Dorothy Jardon (born Mary Jardon;[1] June 1, 1883 – September 30, 1966)[2] was an American soprano and actress. She was sometimes billed as "the American Carmen".
Early life and education
Jardon was born in New York, the daughter of Ignace Jardon, a chef who immigrated to the United States from France in 1864, and Bridget Mary Jardon (née Kavanagh),[3] who immigrated from Ireland in 1884.[1][2][4] She studied voice with William S. Brady.[5]
Career
Jardon's Broadway credits included roles in the shows The Fisher Maiden (1903), The Merry-Go-Round (1908), The Yankee Girl (1910), Madame Sherry (1910–1911), La Belle Paree (1911), Bow-Sing (1911), The Revue of Revues (1911), The Wedding Trip (1911–1912),[6]The Pleasure Seekers (1913–1914), The Dancing Duchess (1914), Papa's Darling (1914–1915). She sang with the Chicago Opera in the title role of Fedora in 1919.[5] She was billed as "the American Carmen" after Fortune Gallo cast her in the role in 1922.[7][8]
Dorothy Jardon in costume, from the Sayre Collection
Jardon was considered a fashionable stage beauty, and her gowns were described in detail in the press.[13] "It isn't mere prettiness of face and body that Dorothy Jardon has. It is downright knock-you-dead beauty. She's a smothered-in-red-roses, drenched-with-Russian-perfume exotic," explained an interviewer in 1917, adding that Jardon "makes Theda Bara look like a glass of milk."[14] She was especially known for her "beautiful back", and wore gowns with low-cut backs to highlight that feature.[15]
Jardon was married twice. Her first husband was songwriter Edward Michael Madden. Her second husband was Harry Edmond Oelrichs; they married in 1928.[17][18] Her son Edward became a singer, and later a brewery executive.[19][20] She died in Los Angeles in 1966, at the age of 83.[16]
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