Louise Falk

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Louise Falk
Louise Kanasireff-1936.jpg
Biographical information
Born: October 25, 1911
Died: August 4, 1999
Nationality: Mini usa.gif American
Occupation:
Website:


Louise Falk (born Kanazireff) was the first wife of Lee Falk from 1935 until 1944 (1945 ?). The surname has been written slightly differently as a result of the transliteration from Bulgarian Cyrillic orthography to the Latin alphabet.

Life and career

Family and background

Vladimir Kanazireff was born in Razlog (Bulgaria) and was educated at the military college in Sofia [1]. In 1908 [2] [3] he was in US, and early 1909 he visited the Rooch family in St. Louis [4]. He and Lillian Rooch fell in love, but he had to leave due to his new job as an attache of the Bulgarian legation at Paris. Early 1910 Lillian announced her engagement to Capt. Vladimir Kanazireff [4] and said that she was leaving to Eureka Spring to stay for a time before starting to Paris where the wedding will take place in June. Louise was born October 25, 1911 when Lillian visited her family St. Louis [5].

In October 1912 Lillian wrote her mother that her husbond's healt has been falling for some time, and her mother decided to go to Paris. But in Paris Louise Rooth was taken ill and her daughter decided to take her mother home to St. Louis. At sea Louise Rooth suddenly succumbed to heart disease and died [6][7]. Lillian left St. Louis after the funeral, but returned when her husband joined the 7th Rila Infantery Division, to fight in the Balkan Wars.

Vladimir Kanazireff - 1931

During the WW1 Vladimir Kanazireff was in the Bulgarian army, retiring with the rank of major [8]. He then attended the Sorbonne University in Paris where he specialized in history and law at the School of Political Science [1] [footnotes 1].

Louise Kanazireff - 1917

In St. Louis Louise's first first public stage performance was as one of the pupils of the Mahler School of Dancing in 1916, as one of the dancers in the musical comedy "Undine" at Shubert Theatre [9]. The next year she was one of the specialty dancers ("Chickens") in the play "The Broken Doll" [10]. The play was presented at the Jefferson Theatre in St. Louis, to celebrate the end of the scholastic year of the Mahler School of Dancing. Then she danced dressed as a aeroplane in the play "Miss Yankey Doosle" at Jefferson Theatre [11]. At the Odeon she was part of the cast, performing in the play "The Golden Years" to celebrate Jacob Mahler's fiftieth anniversary as a teacher of dancing in St. Louis [12].

Miss Irma Summa[footnotes 2] had returned to St. Louis to teach dancing in 1918 and Louise became one of her pupils.

After the WW1 Lillian had tried to obtain passport for her husband and finaly, after the services of senator Spencer, Vladimir Kanazireff could move to St. Louis [13]. In St. Louis he found his work as a teacher at McKinley, Soldan, Beaumont and Southwest High Schools [14].

Louise performed as one of Irma Summa's pupils in a dance recital at Wedensday Club Auditorium in 1921 [15] and the dance and song recitals at Pershing Theater in 1923 [16]. The dance poem, "Fairies' Midnight Frolie" was originated by Irma Summa.

In the US Fedral Census of 1930 [17] only Vladimir Kanazeriff is listed (as boarder). Lillian and Louise returned from France in August [18], and Louise graduated Roosevelt High School [19] in 1932.

Education

Louise attended the Washington University [20]. At the University she joined Thyrsus, the dramatic society of the Washington University. She had a role in the annual production, "Mr. Pim Passes By", at the Wednesday Club May 13 and 14 [21].

Louise acted in The Little Theatre of St. Louis' [footnotes 3] production of "The Little Clay Cart" [22], at an outdoor amphitheatre of John Burroughs School July 12-16. Louise was to be part of The Little Theatre's next play, "Night Over Taos" to opened 25 Jan 1934 [23]. But due to the sudden death of Neal Caldwell, the associate director, the play was abandoned[24].

