in English the part Nanon Patin in the operetta ''Nanon''.


Illness

In December 1885 Martinot sailed for an engagement in
Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...
, where after a short period she came down with a strain of malaria commonly called Roman Fever. A private train took her to Vienna, where she spent the next several years convalescing and, as her strength returned, pursuing European art and culture.


Later career

Martinot returned to New York to star in the much anticipated comic opera ''Nadjy'', but after a disagreement with the Casino Theatre stage manager, she withdrew from the production before the piece debuted. Her first performance after returning from Europe was played in German at Amberg's German Theatre early in 1889 as Bettina in ''Das Maskottchen'' (''The Mascot''). At the
Garden Theatre The Garden Theatre was a major theater on Madison Avenue and 27th Street in Manhattan, New York City. The theatre opened on September 27, 1890, and closed in 1925. Part of the Madison Square Garden (1890), second Madison Square Garden complex, t ...
on September 27 of the following year she played Mrs. Horton in Hamilton Aide's ''Dr. Bill'' and at the same venue that October 6, Lois in
Jerome K. Jerome Jerome Klapka Jerome (2 May 1859 – 14 June 1927) was an English writer and humorist, best known for the comic travelogue ''Three Men in a Boat'' (1889). Other works include the essay collections '' Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow'' (1886) an ...
's ''Sunset''. Over the following two seasons Martinot starred in a national tour performing the title role in the Charles Frederic Nirdlinger play ''Pompadour'' and Dora in
Victorien Sardou Victorien Sardou ( , ; 5 September 1831 – 8 November 1908) was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play. He also wrote several plays that were made into popular 19th-c ...
's ''
Diplomacy Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of State (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international syste ...
.'' Martinot remained active in theatre, in New York or elsewhere, well into the first decade of the new century in roles such as: Suzette in ''The Voyage of Suzette'' (1893)
Mrs. Darcey in ''The Passport'' (1894)
Lady Angela in ''
Patience or forbearance, is the ability to endure difficult or undesired long-term circumstances. Patience involves perseverance or tolerance in the face of delay, provocation, or stress without responding negatively, such as reacting with disrespect ...
'' (1896)
Hattie in ''A Stranger in New York'' (1897)
Leonie in ''The Turtle'' (1898)
Lady Carnby in ''The Marriage Game'' (1901)
Paula in ''
The Second Mrs. Tanqueray ''The Second Mrs. Tanqueray'' is a problem play by Arthur Wing Pinero. It utilises the "Woman with a past" plot, popular in nineteenth century melodrama. The play was first produced in 1893 by the actor-manager George Alexander (actor), George ...
'' (1903)
Mary Erwin in ''Mary and John'' (1905)
Mrs. Temple in ''Mrs. Temple's Telegram'' (1906)
Lady Dover in ''Toddles'' (1908)


Personal life

Martinot married twice, first to Fred Stinson (d. 1895), a theatrical manager, on March 30, 1879, in Boston, and then to Louis F. Nethersole (d. 1936), a theatrical manager, producer and press agent and a brother of actress
Olga Nethersole Olga Isabella Nethersole, CBE, RRC (18 January 1866 – 9 January 1951) was an English actress, theatre producer, and wartime nurse and health educator. Career Olga Isabella Nethersole was born in London, of Spanish descent on her mother's sid ...
. While it was reported she married Max Figman, a comedian-actor, with whom she fell into financial difficulty, her marriage record to Louis Nethersole on May 30, 1901, in Manhattan, New York, lists her name as Sarah F. Stinson. At the time of her death Martinot was thought to be divorced from Nethersole. Martinot was the author of a number of magazine articles over her career, a student of
Wagnerian opera Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
and an accomplished
equestrian The word equestrian is a reference to equestrianism, or horseback riding, derived from Latin ' and ', "horse". Horseback riding (or riding in British English) Examples of this are: *Equestrian sports *Equestrian order, one of the upper classes in ...
.


Decline

On January 5, 1916, Martinot jumped unclad from a second story window of an apartment building on
Fort Washington Avenue Fort Washington Avenue is a major north-south street in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. It runs from Fort Tryon Park to 159th Street, where it intersects with Broadway. It goes past Bennett Park, the highest natural point ...
, New York. She did not, from press reports, appear seriously injured when she landed in an adjacent courtyard, though it was apparent she was mentally unstable. Martinot was transported to Washington Heights Hospital and then later in the day transferred to the Psychiatric Ward at
Bellevue Hospital Bellevue Hospital (officially NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and formerly known as Bellevue Hospital Center) is a hospital in New York City and the oldest public hospital in the United States. One of the largest hospitals in the United States ...
.Miss Martinot in Hospital. ''The New York Times,'' January 6, 1916, p. 11 In March 1918 Martinot was committed to the Manhattan State Hospital for the Insane and later that year moved to St. Lawrence State Hospital,
Ogdensburg, New York Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 10,064 at the 2020 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden. T ...
. At some point early in 1918 Martinot escaped her confinement and was eventually found in Washington, D. C., disoriented and unable to recall her name. She died of heart disease five years later while still institutionalized at St. Lawrence Hospital.Sadie Martinot Dies Insane at 61.''The New York Times'', May 8, 1923, p. 7


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinot, Sadie 1861 births 1923 deaths American stage actresses American operatic sopranos American people of French descent 19th-century American women singers 19th-century American singers