Beatrice Lillie, Canadian-English actress, singer and writer (d. 1989)
Beatrice Gladys Lillie (29 May 1894 – 20 January 1989), known as Bea Lillie, was a Canadian-born British actress, singer and comedic performer.
She began to perform as a child with her mother and sister. She made her West End debut in 1914 and soon gained notice in revues and light comedies, becoming known for her parodies of old-fashioned, flowery performing styles and absurd songs and sketches. She debuted in New York in 1924 and two years later starred in her first film, continuing to perform in both the US and UK. She was associated with revues staged by André Charlot and works of Noël Coward and Cole Porter, and frequently was paired with Gertrude Lawrence, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley.
During World War II, Lillie was an inveterate entertainer of the troops. She won a Tony Award in 1953 for her revue An Evening with Beatrice Lillie.
1894May, 29
Beatrice Lillie
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Events on 1894
- 14Apr
Kinetoscope
The first ever commercial motion picture house opened in New York City using ten Kinetoscopes, a device for peep-show viewing of films. - 11May
Pullman Palace Car Company
Pullman Strike: Four thousand Pullman Palace Car Company workers go on a wildcat strike in Illinois. - 4Jul
Sanford B. Dole
The short-lived Republic of Hawaii is proclaimed by Sanford B. Dole. - 25Aug
Bubonic plague
Kitasato Shibasaburō discovers the infectious agent of the bubonic plague and publishes his findings in The Lancet. - 1Nov
Annie Oakley
Buffalo Bill, 15 of his Indians, and Annie Oakley were filmed by Thomas Edison in his Black Maria Studio in West Orange, New Jersey.