Louise Kanazireff - 1933
One Small Cheer - Fox Theatre

At the Washington University Louise joined the Quadrangle Club. In 1933 (May 11-13) at the January Courtroom they presented the revue "One Small Cheer", a tabloid version of "French Class" and "Rose of Arizona", with Louise as part of the cast in "Rose of Arizona" [25]. The engagement in the January Courtroom was a success and "One Small Cheer" was put up at Fox Theatre [footnotes 4] the week of June 2-8 [26]. Louise played her first leading role in the student play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (by Jane W Blackmer) at the Washington Univesity [27]. As part of the Thyrsus of Washington University in 1935 she played[28] Mrs. Cliveden-Banks in the "Outward Bound" by Sutton Vane.

In Prof. Carson's class in technique of the drama Louise wrote the play "Veils (The) Veil))", which later became one of ten plays in a Play Service. Established to give high school, college and church theatrical groups the opportunity to produce plays written by students at the university [29].

Leon and Louise - Wedding

Louise married Leon H. E. Falk in 1935 [30], and after graduating in 1936 they moved to New York City. In NY Louise studied with Frances Robinson Duff [31], but the newly married couple also traveled extensively in Europe and the Middle East the next two years.

Career and personal life

In 1939 Louise made her debut in the Farragut Playhouse at Rye Beach (New Hampshire) as part of their resident company [32]. Louise and Lee's daughter Valerie was born May 23, 1940. This year Lee Falk had been involved in the Cambridge Summer Theatre and Louise acted as part of their resident company from 1941.

In 1942 she acted in "Private Lives" with Ruth Chatterton & Ralph Forbes at the Cambridge Summer Theatre. Later same year she acted[33] in the same play on the June-November tour, with Ruth Chatterton, Ralph Forbes, John Grogan and Michael Castille. The playbill presented her with: 

 Louise Kanasireff - (Sibyl). It was sheer luck and the grim determination of her American mother that makes Miss Kanasireff an American citizen today. For thought she was born in America, her father was the Bulgarian Consul in Paris and there was much arguments as to just where she was to see the light of day. Naturally Miss Kanasireff is very grateful that her mother won the argument. 

Professionally her first engagement was as a ballet dancer an in this argument her father won out an ballet to finishing school was a definitiv jump. But by this time she bagan to settle her own arguments and decided to go to dramatic school. After several years of studying with Frances Robinson Duff, she made her debut in stock at Rye Beach. Since then young Miss Kanasireff has made some rapid strides and without arguments from the family for she has appared as Bianco to Paul Robeson's "Othello", with Sylvia Sydney in "Little Women", with Fred Stone in "You Can't Take It With You" and with Flora Robsom in "Suspect". She first came to Miss Chatterton's attention last season in Cambridge. Miss Chatterton thought her ideal for the part of Sibyl and evidently Mr. Lewis did too for she is now doing her first cross-country tour of "Private Lives".

  • "Private Lives"

  • John, Ruth, Ralph and Louise

  • Louise

Due to Lee Falk's WWII obligation Louise also took care of Lee's responsibilities at the Cambridge Summer Theatre in the years 1942 to 1944.

In 1943 Louise changed her acting name to Louise Valery and she met her future husband, Richard Comstock Hart. Richard Hart later said[34] that paradoxically enough while appearing in "Without Love", love walked in, and a few months later Louise became Mrs. Richard Hart.

In 1944, both Richard (John) and Louise (First Witch) played in "Dark of the Moon" and the Shuberts came[34] from New York to see it. After some weeks on the road the "Dark of the Moon" opened at the Forty-Sixth Street Theatre in New York, starring Richard Hart and Carol Stone. Between the performances of "Dark of the Moon" Richard Hart also found time to touring local schools as Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet".

After ten months' run of "Dark of the Moon" in New York Richard and Louise married[35], just before the the following "Dark of the Moon" tour, in which they both appeared.

