Galina Kopernak
Encyclopedia
Galina Kopernak was a Russian
theater actress who appeared on Broadway in the 1920s. She may have been
originally from Shanghai
. She came to the United States
from Moscow
.
with Vera Smirnova, in April 1921. She was in the cast of Montmartre in February 1922. The production was adapted by Benjamin Glazer
from the writing of Pierre Frondale.
It was promised to New York a number of times before it was staged at the Belmont. Kopernak was joined by Helen Lowell,
Helen Ware, and Mabel Frenyear among the players.
As a newcomer, in the role of Marie-Claire, she is mentioned in a
review by Alexander Woolcott. He remarked, she has style and talent and a considerable fascination, and when she is advised not to attempt certain emotional explosions, which are beyond her, she will do well.
Her next appearance was with Arnold Daly in The Farewell Supper at the Palace Theatre, New York
. Kopernak was signed by Louis Kaplan to perform in The Wasp, at the Morosco Theatre
. The play was taken from the novel, The Last Warning, by Wadsworth Camp. Kaplan made his debut as a Broadway producer with this presentation.
Kopernak was the leading lady
in The Four-in-Hand which debuted at the Greenwich Village
Theater in September 1923.
The comedy was adapted from the French language
of Paul Frank
. Kopernak was given a disappointing review in her role as the Wife who divorces her husband because he fails to become jealous of her. The criticism had to do with her reach exceeding her grasp.
She played in Pierrot The Prodigal at the 48th Street Theater in March 1925. This was a Carre-Wormser pantomime
with Laurette Taylor
as the featured actress. Kopernak assumed the part played by Vivienne Osborne in Aloma of the South Seas
in May 1925. Osborne left the play to replace Lenore Ulric
in The Harem. Kopernak missed a performance because of a throat
ailment but returned to the cast on May 16.
She authored and played the leading role in The Squall. It was presented by a Cleveland, Ohio
stock company in the summer
of 1925.
In September she headed a production of Love's Call, which was presented at the 39th Street Theater. It was written
by Joe Byron Totten and had a supporting cast of Robert Gleckler, Norma Phillips, and Mitchell Harris. The play received negative
publicity from critics and was halted before the first show began.
The elaborate Mexican
costumes worn by the actors were seized
by Georgette and Peggy, of 21 East 49th Street, makers of the clothing. They claimed a balance of $150 had not been paid by the producers. Kopernak removed her makeup, put on her street clothes, and left the theater. An audience of four hundred were in the
venue, with many demanding their money back, and some accepting tickets for other plays.
Kopernak participated in What The Doctor Ordered (1927), a farce
by Cesar Dunn. The players included Herbert Yost, Hale Hamilton, Eva Condon, and Louise Squires.
George Rosener
, an actor in the Shubert Theater revues, wrote She Got What She Wanted. Kopernak
was in a cast which performed the play at Wallack's Theater in May 1929.
Some days after the premiere she was injured in a car accident, sustaining a fractured right index finger. She experienced pain and enlargement from swelling, so that her doctor advised her to remove herself from the production. As she portrayed the role of a Russian girl, producer George E. Wintz said she could not be replaced. Kopernak rejoined the production while wearing a cast on June 3.
, Nicholas Arliokop, who emigrated to Canada
using her funds. Arliokop made a fortune and willed $250,000 to Kopernak in 1929.
Kopernak is mentioned in a vital record
of people with the intention to marry on March 20, 1930. Her husband to be was concert pianist Max Rabinowitsh. He was 38 years of age and Kopernak was 28. She later married and divorced novelist James Hilton
.
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
theater actress who appeared on Broadway in the 1920s. She may have been
originally from Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. She came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Stage career
Kopernak performed at the Belmont Theater in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with Vera Smirnova, in April 1921. She was in the cast of Montmartre in February 1922. The production was adapted by Benjamin Glazer
Benjamin Glazer
Benjamin Glazer was a screenwriter, producer, foley artist, and director of American films from the 1920s through the 1950s. He made the first translation of Ferenc Molnár's play Liliom into English in 1921...
from the writing of Pierre Frondale.
It was promised to New York a number of times before it was staged at the Belmont. Kopernak was joined by Helen Lowell,
Helen Ware, and Mabel Frenyear among the players.
As a newcomer, in the role of Marie-Claire, she is mentioned in a
review by Alexander Woolcott. He remarked, she has style and talent and a considerable fascination, and when she is advised not to attempt certain emotional explosions, which are beyond her, she will do well.
