Bessie Thomashefsky
Encyclopedia
Bessie Thomashefsky (1873 – July 6, 1962) was a Jewish American singer and actress, a star in Yiddish theater beginning in the 1890s. She was the wife and stage partner of Boris Thomashefsky
, the most popular Yiddish leading man of his era. Probably her most famous role was the title role of Oscar Wilde
's Salomé
.
In 1887, she met her future husband when she went backstage at a Baltimore
production by a Yiddish touring company to meet the beautiful young "actress" she had seen on stage, only to discover that "she" was the 19-year-old Boris, and that he was also manager of the company. Bessie soon ran away from home to join him as a performer, and soon took over the ingenue roles, as Boris moved on to romantic male leads; they were married in 1891.
Their son Ted changed his name to Ted Thomas and became a stage manager; one of Ted Thomas's sons is the noted conductor Michael Tilson Thomas
.
She is buried with her husband in the Yiddish theater section of the Mount Hebron Cemetery
.
Boris Thomashefsky
Boris Thomashefsky was a Ukrainian-born Jewish singer and actor who became one of the biggest stars in Yiddish theatre; born in Tarashcha , a shtetl near Kiev, Ukraine, he emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12 in 1881...
, the most popular Yiddish leading man of his era. Probably her most famous role was the title role of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
's Salomé
Salome (play)
Salome is a tragedy by Oscar Wilde.The original 1891 version of the play was in French. Three years later an English translation was published...
.
In 1887, she met her future husband when she went backstage at a Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
production by a Yiddish touring company to meet the beautiful young "actress" she had seen on stage, only to discover that "she" was the 19-year-old Boris, and that he was also manager of the company. Bessie soon ran away from home to join him as a performer, and soon took over the ingenue roles, as Boris moved on to romantic male leads; they were married in 1891.
Their son Ted changed his name to Ted Thomas and became a stage manager; one of Ted Thomas's sons is the noted conductor Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
.
She is buried with her husband in the Yiddish theater section of the Mount Hebron Cemetery
Mount Hebron Cemetery
Mount Hebron is a Jewish cemetery located in the Flushing neighborhood of New York City. It was founded in 1903 as the Jewish section of Cedar Grove Cemetery. It is noted for its Yiddish theater section....
.