Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Miss Stewart Proves Woman Can Succeed as Producer of Plays on Broadway Rosalie Stewart

Miss Stewart Proves Woman Can Succeed as Producer of Plays on Broadway Rosalie Stewart

    Rosalie Stewart Muckenfuss
Public Name:  Rosalie Stewart
Born: October 9, 1890 Saint Louis, Independent Cities, Missouri, USA
Died: December 12, 1971 San Juan Capistrano, Orange, California, USA
Parents:  Benjamin Stewart Muckenfuss
                 Katherine Effie Wood
Occupation: Stewart Publicist Agency
Cause of Death: Death Record Pending
Date of Burial: December 14, 1971
Age at Death: 81 years, 2 months, 3 days
Death Certificate#:
Funeral: Forest Lawn Memorial Park
                Glendale, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
Mortuary: Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Findagrave.com 8547424
Social Security#: 550-07-8538
Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Park Plot Sectopm Graceland Lot 6859 Find A Grave Memorial 30602997



Rosalie Stewart  in the California, Death Index, 1940-1997
Name: Rosalie Stewart Social Security #: 550078538 Gender: Female Birth Date: 9 Oct 1890 Birth Place: Missouri Death Date: 12 Dec 1971 Death Place: Orange

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Rosa L Muckenfuss  in the 1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Rosa L Muckenfuss Age: 9 Birth Date: Oct 1890 Birthplace: Missouri Home in 1900: St Louis Ward 26, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri Ward of City: 26th Street: Maffitt Avenue House Number:  3936 Sheet Number: 15 Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 243 Family Number: 322 Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Daughter Marital Status: Single Father's name: Benjamin S Muckenfuss Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's name: Catherine E Muckenfuss Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Occupation: At School Attended School: 7 Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: St Louis Ward 26, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0388; FHL microfilm: 1240900



Date Taken: June 12, 1900
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Rose Muckenfuss  in the 1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Rose Muckenfuss Age in 1910: 19 Birth Year: abt 1891 Birthplace: Missouri Home in 1910: Chicago Ward 25, Cook, Illinois Street: Buena Avenue Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Daughter Marital Status: Single Father's name: B S Muckenfuss Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's name: C E Muckenfuss  Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Native Tongue: English Occupation: Booking Agent Industry: Theatrical Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner Attended School: Yes Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes  Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 25, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_268; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 1060; FHL microfilm: 1374281


Household Members:
Name Age
B S Muckenfuss 48
C E Muckenfuss 45
Rose Muckenfuss  19
B S Muckenfuss Jr 11
Ethel Karon  24

Date Taken: April 25, 1910
Source:
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1910USCenIndex&indiv=try&h=168812558

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Rosalie Stewart  in the 1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Rosalie Stewart Age: 29 Birth Year: abt 1891 Birthplace: Missouri Home in 1920: Manhattan Assembly District 11, New York, New York Street: West 115th Street Residence Date: 1920 Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Boarder Marital Status: Single Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Theatrical Industry: Business Employment Field: Employer Attended School: No Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Manhattan Assembly District 11, New York, New York; Roll: T625_1205; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 847


Household Members:
Name Age
B S Muckenfuss 57
Katherine Muckenfuss  55
Rosalie Stewart  29
Benjamin Stewart  21

Date Taken: January 22, 1920
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Roselie Stewart  in the New York, State Census, 1925
Name: Roselie Stewart [Roselie Muckenfuss]  Birth Date: abt 1891 Birth Place: United States Age: 34 Gender: Female Residence Place: New York, Queens Relationship: Daughter Color or Race: White Assembly District: 03 House Number: 26 Line Number: 20 Page Number: 10  Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 48; Assembly District: 03; City: New York; County: Queens; Page: 10

Household Members:
Name Age
Benj S Muckenfuss 63
Catherine Muckenfuss  60
Roselie Stewart 34
Benj S Stewart 27
Whilamina Neese 27

