Naomi Rutherford - Revision history

Satj: /* Sources */

2020-11-21T03:19:34Z

Sources

Satj: /* Biography */

2020-11-21T03:15:36Z

Biography

Satj at 03:04, 21 November 2020

2020-11-21T03:04:22Z

Satj: /* South African Theatre Credits */

2020-07-06T03:58:47Z

South African Theatre Credits

Fogterop at 09:20, 30 June 2019

2019-06-30T09:20:34Z

Fogterop at 08:13, 15 May 2019

2019-05-15T08:13:42Z

Fogterop at 07:51, 15 May 2019

2019-05-15T07:51:52Z

Fogterop at 07:50, 15 May 2019

2019-05-15T07:50:39Z

Fogterop at 19:19, 15 April 2019

2019-04-15T19:19:40Z

Fogterop at 13:56, 22 October 2018

2018-10-22T13:56:22Z

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 == Sources ==
-S.A. Pictorial (numerous issues)
+''[[S.A. Pictorial]]'' (numerous issues)
-Rand Daily Mail (numerous issues)
+''[[Rand Daily Mail]]'' (numerous issues)
 == Return to ==

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 After the [[American Dramatic Company]] broke up, she acted for the [[Madge Fabian]]-[[Stephen Ewart]] Company.  In September 1919 her husband left for England and after the end of her contract she must have joined him as in 1921 she toured the counties with ''[[Paddy the Next Best Thing]]''.  Her performance was well received and one of the English reviewers enthused: ““Miss Naomi Rutherford makes a charming and vivacious Paddy.  Her fits of winsomeness and of anger are splendidly delineated, and her laughter is so infectious that one rebels at her leaving the stage at all.”.  Montford returned to South Africa in March 1923 and the following year they were both in ''[[Trilby]]'', presented by [[Maurice Moscovitch]] first at [[His Majesty’s Theatre]] and then at the [[Cape Town Opera House]]. There was talk of Moscovitch taking his company to Australia, but there is no direct evidence of that.
 Her reception in England echoed that which had always greeted her in South Africa and after the couple’s return from Australia she continued her stage career with companies like those of [[Olga Lindo]], [[Allen Doone]] and [[Neilson-Terry]].  At one stage there was talk of her joining [[Mary Holder]] and her husband [[Jack Bligh]] in setting up a [[South African Academy of Dramatic Art]], but this doesn’t seem to have materialised. However, in Cape Town she produced ''[[Honest Men]]'' (1935) and ''[[The Pigeon]]'' (1936) at the [[Little Theatre]] for the [[Repertory Theatre Society]].  After his retirement from the stage, Montford became a radio announcer and producer for the [[African Broadcasting Company]], the precursor of the [[South African Broadcasting Corporation]], based at its studio in Durban.  He died in 1940, but she continued to work in radio, producing Lehar’s ''[[Frederika]]'' in 1947 and acting in ''[[Adventure Story]]'', a play produced by [[Cedric Messina]] in 1949, both for the [[SABC]].  It is not known where and when she died.  (FO)
 == South African Theatre Credits ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[Naomi Rutherford]] (1892-) was an actress and producer.
 == Biography ==
-Naomi Rutherford was born in New Zealand and christened Winifred Naomi Georgina Widdas.  In 1904,  a Mr., Mrs. and a Miss Widdas came to South Africa on board the Armadale Castle and this may have been her and her parents.  For some reason she was only baptised when she was 15 years of age and the two witnesses were both pupils at the Convent of the Holy Family in Parktown, Johannesburg.  In fact, one of them was [[Adele Fillis]], a member of the circus family who would go on to act in four silent movies.
+Naomi Rutherford was born Winifred Naomi Georgina Widda in New Zealand on New Zealand, 13 April, 1892.  In 1904,  a Mr., Mrs. and a Miss Widdas came to South Africa on board the Armadale Castle and this may have been her and her parents.  For some reason she was only baptised when she was 15 years of age and the two witnesses were both pupils at the Convent of the Holy Family in Parktown, Johannesburg.  In fact, one of them was [[Adele Fillis]], a member of the circus family who would go on to act in four silent movies.
 Her first known stage appearance was in February 1908, when she acted for [[Leonard Rayne]] in ''[[The Prodigal Son]]'' at the [[Standard Theatre]].  She stayed with him until October 1910, at which time she left for England to gain experience.  It is reported that many members of the company came to see her off at the station.  Upon her return a year later she appeared in and, still only 19, toured with [[Stephen Black]]’s popular ''[[Helena’s Hope, Ltd]]'', ''[[The Flapper]]'', as well as two other plays.  Thereafter she rejoined [[Leonard Rayne]] until in 1917 she became a member of the visiting [[American Dramatic Company]], then including [[George Stillwell]], [[Louise Holden]], [[Richard Scott]], [[Edward Donnelly]], [[Florence Roberts]], [[Anne Bradley]] and [[Jack Pendleton]].  Their first play at [[His Majesty’s Theatre]] was ''[[Kick In]]'', produced by [[George R. Montford]], whom she married in February of the following year.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 == South African Theatre Credits ==
