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Q: Turn of the century Actress ( Answered 4 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Turn of the century Actress
Category: Arts and Entertainment > Performing Arts
Asked by: maxmouse-ga
List Price: $10.00
Posted: 06 Jul 2006 18:10 PDT
Expires: 05 Aug 2006 18:10 PDT
Question ID: 743940
I'm looking for information on a turn of the 20th cenutry British
actress named Miss Maude Danks. I scoured the Internet and found only
one web site with information on her but found it to be inadequate
(http://lafayette.150m.com/dan1860b.html). I'd like to know any
additional information you can provide on her. Did she ever come to
America? I bought a trunk with her picture in it, so I'm trying to
find out more about her.
Thanks
Answer  
Subject: Re: Turn of the century Actress
Answered By: answerfinder-ga on 07 Jul 2006 02:53 PDT
Rated:4 out of 5 stars
 
Dear maxmouse-ga,
I have found a little more information for you on Maude Danks, but I
must observe that in my experience of genealogical research, the
Lafayette web page is a wonderful find.

There are several references to her in the Times newspaper. I cannot
place the full text here. If you need to see these in full, then a
good library should have them on microfilm.


The Times  Apr 03, 1897
Classified Ads
Miss Maude Danks and Miss Hidla Gees?s First Vocal and Violin Recital
at the Steinway Hall, London.

The Times  Apr 15, 1897 page 14
Article on the Steinway Hall concert
?Showed ability of the highest order, yet each in her way met with
some success in spite of a not very interesting programme? [...] The
article went on to criticise Danks? "lack of method" in some songs and
reported that ?her soprano voice is moderately sympathetic and her
enunciation of the text clear and distinct.?

The Times Dec 20, 1897
Classified Ads
St James?s Hall
?Miss Maude Danks will give a grand evening concert In aid of the
Benevolent Fund of the Royal British Nurse association.? Other
vocalists listed.

The Times  May 14, 1898 page 9
Report of a concert.
?Miss Maude Danks, the first of whom brought forward a fine air for
mezzo-soprano from Bruch?s Achilleus which she sang with great skill
and dramatic fervour.?

The Times May 06, 1899 page 14
One of a number of singers at a charity concert in London.

The Times  Sep 05, 1900
Classified Ads
Prince of Wales theatre
Production: English Nell
Listed as performer

The Times Feb 12, 1901
Classified Ads
Prince of Wales Theatre
Production: Pegg Woffington
Listed as performer


The Times  Jan 06, 1902
Prince of Wales Theatre
Production: Becky Sharp
Listed as performer


The Times Sep 26, 1902
Drury Lane Theatre
Production: The Best of Friends
Listed as performer


She then disappears from the paper until a possible further reference
in a court case in 1909. The case refers to the name of Mamie Danks
with a stage name of Mamie Stewart. I believe that it may be the same
person as I found no other references to Mamie Danks, but nevertheless
it must be treated with some caution. The articles are very lengthy
and a summary appears below.

The Times Feb 11, 1909; page 3
Civil case of Danks v. Sherek and Braff.
Mamie Danks, who used the theatrical name of Mamie Stuart, brought a
civil action against her agents regarding a theatrical engagement at
Buenos Ayres. Her case was that the contract had been a matter of
misrepresentation. On arrival at Buenos Ayres she discovered the
theatre to be fifth-rate, dirty, and licentious. She was approached by
men associated with the production who made inappropriate suggestions.
Friends who visited on the opening afternoon saw that the theatre was
?not for a decent actress?. She was bound by her terms of contract,
but after seeking advice at the British Embassy sought a civil action
in Buenos Ayres which released her from the contract. On her return to
England she mounted the court case.

In evidence she said her name was Mamie Danks, had appeared in ?The
Orchid?, a musical comedy. Appeared in London and the provinces, and
at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Other witnesses gave evidence on her
behalf of the disreputable nature of theatre.

There is no report on the outcome of case apart from a brief mention
in the article below that she won damages for the agents? reckless
statements.


There was later a libel action by the against ?The Stage?, a newspaper
 publication, by the agents, which reported on the above case. They
suggested that the agents were trapping girls for immoral purposes
abroad. The case rumbled on for several months and I cannot find the
final result. Article relating to the case appear on these dates.


The Times Jan 21, 1910; page 3
High Court Of Justice. King's Bench Division. 

The Times Jan 22, 1910; page 3
King's Bench Division.


Finally a postcard with her picture appears on a postcard in the
Walsall Local History Centre

B/W Miss Maude Danks. The Biograph Studio.
c.1903 - 1915
http://www.a2a.org.uk/search/records.asp?cat=148-260&cid=4-206

I have searched numerous other sources but these are the only
references I have found.

I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder
maxmouse-ga rated this answer:4 out of 5 stars
Quick and detailed response.

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