Mrs. Leslie Carter

Born Caroline Louise Dudley, Mrs. Leslie Carter was destined to become one of America’s principal turn-of-the century actresses. In 1889, a high profile divorce case labeled her an adulteress and sent her to the brink of poverty. With characteristic resilience, however, Mrs. Carter used infamy to her advantage. Retaining her married name as an act of revenge against her ex-husband, she approached David Belasco, one of the foremost playwright/directors of the day, and persuaded him to teach her the art of acting. So began one of theatre’s most prolific partnerships. Not only did Belasco become Mrs. Carter’s acting coach, he composed plays specifically as vehicles to showcase her particular talents. Although their relationship ruptured in 1906, Mrs. Carter continued to enjoy international renown. Weathering the changing times and methods of the early twentieth century, she persevered through stage, silent movies and vaudeville shows.
This biography focuses particularly on Mrs. Carter’s successful career and on her professional partnership with David Belasco. Spanning a period of radical transformation in American theatre, her career reflected—and endured—the artistic changes which occurred during the decades on either side of the century mark. Period photographs and theatrical art are included.

Craig Clinton is the Director of Theatre at Reed College in Portland, Oregon.

Craig Clinton
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: 32 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2006
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2747-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii

Preface      1

Introduction      3

1. Carrie Louise Dudley of Dayton, Ohio      9

2. A Revolting Case Disposed Of      18

3. Enter Mr. Belasco and Mr. Fairbank      29

4. The Ugly Duckling, Miss Helyett, and “Lessons”      40

5. The Heart of Maryland      54

6. Zaza      65

7. Du Barry      79

8. Adrea, the Tragedy      92

9. Miss Munro and Mr. Payne      103

10. Two Post-Belasco Debacles: Cleo and Kassa      112

11. Vasta Herne and Two Women      127

12. Revivals, “Living Pictures,” and Vaudeville      141

13. The Comeback      155

14. The Shanghai Gesture      170

15. Everyman      186

Chapter Notes      193

Bibliography      207

Index      215