-– ''[[The Prodigal Son]]'', ''[[A Royal Divorce]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Robin Hood]]'', ''[[Two Little Vagabonds]]'', ''[[The Lady of Lyons]]'', ''[[Diana of Dobson’s]]'', ''[[Oh Susannah]]''.
+– ''[[The Prodigal Son]]'', ''[[A Royal Divorce]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Robin Hood]]'', ''[[Two Little Vagabonds]]'', ''[[The Lady of Lyons]]'', ''[[Diana of Dobson’s]]'', ''[[Oh! Susannah!]]''.
 – ''[[The Flag Lieutenant]]'', ''[[Charley’s Aunt]]'', ''[[The Private Secretary]]'', ''[[Olivetti]]''.
 – ''[[Henry of Navarre]]'', ''[[The Lights O’ London]]'', ''[[Ben-my-Chree]]'', , ''[[The School for Scandal]]'', ''[[Faust]]''.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 Her first known stage appearance was in February 1908, when she acted for [[Leonard Rayne]] in ''[[The Prodigal Son]]'' at the [[Standard Theatre]].  She stayed with him until October 1910, at which time she left for England to gain experience.  It is reported that many members of the company came to see her off at the station.  Upon her return a year later she appeared in and, still only 19, toured with [[Stephen Black]]’s popular ''[[Helena’s Hope, Ltd]]'', ''[[The Flapper]]'', as well as two other plays.  Thereafter she rejoined [[Leonard Rayne]] until in 1917 she became a member of the visiting [[American Dramatic Company]], then including [[George Stillwell]], [[Louise Holden]], [[Richard Scott]], [[Edward Donnelly]], [[Florence Roberts]], [[Anne Bradley]] and [[Jack Pendleton]].  Their first play at [[His Majesty’s Theatre]] was ''[[Kick In]]'', produced by [[George R. Montford]], whom she married in February of the following year.
-After the [[American Dramatic Company]] broke up, she acted for the [[Madge Fabian]]-[[Stephen Ewart]] Company.  In September 1919 her husband left for England and after the end of her contract she must have joined him as in 1921 she toured the counties with ''[[Paddy, the Next Best Thing]]''.  Her performance was well received and one of the English reviewers enthused: ““Miss Naomi Rutherford makes a charming and vivacious Paddy.  Her fits of winsomeness and of anger are splendidly delineated, and her laughter is so infectious that one rebels at her leaving the stage at all.”.  Montford returned to South Africa in March 1923 and the following year they were both in ''[[Trilby]]'', presented by [[Maurice Moscovitch]] first at [[His Majesty’s Theatre]] and then at the [[Cape Town Opera House]]. There was talk of Moscovitch taking his company to Australia, but there is no direct evidence of that.
+After the [[American Dramatic Company]] broke up, she acted for the [[Madge Fabian]]-[[Stephen Ewart]] Company.  In September 1919 her husband left for England and after the end of her contract she must have joined him as in 1921 she toured the counties with ''[[Paddy the Next Best Thing]]''.  Her performance was well received and one of the English reviewers enthused: ““Miss Naomi Rutherford makes a charming and vivacious Paddy.  Her fits of winsomeness and of anger are splendidly delineated, and her laughter is so infectious that one rebels at her leaving the stage at all.”.  Montford returned to South Africa in March 1923 and the following year they were both in ''[[Trilby]]'', presented by [[Maurice Moscovitch]] first at [[His Majesty’s Theatre]] and then at the [[Cape Town Opera House]]. There was talk of Moscovitch taking his company to Australia, but there is no direct evidence of that.
 Her reception in England echoed that which had always greeted her in South Africa and after the couple’s return from Australia she continued her stage career with companies like those of [[Olga Lindo]], [[Allen Doone]] and [[Neilson-Terry]].  At one stage there was talk of her joining [[Mary Holder]] and her husband [[Jack Bligh]] in setting up a [[South African Academy of Dramatic Art]], but this doesn’t seem to have materialised. However, in Cape Town she produced ''[[Honest Men]]'' (1935) and ''[[The Pigeon]]'' (1936) at the [[Little Theatre]] for the [[Repertory Theatre Society]].  After his retirement from the stage, Montford became a radio announcer and producer for the [[African Broadcasting Company]], the precursor of the [[South African Broadcasting Corporation]], based at its studio in Durban.  He died in 1940, but she continued to work in radio, producing Lehar’s ''[[Frederika]]'' in 1947 and acting in ''[[Adventure Story]]'', a play produced by [[Cedric Messina]] in 1949, both for the [[SABC]].  It is not known where and when she died.  (FO)

