Dorothy Jardon

For the American actress born in 1906 with a similar name, see Dorothy Jordan (American actress).

Dorothy Jardon
Jardon as "Carmen", from a 1922 publication
Born	Mary Jardon June 1, 1883 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	September 30, 1966 (age 83) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Singer, actress
Spouse	Edward Madden (lyricist)

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 made several recordings for Victor and Brunswick labels.^[9] Among her acting credits, she played Bimoula in Oh! Oh! Delphine! at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London in 1913.^[10][11] Charles Wakefield Cadman wrote "Love Like the Dawn Came Stealing" for Jardon.^[12]

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 retired from the stage in 1927.^[16]

Personal life

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]

References

1. 1900 United States Federal Census
2. California, Death Index, 1940-1997
3. "Dorothy Jardon's Mother, Age 58, to Wed S. F. Man". San Francisco Chronicle. 1923-03-31. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-12-31 – via Newspapers.com.
4. 1930 United States Federal Census
5. "William S. Brady in his New Studio". Musical Courier. 79: 16. December 18, 1919.
6. "Theatrical". Out West. 3 (2): 138–139. February 1912.
7. "Gallo Presents the American Carmen". The Musical Monitor. 12 (1): 10. October 1922.
8. "Jealousy Stumbling Block to Success, Opera Star Asserts". The Minneapolis Star. 1925-10-06. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-12-31 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Dorothy Jardon". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
10. Dale, Alan (February 1914). "A 'Carmenized' Belle". Cosmopolitan. 56 (3): 410–412.
11. Apeda Studio (circa 1913). "Dorothy Jardon Publicity Portrait" in the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
12. "New Cadman Song for Dorothy Jardon". Musical Courier. 75: 33. July 5, 1917.
13. "Dorothy Jardon's Gowns Bewilder". Kansas City Journal. 1916-05-16. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-12-31 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Baer, Leone Cass (1917-02-20). "Old-Fashioned Love is Best, Says Beautiful Orpheum Star". The Oregonian. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-12-31 – via Newspapers.com.
15. Bell, Archie (1912-11-10). "One Talks About Her Beautiful Back, Another her Voice, Another Her Temperament". The Plain Dealer. p. 53. Retrieved 2024-12-31 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Variety in a Career". The Kansas City Times. 1966-10-03. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-12-31 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Society Romance". Calexico Chronicle. January 19, 1928. p. 1 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
18. "Report H.E. Oelrichs Wed; New Yorker Said to Have Married Dorothy Jardon, Opera Singer". The New York Times. January 13, 1928. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
19. "Son of Noted Singer on Tour; He Will Appear in Florida and in East". The Los Angeles Times. 1929-12-14. p. 17. Retrieved 2024-12-31 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Vaudevillian Singer Dorothy Jardon Dies". The Los Angeles Times. 1966-10-02. p. 34. Retrieved 2024-12-31 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Portrait of Dorothy Jardon, in the collection of the Kansas City Public Library
• White Studio (1912), "Dorothy Jardon, in 'A Winsome Widow'", publicity photograph in the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society
• Apeda Studio, undated portrait of Dorothy Jardon, in the collection of the University of Washington Libraries
• Jardon with fellow singer Tamaki Miura in 1922, from the Library of Congress
• Dorothy Jardon at the Internet Broadway Database