Date Taken: June 1, 1925
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Rosalie Stewart  in the 1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Rosalie Stewart [Rosalie Steuart]  Birth Year: abt 1891 Gender: Female Race: White Birthplace: Missouri Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1930: Manhattan, New York, New York, USA Map of Home: View Map  Street address: West 55th Street Ward of City: A D 15 Block: D House Number: 101 Family Number: 11 Home Owned or Rented: Rented Home Value: 250 Radio Set: Yes Lives on Farm: No Attended School: No Able to Read and Write: Yes Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Occupation: Manager Industry: Radio Co Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker Employment: Yes Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0571; FHL microfilm: 2341302


Household Members:
Name Age
Rosalie Stewart 39
Katherine Stewart 65
Benjamin S Stewart  31


Date Taken: April 7, 1930
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Rosalie Stewart  in the U.S., Biographical Cyclopedia of American Women
Name: Rosalie Stewart
[Rosalie Muckenfuss]
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 9 Oct 1890
Birth Place: St. Lewis, Missouri
Father: Benjamin Stewart Muckenfuss
Mother: Katherine Effie Wood Muckenfuss

Comments:
STEWART, ROSALIE, play producer, daughter of Benjamin Stewart and Katherine Effie Wood Muckenfuss, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, October 9, 1890. For business reasons she had her name legally changed in 1917 from Rosalie Stewart Muckenfuss to Rosalie Stewart.



Rosalia Stewart  in the U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925
Name: Rosalia Stewart Age: 31 Birth Date: 9 Oct 1890 Birth Place: St Louis, Missouri Residence Place: New York City, New York Passport Issue Date: 1 Apr 1922 Father: Benjamin S Stewart  Has Photo: Yes  Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 1881; Volume #: Roll 1881 - Certificates: 136726-137099, 01 Apr 1922-01 Apr 1922


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Rosalie Stewart  in the California, Death Index, 1940-1997
Name: Rosalie Stewart Social Security #: 550078538 Gender: Female Birth Date: 9 Oct 1890 Birth Place: Missouri Death Date: 12 Dec 1971 Death Place: Orange

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Rosa L Muckenfuss  in the 1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Rosa L Muckenfuss Age: 9 Birth Date: Oct 1890 Birthplace: Missouri Home in 1900: St Louis Ward 26, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri Ward of City: 26th Street: Maffitt Avenue House Number:  3936 Sheet Number: 15 Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 243 Family Number: 322 Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Daughter Marital Status: Single Father's name: Benjamin S Muckenfuss Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's name: Catherine E Muckenfuss Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Occupation: At School Attended School: 7 Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: St Louis Ward 26, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0388; FHL microfilm: 1240900



Date Taken: June 12, 1900
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Rose Muckenfuss  in the 1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Rose Muckenfuss Age in 1910: 19 Birth Year: abt 1891 Birthplace: Missouri Home in 1910: Chicago Ward 25, Cook, Illinois Street: Buena Avenue Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Daughter Marital Status: Single Father's name: B S Muckenfuss Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's name: C E Muckenfuss  Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Native Tongue: English Occupation: Booking Agent Industry: Theatrical Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner Attended School: Yes Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes  Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 25, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_268; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 1060; FHL microfilm: 1374281


Household Members:
Name Age
B S Muckenfuss 48
C E Muckenfuss 45
Rose Muckenfuss  19
B S Muckenfuss Jr 11
Ethel Karon  24

Date Taken: April 25, 1910
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Rosalie Stewart  in the 1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Rosalie Stewart Age: 29 Birth Year: abt 1891 Birthplace: Missouri Home in 1920: Manhattan Assembly District 11, New York, New York Street: West 115th Street Residence Date: 1920 Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Boarder Marital Status: Single Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Theatrical Industry: Business Employment Field: Employer Attended School: No Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Manhattan Assembly District 11, New York, New York; Roll: T625_1205; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 847


