Los
Angeles County
Biographies
VIRGINIA CATHERINE CALHOUN
Virginia Catherine Calhoun was born
in Visalia, California, a real native daughter of the Golden state. She began to write early, her first work of
importance being a series of descriptive features on the Hawaiian Islands. She was sent to the Islands for this purpose
by the San Jose Mercury, for which the articles were written, but these
features were reprinted by newspapers of the Islands. Taken abroad by her sister Eleanor later, she
spent five years in completing her education in the arts and drama, specializing
in the latter. Her stage debut was made
while abroad under the name of Virginia Carlyle, where she played many parts,
leads and otherwise, and appeared in not a few of the Ben Greet productions in
the provinces of England. She also took
part in the Elizabethan Stage Society productions for nearly two years.
Following her return to her native
land, Virginia Calhoun entered the producing field. Her first venture was “Borderside,”
presented at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City, in which she played the
lead. Later she toured the country with
stock companies as leading lady. One of
her successes was “Theodora” in a production of Sardou’s great play. She took the part when the original actress
became ill, and continued with the company who were making a world tour.
Returning to California, Virginia
Calhoun soon added to her fame by the dramatization of Helen Hunt Jackson’s
great novel, “Ramona.” She truly portrayed
California’s early colorful romance, its traditions in fiesta, music, art and
song. Her play was produced at the Mason
Opera House, for a long time “the” theatre of Los Angeles elite and
fashion. Ramona was a huge success and
completely paid for itself. Later Miss
Calhoun toured the west with the play, one of the finest ever written of the
early history of the Golden state. “She
clothed with a new affection California’s best loved heroine,” said the Los
Angeles Times. Miss Calhoun was one of
the first to present out-of-doors pageantry in this country. She is well versed on the history of her
western state; was a member of the Californiana
Parlor; Native Daughters of the Golden West, of Los Angeles; was a member of
various literary, civic and art clubs, and was history and landmarks chairman
for California Women of the Golden West, of which she was a charter member.
Virginia Calhoun is a sister of Mrs.
William Henry Anderson of Los Angeles and of Eleanor Calhoun (now Princess Lazarovich-Hrebelianovich). The latter is remembered as one
of the great international actresses of her day. Their father was Judge Noble Ezekiel Ewing
Calhoun, California pioneer of 1849, who died in 1897 in Fresno County. Their mother, Laura Butler Queen Davis
Calhoun, was born while her parents were making the trip across the plains and
died in Los Angeles in 1915.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 339-340, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES