Helen Raymond
Encyclopedia
Helen Raymond was a stage actress who did comedy roles on Broadway
, and also appeared in Hollywood motion pictures. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
. She traveled to London, England during World War I
and appeared at the Apollo Theatre
. Raymond attained more success than previous Americans who performed on the British stage. In England she recreated her original role of Signora Monte in Twin Beds, for which she gained fame on Broadway. The name of the play was changed to Be Careful, Baby after the English censor was shocked when it was performed. A number of the lines were deleted along with portions of the lingerie display. Helen had been recruited by British play managers, George Grossmith, Jr.
and Edward Laurillard
, to import her Twin Beds character.
The actress obtained a special passport from the English Secretary of State for Employment
to enter England following the outbreak of World War I
. To participate in productions there Helen had to endure the submarine threat and air raids. She made many court appearances while in Europe for royalty and gave benefits for wounded soldiers. One of her most treasured possessions was a medal presented to her by the Queen of Belgium
for her work among Belgian war heroes. Another was a hand-embroidered handkerchief made for Raymond by Queen Carmen Sylva.
Helen's final appearance in a Broadway production was as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn in The Music Man, from 1957-1960. She was also featured in Anything Goes (1934) and One Touch of Venus (1943).
She performed with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera at the Jones Beach Marine Theater and the St. Louis, Missouri
Municipal Opera.
In the summer of 1942, Helen created the role of the Wicked Witch of the West
, at The Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis, in the first ever stage production of The Wizard of Oz
to use the songs from the 1939 MGM film. Evelyn Wyckoff played Dorothy Gale
, Donald Burr played the Tin Man
, Edmund Dorsey played the Cowardly Lion
, Lee Dixon
played the Scarecrow
, Patricia Bowman played the Sorceress of the North, aka Glinda
, and John Cherry played the Wizard of Oz
.
and Milton Sills
. She next starred as Mary Pickford
's maid in Through the Back Door
(1921). Helen acted in twelve films in altogether, the final one being The Huntress, in 1923. She appeared in an episode of the TV series, Producers Showcase, in 1955, entitled The Women.
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, and also appeared in Hollywood motion pictures. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Stage Actress
Her introduction to Broadway came in 1915 in Very Good EddieVery Good Eddie
Very Good Eddie is a musical with a book by Guy Bolton and Philip Bartholomae, music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Schuyler Green and Herbert Reynolds, with additional lyrics by Elsie Janis, Harry B. Smith and John E. Hazzard and additional music by Henry Kailimai. The story was based on the farce...
. She traveled to London, England during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and appeared at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
. Raymond attained more success than previous Americans who performed on the British stage. In England she recreated her original role of Signora Monte in Twin Beds, for which she gained fame on Broadway. The name of the play was changed to Be Careful, Baby after the English censor was shocked when it was performed. A number of the lines were deleted along with portions of the lingerie display. Helen had been recruited by British play managers, George Grossmith, Jr.
George Grossmith, Jr.
George Grossmith, Jr. was a British actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies...
and Edward Laurillard
Edward Laurillard
Edward Laurillard was a cinema and theatre producer in London and New York during the first third of the 20th century...
, to import her Twin Beds character.
The actress obtained a special passport from the English Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Employment
The Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In 1995 it was merged with Secretary of State for Education to make the Secretary of State for Education and Employment...
to enter England following the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. To participate in productions there Helen had to endure the submarine threat and air raids. She made many court appearances while in Europe for royalty and gave benefits for wounded soldiers. One of her most treasured possessions was a medal presented to her by the Queen of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
for her work among Belgian war heroes. Another was a hand-embroidered handkerchief made for Raymond by Queen Carmen Sylva.
Helen's final appearance in a Broadway production was as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn in The Music Man, from 1957-1960. She was also featured in Anything Goes (1934) and One Touch of Venus (1943).
She performed with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera at the Jones Beach Marine Theater and the St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Municipal Opera.
In the summer of 1942, Helen created the role of the Wicked Witch of the West
Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character and the most significant antagonist in L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
, at The Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis, in the first ever stage production of The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which has been adapted into several different works, the most famous being the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland...
to use the songs from the 1939 MGM film. Evelyn Wyckoff played Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale is the protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L. Frank Baum, and the best friend of Oz's ruler Princess Ozma. Dorothy first appears in Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels...
, Donald Burr played the Tin Man
Tin Man
Tin Man may refer to:* Tin Woodman, a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum* Ted McMinn, a footballer nicknamed The Tin Man* Tinman, a British electronic musician-Film and television:...
, Edmund Dorsey played the Cowardly Lion
Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is the main character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is a Lion, but he talks and interacts with humans....
, Lee Dixon
Lee Dixon
Lee Michael Dixon is a former English professional footballer born in Manchester.He formed part of the Arsenal defence from the late 1980s, through till 2002. He was capped 22 times for England, scoring once....
played the Scarecrow
Scarecrow
A scarecrow is, essentially, a decoy, though traditionally, a human figure dressed in old clothes and placed in fields by farmers to discourage birds such as crows or sparrows from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.-History:In Kojiki, the oldest surviving book in Japan...
, Patricia Bowman played the Sorceress of the North, aka Glinda
Glinda
Glinda is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is the most powerful sorceress of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Country south of the Emerald City, and protector of Princess Ozma.- Literature :Baum's 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
, and John Cherry played the Wizard of Oz
Wizard (Oz)
The Wizard of Oz, known during his reign as The Great and Powerful Oz, is the epithet of Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, a fictional character in the Land of Oz, created by American author L...
.
Movies and Television
Miss Raymond made her first motion picture in 1920. The feature, Dangerous To Men, starred Viola DanaViola Dana
Viola Dana was an American film actress who was successful during the era of silent movies.- Career :Born Virginia Flugrath, Dana was a child star, appearing on the stage at the age of three. She read Shakespeare and particularly identified with the teenage Juliet. She enjoyed a long run at the...
and Milton Sills
Milton Sills
Milton Sills was a highly successful American stage and film actor of the early twentieth century....
. She next starred as Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
's maid in Through the Back Door
Through the Back Door
Through the Back Door is a 1921 silent film directed by Alfred E. Green and Jack Pickford, and starring Mary Pickford.-Plot:The movie starts in Belgium in the early 1900s. Jeanne is the 10-year-old daughter of Louise . Troubles start when Louise remarries a selfish but rich man named Elton Reeves...
(1921). Helen acted in twelve films in altogether, the final one being The Huntress, in 1923. She appeared in an episode of the TV series, Producers Showcase, in 1955, entitled The Women.