Marbury, Elisabeth (1856–1933)

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Marbury, Elisabeth (1856–1933)

American author's representative, producer, and theatrical manager. Name variations: Bessie or Bess Marbury. Born in New York City, June 19, 1856; died in NY, Jan 22, 1933; privately educated, mostly by her father; never married; lived with Elsie de Wolfe, 1887–1926.

Co-produced Little Lord Fauntleroy on Broadway (1888) and began managing the career of its author, Frances Hodgson Burnett; became English and American representative for the Société de Gens de Lettres (1891), a French writers' organization, and began to handle English-speaking rights for French playwright Victorien Sardou; would also represent the US interests of Georges Feydeau, Edmond Rostand, Ludovic Halévy, George Bernard Shaw, James M. Barrie, Jerome K. Jerome, and such American clients as Rachel Crothers and Clyde Fitch; attained prominence in NY as a producer of plays and musical comedies, including Love o' Mike (1916) with music by Jerome Kern, and See America First (1916), with music by Cole Porter; was responsible for American careers of Vernon and Irene Castle; co-founded the Colony Club, the 1st women's social club in NY. Was twice decorated by French government for services rendered to French authors.

See also autobiography My Crystal Ball (1923); and Women in World History.