Margaret Chute
Margaret Chute | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 7, 1886 South Norwood, London, England, UK |
| Died | November 30, 1948 (aged 62) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Relatives |
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Margaret Chute (1886–1948) was an English stage actor, suffragist, freelance journalist, and photographer.
Personal life
[edit]Chute was the daughter of Charles Kean Chute and Sybil Claridge Andrews. Her parents were notable stage actors, performing in the West End and throughout Britain, including at Hastings’ Gaiety Theatre.[1]
During World War II, Joan Crawford volunteered as Chute's guarantor, allowing her to move from England and continue working in the United States.[2][3]
Chute passed away in Los Angeles, California on November 30, 1948, due to a stroke caused by cirrhosis of the liver.[4][5]
Career
[edit]Chute was on the professional stage from 1908-1919. In 1911 to 1912, she played Mrs. Cowper-Cowper in the first revival of Lady Windermere's Fan.
In 1917, George Robey employed Chute as his private secretary. In 1920, she was employed by Sir Oswald Stoll as the first woman press representative for London's Coliseum and Alhambra theatres.[6]
In 1925, Chute travelled to Germany to survey their studio systems.[7] In 1926, Chute travelled to Hollywood to interview some of her favorite film stars, including Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks.[8] She would return every year. Chute wrote for various fan magazines including Hollywood Magazine, Photoplay, and Picture Play magazine.[9][8][10][2] She also wrote for United Press.[11]
Chute also took photographs of many stars, including Jean Harlow, Marion Davies, Dorothy Sebastian, and Joan Crawford.[12][13][14]
Her career declined after Chute published articles exposing the mistreatment of women in Hollywood, similar to today's MeToo movement.
Legacy
[edit]In July 2021, The Stables Theatre premiered Picture Picture by Chute's relation David Charles Manners, which focused on Chute's life and hosted the first-ever exhibition of Chute's photographs.[1]
Performances
[edit]| Year | Play | Part | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1908-09 | Aladdin | chorus & dancer | Prince’s, Bristol |
| 1909 | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother (understudy + 5 weeks in role) | Adelphi, London |
| 1909 | The Proud Prince | chorus | Lyceum, London |
| 1910 | F.R. Benson's Co. tour of multiple Shakespeare plays
The School for Scandal The Knight of the Burning Pestle |
multiple roles | national tour |
| 1910 | The Eccentric Lord Comberdene | company role | St. James's, London |
| 1910 | The Miniature | Beadnell | St. James's, London |
| 1911-12 | Lady Windermere's Fan[15] | Mrs Cowper-Cowper | St. James's, London |
| 1912 | The Bear Leaders | Lloyd | Comedy Theatre, London |
| 1913 | Turandot, Princess of China | Tien-wa | St. James's, London |
| 1913 | Lady Noggs | Suzette | Comedy Theatre, London |
| 1913 | The Month of Mary | Sister of Charity | The Little Theatre, Adelphi
(Pioneer Players) |
| 1913 | The Big Game | Mildred Carruthers | New Theatre, London |
| 1914 | Love and the Law | Margaret | Devonshire Park, Eastbourne |
| 1914 | The Impromptus | Margaret Kean | Bournemouth Winter Gardens & Boscombe Pier |
| 1914-15 | Humpty Dumpty | Pansy | Prince's, Bristol |
| 1915-16 | Goody Two Shoes | Ronnie, the Mayor’s son | Prince's, Bristol |
| 1919 | The Lymelights | Margaret Kean | 12-week tour |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hewitt, Phil. "The tale of Hollywood's very first freelance film journalist". Sussexworld.
- ^ a b Hollywood (1941). Fawcett Publications, inc. 1941 – via MBRS Library of Congress.
- ^ "Hollywood Still Film Capital, Says Reviewer". The Deseret News. 1936-03-13.
- ^ "Los Angeles. Death Record Indexes". FamilySearch.
- ^ "Norwalk. Death Certificates". FamilySearch.
- ^ The Billboard 1921-02-05: Vol 33 Iss 6. Prometheus Global Media. 1921-02-05.
- ^ Higgins, Harvey O. (1925-12-16). "The Fourth Column: Germany's Rapid Strides As Motion Picture Centre". Border Cities Chrysler News.
- ^ a b Picture-Play Magazine. New York, N.Y. : Street & Smith. 1926 – via MBRS Library of Congress.
- ^ Photoplay Magazine Publishing Company (1941). Photoplay (Jul – Dec 1941). Chicago, Photoplay Magazine Publishing Company – via New York The Museum of Modern Art Library.
- ^ Photoplay. Chicago: Macfadden Publications, Inc. Jan–Jun 1938 – via Media History Digital Library.
- ^ Chute, Margaret (1929-01-23). "Woman Tells of Thrilling Rescue on The High Seas". The Washington Reporter. United Press.
- ^ "Jean Harlow talks over the next scene for 'Riff Raff' with director J..." Getty Images. 2004-04-16. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ "American actress Marion Davies relaxing in her Beverly Hills garden..." Getty Images. 2004-04-13. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ "American actresses Joan Crawford and Dorothy Sebastian practise..." Getty Images. 2004-04-09. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ "Margaret Chute as Mrs Cowper-Cowper; G. Trevor Roller as Parker in 'Lady Windermere's Fan' Portrait Print". National Portrait Gallery Shop. Retrieved 2024-03-18.