Her next appearance was with Arnold Daly in The Farewell Supper at the Palace Theatre, New York
Palace Theatre, New York
The Palace Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1564 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.-History:Designed by architects Kirchoff & Rose, the theatre was built by Martin Beck a California vaudeville entrepreneur and Broadway impresario. The project experienced a number of business problems before...
. Kopernak was signed by Louis Kaplan to perform in The Wasp, at the Morosco Theatre
Morosco Theatre
The Morosco Theatre was a legitimate theatre located at 217 West 45th Street in the heart of the theater district in midtown-Manhattan, New York, United States....
. The play was taken from the novel, The Last Warning, by Wadsworth Camp. Kaplan made his debut as a Broadway producer with this presentation.
Kopernak was the leading lady
Leading lady
Leading lady is an informal term for the actress who plays a secondary lead or supporting role, usually a love interest, to the leading actor in a film or play. It is not usually applied to the leading actress in the performance if her character is the protagonist.A leading lady can also be an...
in The Four-in-Hand which debuted at the Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
Theater in September 1923.
The comedy was adapted from the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
of Paul Frank
Paul Frank
Paul Frank is an American cartoonist, artist and fashion designer. His creations adorn clothing, accessories, and many other products...
. Kopernak was given a disappointing review in her role as the Wife who divorces her husband because he fails to become jealous of her. The criticism had to do with her reach exceeding her grasp.
She played in Pierrot The Prodigal at the 48th Street Theater in March 1925. This was a Carre-Wormser pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
with Laurette Taylor
Laurette Taylor
Laurette Taylor was an American stage and silent film actress.-Personal life:Laurette Taylor was born in New York City of Irish extraction as Loretta Helen Cooney.-Personal life:...
as the featured actress. Kopernak assumed the part played by Vivienne Osborne in Aloma of the South Seas
in May 1925. Osborne left the play to replace Lenore Ulric
Lenore Ulric
Lenore Ulric was a star of the Broadway stage and Hollywood films of the silent-film and early sound era. Her father, Franz Xavier Ulrich, was a United States Army hospital steward...
in The Harem. Kopernak missed a performance because of a throat
ailment but returned to the cast on May 16.
She authored and played the leading role in The Squall. It was presented by a Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
stock company in the summer
of 1925.
In September she headed a production of Love's Call, which was presented at the 39th Street Theater. It was written
by Joe Byron Totten and had a supporting cast of Robert Gleckler, Norma Phillips, and Mitchell Harris. The play received negative
publicity from critics and was halted before the first show began.
The elaborate Mexican
Culture of Mexico
Mexico has changed rapidly during the 20th century. In many ways, contemporary life in its cities has become similar to that in neighboring United States and Europe. Most Mexican villagers follow the older way of life more than the city people do. More than 45% of the people of Mexico live in...
costumes worn by the actors were seized
by Georgette and Peggy, of 21 East 49th Street, makers of the clothing. They claimed a balance of $150 had not been paid by the producers. Kopernak removed her makeup, put on her street clothes, and left the theater. An audience of four hundred were in the
venue, with many demanding their money back, and some accepting tickets for other plays.
Kopernak participated in What The Doctor Ordered (1927), a farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
by Cesar Dunn. The players included Herbert Yost, Hale Hamilton, Eva Condon, and Louise Squires.
George Rosener
George Rosener
George Michael Rosener wrote and acted in the Frank Buck serial Jungle Menace. -Career:...
, an actor in the Shubert Theater revues, wrote She Got What She Wanted. Kopernak
was in a cast which performed the play at Wallack's Theater in May 1929.
Some days after the premiere she was injured in a car accident, sustaining a fractured right index finger. She experienced pain and enlargement from swelling, so that her doctor advised her to remove herself from the production. As she portrayed the role of a Russian girl, producer George E. Wintz said she could not be replaced. Kopernak rejoined the production while wearing a cast on June 3.
Private life
She loaned money to Russian royalistRoyalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of government, but not necessarily a particular monarch...
, Nicholas Arliokop, who emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
using her funds. Arliokop made a fortune and willed $250,000 to Kopernak in 1929.
Kopernak is mentioned in a vital record
Vital record
Vital records are records of life events kept under governmental authority, including birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates. In some jurisdictions, vital records may also include records of civil unions or domestic partnerships....
of people with the intention to marry on March 20, 1930. Her husband to be was concert pianist Max Rabinowitsh. He was 38 years of age and Kopernak was 28. She later married and divorced novelist James Hilton
James Hilton
James Hilton was an English novelist who wrote several best-sellers, including Lost Horizon and Goodbye, Mr. Chips.-Biography:...
.