Household Members:
Name Age
B S Muckenfuss 57
Katherine Muckenfuss  55
Rosalie Stewart  29
Benjamin Stewart  21

Date Taken: January 22, 1920
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Roselie Stewart  in the New York, State Census, 1925
Name: Roselie Stewart [Roselie Muckenfuss]  Birth Date: abt 1891 Birth Place: United States Age: 34 Gender: Female Residence Place: New York, Queens Relationship: Daughter Color or Race: White Assembly District: 03 House Number: 26 Line Number: 20 Page Number: 10  Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 48; Assembly District: 03; City: New York; County: Queens; Page: 10

Household Members:
Name Age
Benj S Muckenfuss 63
Catherine Muckenfuss  60
Roselie Stewart 34
Benj S Stewart 27
Whilamina Neese 27

Date Taken: June 1, 1925
Source:


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Rosalie Stewart  in the 1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Rosalie Stewart [Rosalie Steuart]  Birth Year: abt 1891 Gender: Female Race: White Birthplace: Missouri Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1930:  Manhattan, New York, New York, USA Map of Home: View Map  Street address: West 55th Street Ward of City: A D 15 Block: D House Number: 101 Family Number: 11 Home Owned or Rented: Rented Home Value: 250 Radio Set: Yes Lives on Farm: No Attended School: No Able to Read and Write: Yes Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Occupation: Manager Industry: Radio Co Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker Employment: Yes Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0571; FHL microfilm: 2341302


Household Members:
Name Age
Rosalie Stewart 39
Katherine Stewart 65
Benjamin S Stewart  31


Date Taken: April 7, 1930
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Rosalie Stewart  in the U.S., Biographical Cyclopedia of American Women
Name: Rosalie Stewart
[Rosalie Muckenfuss]
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 9 Oct 1890
Birth Place: St. Lewis, Missouri
Father: Benjamin Stewart Muckenfuss
Mother: Katherine Effie Wood Muckenfuss

Comments:
STEWART, ROSALIE, play producer, daughter of Benjamin Stewart and Katherine Effie Wood Muckenfuss, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, October 9, 1890. For business reasons she had her name legally changed in 1917 from Rosalie Stewart Muckenfuss to Rosalie Stewart.

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Traveling

Rosalie Stewart  in the New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
Name: Rosalie Stewart Arrival date: 14 Aug 1922 Birth Date: 9 Oct 1890 Birth Location: Missouri Birth Location Other: st louis Age: 31 Gender: Female Port of Departure: Liverpool, England Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: Adriatic Source Citation: Year: 1922; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 3158; Line: 20; Page Number: 11

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Rosalie Stewart  in the New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
Name: Rosalie Stewart Arrival date: 9 Dec 1924 Birth Date: 9 Oct 1890 Birth Location: Missouri Birth Location Other: st louis Age: 34 Years 1 Months Gender: Female Port of Departure: Liverpool, England  Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: Carmania  Source Citation: Year: 1924; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 3582; Line: 22; Page Number: 66


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Rosalie Stewart  in the New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
Name: Rosalie Stewart Arrival date: 25 Nov 1924 Birth Date: Oct 1?? Birth Location: Missouri Birth Location Other: st louis Gender: Female Port of Departure: Southampton Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: Majestic Source Citation: Year: 1924; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 3576; Line: 18; Page Number: 22

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Rosalie Stewart  in the New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
Name: Rosalie Stewart Arrival date: 18 Mar 1936 Birth Date: abt 1891 Birth Location: Missouri Birth Location Other: Saint Louis Age: 45 Gender: Female Port of Departure: Los Angeles, California Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: California Source Citation: Year: 1936; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 5777; Line: 30; Page Number: 47

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Rosalie Stewart United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925
Name: Rosalie Stewart Event Type: Passport Application Event Date: 1924 Event Place: New York, United States Age: 34 Birth Date: 09 Oct 1890 Birthplace: Missouri Certificate Number: 479735


