Melnotte, Violet (1856–1935)

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Melnotte, Violet (1856–1935)

English actress and theatrical manager. Name variations: Violet Melnotte-Wyatt; Violet Wyatt. Born Emma Solomon, May 2, 1856, in Birmingham, England; died Sept 17, 1935, in London; m. Frank Wyatt (actor, died 1926).

Made stage debut in a pantomime in Hull (mid-1870s) and London debut as Fezz in Bluebeard (1876); performed regularly in comic opera and pantomime (1877–84); went into management, running the Avenue Theatre (1885), Comedy Theatre (1885–86) and Toole's Theatre, and produced plays at the Royalty; with husband, built and was the 1st proprietor of the Duke of York's Theatre, St. Martin's Lane, when it was known as the Trafalgar Square Theatre (1892–95), retaining ownership until her death; also owned the Amber Ale Brewery.

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