While with the played in Chicago spring 1946 the couple went to Hollywood. Richard Hart started the shooting of "Desire Me" and next the "Green Dolphin Street". After a preview of "Desire Me"[34], instead of going home Louise went straight to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital and their first daughter was born[36] shortly before midnight. Late spring 1947 the Harts found time for a vacation. First[37] they took of to Ensenada (Mexico) for a honeymoon for several weeks. Then, after Richard's parent had visited them a few weeks in Bevely Hills, they spent another vacation at Palm Springs[footnotes 5].

Richard, Louise and daughter
Richard, Louise

Returning to their Beverly Hill home Richard started shooting B.F.'s Daughter, and producers negotiated[38][footnotes 6] with Louise in the cast of a new play by Edwin O'Hanlon and Eleanor Roberts, "How Far Can You Go". Richard made his fourth film, "Reign of Terror"/"The Black Book", before he returned to the theatre. They took[39] an apartment in New York and sub-letted[footnotes 7] their Beverly Hills home late 1948. They also told[40] that they would have their second child in August.

In addition to the theater, Richard also start making television films in 1949. He met[41] Felicia Montealegre and his final years were spent in a relationship with her. Richard Hart died in 1951, and Louise married Peter Cadby and their daughter was born in 1952.

Louise may[42] have acted in radio, television and theatre throught the forties, but she most likely spent most of her time raising a family.

Eary sixties she received[43] her M.A. degree in theater from Hofstra University. From Long Island University of Hauppauge she also had[44] pursued additional studies. In 1968 she moved to Estern Shore and started[45] as an instructor of English, speech and drama at Chesapeake College. In 1972 she advanced[44] to assistant professor of speech and drama at the Chesapeake College. In 1985, Louise retired[46] as assistant professor of speech and drama after 17 years at Chesapeake and moved to New England.

To honor Louise Cadby a campus theatre was named after her, known as the Cadby Theatre.

Behind the scenes

Louise have been used as name for characters in Mandrake strips once:

Year Daily/Sunday Title Comments
1956 Sunday "The Miss Galaxy Beauty Contest" as Louisa of Bulgarn

Note

  1. ↑ He might have been Bulgarian consul in Petrograd (Leningrad) after his education according to "Vladimir Kanazireff dies; ex-teacher in High Schools" St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 31 December 1962, p 9
  2. ↑ Irma Summa and Louise Kanazireff were cousins
  3. ↑ A group of semiamateur players. Interesting, two of the members were Samuel and Louis Westheimer
  4. ↑ Early 1940s Lee Falk said he saw a beatiful girl (Louise) in a drama one night and thought: "That's the girl I'm going to marry". He became a stage-door Johnny and later married her. - This might be the play Lee Falk referred to.
  5. ↑ Several sources mentions that Richard Hart and Phyllis E Buswel had a relationship that bore a son in September, 1947.
  6. ↑ The play doesn't seem to have been staged.
  7. ↑ Their two-store English residence at 617 N Walden Drive was sold in August 1949

