Lillian Russell: Gotham's Soprano
One of New York's most popular and best-loved entertainers of the early twentieth century.
The life, times and accomplishments of one the most colorful sopranos to ever grace the American stage.
Famous Female Entertainers
Early Years
Born on December 4, 1860, in Clinton, Iowa, Helen Louise Leonard was the daughter of a newspaper publisher and author. The family of the child who would come to be known as Lillian Russell moved to Chicago in 1865 where she attended the Convent School of the Sacred Heart and the Park Institute. At the age of eighteen, Lillian Russell and her mother moved to New York where she studied singing under the tutelage of Leonard Damrosch. In 1879, Lillian Russell joined the chorus of the Brooklyn production of Gilbert and Sullivancomic opera, H.M.S. Pinafore. Later that same year, she officially adopted the name of Lillian Russell and made her first stage appearance as such on Broadway at Tony Pastor. Lillian Russell became immensely popular immediately, and toured the country with Pastor's troupe.
Career, Marriages and Diamond Jim Brady
Lillian Russell married four men during her lifetime and had one daughter, Dorothy with her second husband, Edward Solomon, who forgot to tell her he already had a wife when he married her. Whatever personal grief Lillian Russell may have suffered, she buried in her work in which she excelled. Her beautiful soprano voce were perfect fare for the popular Gilbert and Sullivan operas of the day in which she was often cast. The public adored Lillian Russell and she them.
For forty years, Lillian Russell was the companion of rotund and wealthy businessman Diamond Jim Brady. He showered his favorite lady with extravagant gifts of jewelry and supported her flamboyant and very luxurious life style. They were often seen together, dining on the town and cycling through Central Park.
Later Years and Death
In 1902, Lillian Russell recorded, Twirly-Whirly, which became her signature song and it, is the only that she is known to have recorded. After 1904, Lillian Russell began to have problems with her voice and instead of retiring, switched to non-musical comedies. She retired from the stage in 1912 and went on to write a newspaper column, advocate women's suffrage and lecture on the philosophy of self-help. During World War One, Lillian Russell raised money for the war effort and she died a wealthy woman on June 6, 1922, shortly after completing a fact-finding mission to Europe on behalf of President Harding.
Lillian Russell was buried with full military honors in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
