Eleanor Allina Epstein
| Eleanor Allina Epstein | |
 picture from 1909 | |
| Biographical information | |
| Born: | June 12, 1889 in Bohemia |
|---|---|
| Died: | May 17, 1973 in Miami |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Occupation: | |
| Website: | |
Eleanor Allina Epstein (born Olga Allina) is the daughter of Edward (1854-1931) and Rosa (1856-1938) Allina.
Biography
Olga Eleanor "Ella" was two years old when the family moved[1] from Bohemia to St Louis, USA. she had a brother and three sisters: Alfred Abraham (1883-1974), Emilia "Millie" (1886-1972), Florence "Flora" (1892-1908) and Ida (1893-1902).
When she was young she went at the South St. Louis Gymnastics club Sunday School. Once a year they put on various plays and Olga played[2] the fairy Ustorga in the "Dornröschen" (Sleeping Beauty)" and participated[3] in "Der Menschensresser".
She later became involved in the "B'nai-El Young People's Aid Society (B.E.Y.P.A.S.)", a charity organization formed for the purpose of aiding the B'nai-El Congregation with the new B'nai-El Temple. The society arranged several annual programs such as: euchre and hop, outing, show dance, Thanksgiving ball and on. She participated[4] in their fourth annual entertainment and dance at Liederkranz Hall on April 1, in the play "Miss Civilization. In the fall of 1908, she was appointed[5] Finance Secretary in the society.
Early December 1908 Eleanor participated[6] in the Jewish Charity Fair at the New Coliseum in St. Louis. It lasted six evenings and one matineè, and expected to realize over $100 000. Eleanor was described as a beatiful brunette with glorious dark eyes, and slender, graceful figure.
On April 14 1909, as part of their annual entertainment and ball, B.E.Y.P.A.S. did put up[7] the romantic musical comedy "Mary the Widow" by Arnold Loewenstein at the Union Club. Benjamin B. Gross played the part of Stanley Raymond, and Ella was part of the supporting chorus of thirty voices.
Ella and Benjamin married and their son, Leon Harrison was born[8] in on April 28, 1911. He was named[9] after his godfather, Rabbi Dr. Leon Harrison (1860-1928). Ella and Benjamin divorced[10] and in 1913 she married[11] Albert Falk Epstein (1879-1947) and their son Leslie was born in 1915.
Behind the scenes
Eleanor Allina's name[footnotes 1] has been used for several characters in the Mandrake strips:
- Alina, Queen of Atalan.
- Lenore, Mandrake's sister.
- Aleena, Mandrake's girlfriend at the College of Magic.
- Eleanora, Mandrake's mother.
Note
- ↑ Lee Falk had a stepsister, Ailine (also written Aileen and Arleen) (1907-2004 - daughter of Albert F. Epstein and Eleda Bacharach), which may have been inspiration for the names Alina and Aleena.
References
- ↑ New York, Passenger and Crew Lists, S.S. Aller May 16, 1892
- ↑ "Eine schöne leistung", Westliche Post (St. Louis, Missouri), 17 Feb 1902, p 6
- ↑ "Der Schüler der Sonntagsschule des Süd St. Louis Turnvereins", Westliche Post (St. Louis, Missouri), 23 Feb 1903, p 8
- ↑ "Young Folks to Give Play", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri), 27 Mar 1906, p 6
- ↑ "Local", The Jewish Voice (St. Louis, Missouri), 16 Oct 1908, p 2
- ↑ "Misses and Matrons Prepare to Make Week at New Coloseum Grand Success", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri), 29 Nov 1908, p 20
- ↑ "Mary the Widow", The Jewish Voice (St. Louis, Missouri), 09 Apr 1909, p 6
- ↑ Vital Statistics - Birth Recorded - Boys", St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri), 02 May 1911, p 10
- ↑ "Local", The Jewish Voice (St. Louis, Missouri), 05 May 1911, p 2
- ↑ Study and Investigation of the Federal Communications Commission: Hearings Before the Select Committee to Investigate the Federal Communications Commission, House of Representatives, Seventy-eighth Congress, First Session, Acting Under H. Res. 21, ..., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1943, 390
- ↑ "Local", The Jewish Voice, Dec 26, 1913. p 2