Winnie Baldwin (April 7, 1894 – October 7, 1969) was an American vaudevillian, film actress, and playwright.

Winnie Baldwin
1927 Variety advertisement
Born(1894-04-07)April 7, 1894
Kentucky, U.S.
DiedOctober 7, 1969(1969-10-07) (aged 75)
Occupation(s)Actress, vaudevillian, writer

Early life and career

edit

Baldwin was born in Kentucky on April 7, 1894.[1]

In 1913, Baldwin was described as having "a sort of Howard Chandler Christy girl plus vaudeville sprightliness, the delightful American type we all fall for every time."[2]

Baldwin and her first husband Percy Bronson performed together in an act known as "Bronson and Baldwin."[3] They performed together in the play So Long Letty at the Shubert Theatre, singing "Pass around the Apples Once Again."[4]

Baldwin performed in Mercenary Mary at the Longacre Theatre in 1925. Don Carle Gillette wrote that Baldwin "helps the comedy along and puts over a couple of song numbers well."[5]

She later partnered with Joe Morris; their act was called Morris and Baldwin.[6]

Baldwin performed at Loew's American Theatre in 1928. A review in The Billboard stated, "Her easy, winning manner suggests that Miss Baldwin with a newly written act would go over big. She is capable of rising to the summit, but never quite reaches the heights."[7]

Baldwin wrote two plays, including House of Mander, also referred to as Mander's Sons, which played at the Apollo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in October 1929. A review read, "Despite its faults, the play has some dramatic force, and with the lustful emotions of its chief character, may have a chance, providing it gets by New York's equivalent to 'the watch and ward' society."[8] It was staged by Lawrence Marston.[9][10]

Her comedy Divided Honors played Belmont, New York. Some of her vaudeville gags were employed in the show.[11] It was reviewed in Variety: "In vaude you've got to give it to them snappy. Maybe that's why Miss Baldwin was at her best in the first act."[12] The Morning News of Wilmington, Delaware, wrote, "The play has all the fluva of a very palpable hit".[13]

Personal life and death

edit

In 1914, she married performer Percy V. Raisbeck,[14] known professionally as Percy Bronson, with whom she had three children: Edna, Douglas, and Hazel.[15] She and Raisbeck divorced in 1923;[16] Baldwin retained custody of the children.[17] After Raisbeck died in 1927,[18] Baldwin was named "administratrix" of his estate.[19]

Baldwin married William Franks in 1935.[20]

Baldwin died on October 7, 1969, in San Bernardino County, California.[1]

Theatre credits

edit
  • So Long Letty (October 23, 1916 – January 13, 1917) as Sadie McQuiggle
  • Mercenary Mary (April 13, 1925 – August 8, 1925) as Mary Skinner
  • Divided Honors (September 30, 1929 – November 1929) – writer
  • House of Mander (October 1929) – writer

Filmography

edit
  • In the Ranks (1913) (short) as Hazel Story, the Colonel's daughter
  • The Great Sacrifice (1913) (short) as Helen
  • For the Cause (1912) (short) as Helen
  • The Lieutenant's Last Fight (1912) (short)
  • The Deserter (1912) (short)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1940–1997 [database on-line] Provo, Utah, U.S.: Ancestry Operations Inc., 2000.
  2. ^ "In Review: Favorites on the Orpheum Bill. Percy Bronson and Winnie Baldwin Are Here; Crack-a-Jack Dancers Seen at Pantages; Fine Girl Show at Century; in Film Land". Los Angeles Times. 1913-07-08 – via Proquest.
  3. ^ "Vaudeville: Winnie Baldwin Divorces P. Bronson". Variety. 1924-11-19. p. 5 – via Proquest.
  4. ^ Sime (1916-11-03). "Show Reviews: So Long Letty". Variety. p. 16 – via Proquest.
  5. ^ Gillette, Don Carle (1925-04-25). "The New Plays on Broadway". The Billboard. p. 38 – via Proquest.
  6. ^ "Plays and Players". Brooklyn Life. 1926-04-17. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "New Turns and Returns: Winnie Baldwin". The Billboard. 1928-03-03. p. 20 – via Proquest.
  8. ^ Weintraub (1929-10-16). "Legitimate: Out-of-Town Reviews - House of Mander". Variety. p. 60 – via Proquest.
  9. ^ "Gossip of the Broadway Sector". New York Times. 1929-10-06. p. X1 – via Proquest.
  10. ^ "Local Premiere: The Domineering Father". The Brooklyn Citizen. 1920-10-22. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Moran, Charles (1929-10-12). "New Plays on Broadway: Forrest". The Billboard. p. 45 – via Proquest.
  12. ^ Edba (1929-10-23). "Legitimate: Plays On Broadway - Divided Honors". Variety. p. 71 – via Proquest.
  13. ^ "'Divided Honors' Wins Approval". The Morning News. 1929-09-17. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  14. ^ Colorado, County marriage records and state index, 1862–2006. Via Ancestry.com.
  15. ^ "Untitled". San Francisco Chronicle. 1921-08-07 – via Ancestry.com.
  16. ^ "Exits and Entrances". Oakland Tribune. 1923-12-13. p. 25 – via NewspaperArchive.
  17. ^ "Vaudeville: Winnie Baldwin Marrying". Variety. 1925-06-10. p. 8 – via Proquest.
  18. ^ "Vaudeville: "I've Had a Lot of Laughs" Said Percy Bronson, Kisses Wife, Dies". Variety. 1927-12-28. p. 24 – via Proquest.
  19. ^ "Vaudeville: Percy Bronson's Est". Variety. 1928-07-18. p. 35 – via Proquest.
  20. ^ California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1849–1980. Los Angeles. Marriage. 1935. Via Ancestry.com.
edit