United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925

Document Information:
Affiliate Publication Number M1490
Affiliate Publication Title
Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925
Affiliate Film Number 2644
GS Film Number 1753529
Digital Folder Number 007544073
Image Number 00696

Citing this Record
"United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJG-GKST : 16 March 2018), Rosalie Stewart, 1924; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #479735, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 2644, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

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Web source Image With photo



Rosalie Stewart United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925
Name: Rosalie Stewart  Event Type: Passport Application Event Date: 1920 Event Place: New York, United States  Gender: Female Birth Date: 09 Oct 1890 Birthplace: Missouri Certificate Number: 11350



United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925

Document Information:
Affiliate Publication Number M1490
Affiliate Publication Title Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925
Affiliate Film Number 1146
GS Film Number 001638148
Digital Folder Number 007572588
Image Number 00193

Citing this Record
"United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-HP22 : 16 March 2018), Rosalie Stewart, 1920; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #11350, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 1146, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d

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Web Source Image: With Photo


The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn, New York December 27, 1925 Sun Page 4 Rosalie Stewart
Source:

Miss Stewart Proves Woman Can Succeed as Producer of Plays on Broadway

Demonstrates Men Are Not Only Ones Who Can take Risks in Business.
Dare to State Plays with Unconventional  Ending, and Scored Victory

By Harriette Ashbrook

MISS ROSALIE STEWART—holds a unique place in the theatrical world, for not only is she the youngest woman producer on Broadway but she is also the most successful.

Now, of course, we realize that the latter part of that statement may be challenged by those who have registered in the back of their minds the seven-figure fortune which a certain Hibernian-Semitic comedy has been piling up for another young woman producer.

But, leaving out question of box office receipts and looking at it from the point of view of the discriminating critic and playgoer, Miss Stewart’s place in the center of the feminine limelight is unassailable.  For is she not responsible for the tremendously fine comedy, “The Show-Off,” and that drab human drama, “Craig’s Wife,” to say nothing of “Torchbearer” and “Meet the Wife”?

The advent of the woman producer in the theatrical world in the last five years has caused much comment.  Producing plays has always been regarded as essentially a man’s business.  At best, it was gambling on long shots, investing between $20,000 and $30,000 with a chance that the play might last anywhere from two weeks to two years.  As a sex woman have always been notoriously poor gambles.  They’re afraid to take chances.

So, the succeeds  which has attended the ventures of Rosalie Stewart has been viewed with more than the ordinary amount of surprise.  Particularly since she has done something that few producers ever are able to do—She has won the commendation of the critics for the fine type of plays which she has presented and at the same time she has piled up a financial balance which makes even bank presidents treat her with respect.  The plays which she has sponsored are ample refutation of the old, old cry that the public is a raucous-voiced, unappreciative rabble, interested only I legs, jazz and low comedians, and that nothing truly artistic and fine can make money.



In view of all this and much more which has been going the rounds of the theatrical world during the last two or three years regarding this remarkable young woman, it was with considerable interest that we went to her office in Forty-seventh Street recently to interview her.  Sitting in the anteroom waiting our turn, we herd her voice from the private office speaking over the telephone.

Something evidently had gone wrong that didn’t have any business to go wrong, and Miss Stewart was impressing the fact upon the culprit and the other end of the wire in gentle but exceedingly—oh, very exceedingly—firm tines.  Our knees grew a little weak and the phrase, “hard-boiled business woman,” passed through our mind.  But five minutes later, when we were seated pangs for ever having entertained the thought.

Her dress was smartly tailored, but her slippers were utterly feminine.  Her desk was the desk of a busy executive, with a bunch of violets on it.  She talked of business problems with decisive sureness., and in a spilt second changed the conversation to a luncheon she had just attended, relating details that could interest only a woman.


In a word, Miss Rosalie Stewart is the sort of person that just seems to fit in anywhere.  One can with equal ease imagine her addressing a board of directors or a  Y.W.C.A.  study group. Attending a ball at the Ritz or the annual picnic of the United Farm Bureau of Otoe  County, Nebraska.  When the occasion demands she can be as firm and aggressive as any man, and when another occasion demands she can be as charming and delightful as any woman.


Her success as a business woman and producer she is inclined to regard lightly.

“I can remember the first day I arrived in New York,” she says.  “ My initial impression was of millions of people hustling and bustling like their life depended upon it, straining every nerve and muscle to get somewhere.  That seemed to be the main idea-to get something they like and enjoyed doing, but to get to the place where their pictures would appear in the papers when they sailed for Europe.  That’s what they call success.

“If I’m successful it is not because I have had a little luck, sense enough to take advantage of a few of the opportunities that came my way and have made some money because at least I’m doing the thing which all my life I’ve wanted to do-produce good play.”


“If I’m successful it is not because I have had a little luck, sense enough to take advantage of a few of the opportunities that came my way and have made some money, but because at least I’m doing the thing which all my life I’ve wanted to do-produce good play.”

The birth of this ambition took place in St. Louis when Rosalie Stewart was a small girl and spent most of her pocket money for the theater.  She went constantly.  Sometime toward the end of the week a twenty-five-cent seat in the gallery was all the personal exchequer could compass, but nevertheless she went.

When her high school course was completed, she had an opportunity to go behind the scenes and watch the wheels go around—to even have a part in spinning them herself.   Her Father, B.S. Stewart, moved to Dallas to manage a string of vaudeville theaters and took his young daughter along with him as his right-hand man.

She checked box office receipts, made out payrolls, attended to the advertising and did a thousand and one odd jobs around the theater.  It was just about this time her father’s eyesight began to fail and he was still

more dependent on the judgement of his daughter, so that when he was called to Chicago a few years later he took her with him.

In the big Middle Western city, she soon blossomed out into a full-fledged vaudeville scout for one of the big vaudeville companies, and she spent most of her time attending theaters, looking over acts, searching out new talent and finding actors and actresses to fit into sketches the company wished to launch.

But, since all roads west of Alleghanies lead to New York in the eyes of the theatrically ambitious, Miss Stewart finally landed in the big city.  But, unlike most of the other young pilgrims, she had a job waiting for her.  Her work in Chicago had been so successful that she was asked by the Keith office to come to New York.


For five year she continued her work with this company.  But, like all the truly ambitious, she felt vaguely dissatisfied at the thought of always working for someone else.  She wanted to do something on her own.  So, while still connected with the Keith organization, she produced several one-act vaudeville sketches.

It was in this way that she met a nice-looking young chap, named George Kelly, who seemed to have a decided gift for writing and acting one-act plays.  Another firm friend was Bert French, a dancer in vaudeville.


 1927 Returning from London Show-Offs Rosalie Stewart and George Kelly

Staging Desire Queer Reading of American Theater History
Kim Marra, & Robert A. Schanke, Editors
Page 132
Fig 5 George Kelly and Rosalie Stewart on December 10, 1924, docking in New York upon return from producing  The Show-off

Special Note: " Rosalie Stewart," Kelly Confided in his later years, "Was a woman of great integrity . During all the years represented me and produced my plays, we never had a contract in writing merely her word and Mine."  George Edward Kelly

Page 132-133

Five years ago, the friendship of these three people resulted in the new Firm of Stewart and French as independent theatrical producers.  The two partners had no money except what they had saved themselves and they preferred not to borrow any.  George Kelly agreed to try his had at a full-length play and “The Torchbearers” was the result.



And right here it is interesting to take note of the fact that the new firm followed none of the most approved precedents.  As producers on the legitimate stage they were unknown.  It would seem, therefore, that the most advisable course would have been to have secured the work of some well-know playwright for their initial.

By Harriette Ashbrook
August 10, 1927


Genealogy of Rosalie Stewart's Mother and Grandparents:
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