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Vladimir Kanazireff", Caduceus (St. Louis, Missouri) Yearbook for Beaumont High School 1949, p 77
  2. ↑ Canadian Passenger List, 1865-1935
  3. ↑ U.S., Index to Alien Arrivals at Canadian Atlantic and Pacific Seaports. A4079 - St Albans, Vermont - 1904-1909, p 5
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "To Wed Bulgarian Captain", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 11 March 1910, p 11
  5. ↑ New York, Passenger List, 1820-1957 - "La Touraine" Arrival Date 24 Jul 1911
  6. ↑ New York, Passenger List, 1820-1957 - "La Lorraine" Arrival Date 10 Nov 1912
  7. ↑ "Sea Burial of Mother is Halted", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 17 November 1912, p 1
  8. ↑ "Kanazireff Wed St. Louis Girl in This City in 1910" St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 28 April 1921, p 4
  9. ↑ "Mahler Pupils to Give "Indine" May 19 and 20", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 15 May 1916, p 9
  10. ↑ "New Children's Play to be Given at Jefferson", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 16 May 1917, p 4
  11. ↑ "Society", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 17 May 1918, p 11
  12. ↑ "Society", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 27 May 1919, p 9
  13. ↑ Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1942. Decleration Number 26282
  14. ↑ "Vladimir Kanazireff dies; ex-teacher in High Schools" St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 31 December 1962, p 9
  15. ↑ "Dance Recital Saturday", St. Louis Post-Dispatc (St. Louis, Missouri) 22 May 1921, p 46
  16. ↑ "Dance and Song Recitals", St. Louis Post-Dispatc (St. Louis, Missouri) 13 May 1923, p 44
  17. ↑ 1930 United States Census, St. Louis
  18. ↑ New York, Passenger List, 1820-1957, Aug 24 1930
  19. ↑ Bwana Yearbook (St Louis, Missouri) - Class of 1932
  20. ↑ The Hatchet (St Louis, Missouri), p 47, 107
  21. ↑ "Washington U. Drama Society", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 07 April 1932, p 16
  22. ↑ "Cast is Selected for The Little Clay Cart", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 25 June 1932, p 14
  23. ↑ "New Faces in Cast of Night Over Taos", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 25 December 1932, p 23
  24. ↑ "Interupted by Neal Caldwell's Death", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 26 January 1933, p 28
  25. ↑ "Quadrangle Club Gives Revue at Washington U.", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 12 May 1933, p 4
  26. ↑ "Quadrangle Club Show Opens at Fox Tomorrow", The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) 01 June 1933, p 5
  27. ↑ "Patriotic Societies", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 05 November 1933, p 44
  28. ↑ "W.U. Thyrus Players to Give Outward Bound", St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri), 24 Apr 1935, p 25
  29. ↑ "Play Service Established at Washington University", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 12 October 1934, p 27
  30. ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 1 October 1935, p 21
  31. ↑ "obituaries - Louise K. Cadby" The Star-Democrat (Easton, Maryland), p 12
  32. ↑ Portsmouth Herald: August 2, 1939 p 6; August 23, 1939 p 6
  33. ↑ O'Brien, Scott, Ruth Chatterton, actress, aviator, author, BearManor Media 2013 (Albany, Georgia), p 449
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Shanklin, Gertrude "Hollywood takes Hart", Screenland (Liberty Magazine) January 1948, p 41, 83
  35. ↑ "Hart Wed" Daily News (New York, New York) 27 Nov 1945, p 175
  36. ↑ "Daughter Born to Richard Harts" The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) 14 Dec 1946, p 9
  37. ↑ Adams, Marjory "Richard Hart Had to Quit the Film to Return to the Stage" The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) 02 Jan 1949, p 102
  38. ↑ Schallert, Edwin "Pretentious Stage Enterprice Under Way" The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) 24 Oct 1947, p 19
  39. ↑ Adams, Marjory "Richard Hart Had to Quit the Film to Return to the Stage" The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) 02 Jan 1949, p 102
  40. ↑ Adams, Marjory "Mamoulian and Coleen Gray Have Opening Night Jitters" The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) 27 Dec 1948, p 8
  41. ↑ IMBd Richard Hart
  42. ↑ "Obituaries, Louise K. Cadby" The Star-Democrat (Easton, Maryland) 17 Sep 1999, p 12
  43. ↑ "Mrs. Cadby Joins Chesapeake Faculty" The Daily Times (Salisbury, Maryland) 28 Jul 1968, p 8
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Faculty Advanced At Chesapeake" The Daily Times (Salisbury, Maryland) 06 Sep 1972, p 20
  45. ↑ "Mrs. Cadby Joins Chesapeake Faculty" The Daily Times (Salisbury, Maryland) 28 Jul 1968, p 8
  46. ↑ "Chesapeake honors 2 faculty members" The Star-Democrat (Easton, Maryland) 10 Jul 1985, p 9

External links

See also

Spotlight on Lee Falk - The Theatre Years

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