MEMORIES

Ethel Barrymore was a screen, stage, and television actress and, along with her two equally famous brothers, Lionel and John, was descended from two of the theatre's great families--the Barrymores and the Drews. She had a long acting career spanning six decades, her aristocratic poise and distinguished performances earning her the sobriquet, "The First Lady of the American Theatre". After the untimely death of her mother in 1893, Ethel made her acting debut in 1894, aged 15, and the following year she appeared on Broadway for the first time opposite her uncle, John Drew, Jr., with a small role in 'The Imprudent Young Couple' . She appeared with Drew again in 1896 in 'Rosemary'. She gained invaluable acting experience on a second visit to England where she appeared with the great English actor, Henry Irving in 'The Bells' in 1897 and in 'Peter the Great' the following year. When she returned to America with her acting reputation considerably enhanced, she starred, in 1901, in 'Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines' which firmly established her reputation as a top actress. Ethel's popularity increased and she began to play demanding lead roles as in Ibsen's 'A Doll's House' and 'Alice By the Fire', both in 1905, 'Mid-Channel' in 1910 and 'Trelawney of the Wells' in 1911.