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:50, 15 May 2019
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−	'''Naomi Rutherford''' (b. New Zealand, 13/04/1892 - //****) was an actress.	+	'''Naomi Rutherford''' (b. New Zealand, 13/04/1892 - //****) was an actress and producer.

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Naomi Rutherford''' (b. 13/04/1892 - **/**/****) was an actress.
+'''Naomi Rutherford''' (b. New Zealand, 13/04/1892 - **/**/****) was an actress.
 == Biography ==
-Although we have her date of birth and her real name (from her baptism certificate), it is a total mystery where Winifred Naomi Georgina Widdas (Naomi Rutherford) was born.  For some reason she was only baptised when she was 15 years of age, but the two witnesses were both pupils at the Convent of the Holy Family in Parktown, Johannesburg, which suggests that she may also have received her education there.  In fact, one of them was [[Adele Fillis]], a notable member of the circus family, who would go on to act in four silent movies.  It is possible that Naomi was not born in South Africa, as in 1904 a Mr., Mrs. and a Miss Widdas came to the country from Southampton on board the Armadale Castle.
+Naomi Rutherford was born in New Zealand and christened Winifred Naomi Georgina Widdas.  In 1904,  a Mr., Mrs. and a Miss Widdas came to South Africa on board the Armadale Castle and this may have been her and her parents.  For some reason she was only baptised when she was 15 years of age and the two witnesses were both pupils at the Convent of the Holy Family in Parktown, Johannesburg.  In fact, one of them was [[Adele Fillis]], a member of the circus family who would go on to act in four silent movies.
 Her first known stage appearance was in February 1908, when she acted for [[Leonard Rayne]] in ''[[The Prodigal Son]]'' at the [[Standard Theatre]].  She stayed with him until October 1910, at which time she left for England to gain experience.  It is reported that many members of the company came to see her off at the station.  Upon her return a year later, still only 19, she appeared in and toured with [[Stephen Black]]’s popular ''[[Helena’s Hope, Ltd]]'' and ''[[The Flapper]]'', as well as two other plays.  Thereafter she rejoined [[Leonard Rayne]] until in 1917 she became a member of the visiting [[American Dramatic Company]], then including [[George Stillwell]], [[Louise Holden]], [[Richard Scott]], [[Edward Donnelly]], [[Florence Roberts]], [[Anne Bradley]] and [[Jack Pendleton]].  Their first play at [[His Majesty’s Theatre]] was ''[[Kick In]]'', produced by [[George R. Montford]], whom she married in February of the following year.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 – ''[[Helena’s Hope, Ltd]]'', ''[[The Flapper]]'', ''[[The Uitlanders]]'', ''[[The Shaughraun]]''.
 – ''[[I.D.B.]]''
-– ''[[Beau Brocade]]'', ''[[The Golden Ladder]]'', ''[[The Lily]]'', ''[[The Second in Command]]'', ''[[The Prince and the Beggar]]'', '''[[Baby Mine]]''', '''[[Monsieur Beaucaire]]'''.
+– ''[[Beau Brocade]]'', ''[[The Golden Ladder]]'', ''[[The Lily]]'', ''[[The Second in Command]]'', ''[[The Prince and the Beggar]]'', ''[[Baby Mine]]'', ''[[Monsieur Beaucaire]]''.
 – ''[[General John Regan]]'', ''[[The Man Who Stayed at Home]]'', ''[[Peg O’ My Heart]]'', ''[[Bought and Paid For]]'', ''[[The Tyranny of Tears]]'', ''[[The Affair of Room 17]]''
 – ''[[Kick In]]''.