Lily Post (1856-1899) was an American actress and operatic soprano in the 1880s and 1890s.[1] She appeared on stage with Marie Jansen, Fanny Rice, and Mathilde Cottrelly. She sang music by Edward Solomon and Signor Perugini, two men who had been married to Lillian Russell. In 1893 she introduced a pop piece called Momma's Love Song.[2]
Lily Post | |
|---|---|
_for_Virginia_Brights_Cigarettes_MET_DP830981.jpg) Lily Post, ca. 1888 | |
| Born | August 23, 1856 |
| Died | April 4, 1899 (aged 42) |
| Resting place | Cypress Lawn Memorial Park San Mateo County, California (Colma) |
| Other names | Lily P. Post Lilly Blair Lilly Post |
| Occupation(s) | actress, singer |
| Years active | 1880s-90s |
| Spouse | Frank Blair |
| Children | son |
In January 1890 Post was granted a divorce from performer Frank Blair. They had one child and the issue of child support became a factor as Blair did not want to pay support as Post was rich from her theatrical earnings.[3] In 1889 Post reportedly married Will H. Morton, a Chicago theater manager and they remained married until his death in 1895. He entered an insane asylum then died from paresis, a common symptom of syphilis.
Like her husband she entered a sanitarium or insane asylum on April 3, 1899, in San Francisco, having been admitted there by her son. She had been called demented in the press of the day.[4] She died April 4, 1899, having been stricken with a heart attack,[5] sometimes a complication of syphilis.
Some works
edit- The Queen's Lace Handkerchief (1882–83)
- The Black Hussar (1885)[6]
- Bluebeard Jr. (1889)
References
edit- ^ American and British Theatrical Biography, p.756 c.1979 by J. P. Wearing ISBN 0-8108-1201-0
- ^ Mamma's Love Song by Lily Post(NYPublic Library, Billy Rose Collection)
- ^ Oakland Tribune; LILY POST RICH, January 3, 1890
- ^ Contemporary newspapers announcing Lily Post admittance to sanitarium
- ^ The Washington Evening Star; April 5, 1899, page9
- ^ Pictorial History of the American Theatre: 1860-1970, p.36 c.1969 by Daniel Blum ISBN 0-517-01095X
External links
edit- Lily Post at Internet Broadway Database
- portraits of Lily Post with Marie Jansen in The Black Hussar 1885 (City Museum of New York)