Find Ancestors

Liam

Welcome to the boards. You have added to an oldish thread and it might not be spotted.

Jill, Louise and Catherine are all still members. If you click on their names you can send them a pm. If they have kept their same email address Genes will notify them.

Ellen Mary Anne Dunn, (or Eleanor, from 1881 Census Record) was born on February 25th 1879 to Eleanor Dunnel and John Dunn at 56 Peerless Street, London (and later of Whitecross Street, Clerkenwell, London, England).

Ellen was named after her maternal grandmother, who was Ellen Piper, and her paternal grandmother who was Mary Ann Martin.

Ellen was an extraordinary woman by any standards. She was a highly trained gymnast, contortionist, acrobatic dancer and singer. At age 17, she was involved in the fledgeling British Ladies Football Club in 1895, playing a match at Crouch End, London, between North and South London Teams. In 1896 Ellen played in what was possibly the very first international Ladies Football match which took place in Dublin, Ireland at Jones Road, now Croke Park, in a trio of teams representing England, Scotland and Ireland.

From this point on, Ellen, using the stage-name Lily Flexmore, embarked on what would be a long and successful career on the national and international stage. She travelled to South Africa in 1897, at 18 years of age, with a group of other performers, to perform at the Empire Theatre, Johannesburg, SA.

Between 1898 and 1925, Ellen appeared all over the UK and Ireland. She also travelled extensively in Europe. In 1907, she travelled to the USA, appearing in Chicago before beginning a month-long engagement at the New York Theatre. She toured America and Canada on the Orpheum Theatre Circuit, which was a network of 45 theatres across 36 American and Canadian cities including Chicago, New York, Indiana, Tennessee, Kansas, Memphis, Des Moines and St.Louis. Ellen also appeared in Winnipeg, Canada, where she received glowing reviews.

Ellen followed her success in the USA with dates in Europe, including the Wintergarten Theatre in Berlin, Germany.

In 1909, Ellen again travelled to Europe, appearing in June at the Hansa Theatre, Hamburg, Germany. She was at the Theatre Marigny in Paris for the month of August of that year. In September, Ellen appeared at the Apollo Theatre, Berlin. In 1910, Ellen appeared at the Kolosseum Theatre in Vienna. She followed this in November of that year with performances at the Union Theatre in Strassburg.

Ellen was still performing her signature 'Toe-In-Mouth' dance in the UK in 1925 at the age of 46. At this point, there are no further mention of Lily Flexmore in the media. I am continuing my search nevertheless, hoping to get a break in the proverbial "brick wall!"

Welcome to the boards, Catherine.

This thread dates from 2012, and Jill is not likely to be looking for replies here now.

You can try sending her a private message, by clicking on her name in green at the top of one of her posts.
If she has kept GR informed of any change in her email address, GR will be able to notify her of your message.
If she is able and willing (and there are many reasons why she may not be, after so long) she can read and reply to it.

No guarantees!

Her reply would come to you via an email from GR.

Lily Dunn (Flexmore) was sister to my great, great Grandfather and I have a collection of photographs in our family archive showing her in many of her stage positions. These include one in which a small slip would have resulted in a broken neck and death. Flexmore was a stage name only, so no connection with any other Flexmores.

Just been looking online and there is also a Lily Flexmore so may not be a connection with us? But strange and interesting

My Grandad's great Aunts. Lydia and Florence Prodger. I have some photos and an article I can post but do not know a lot as still researching. There was another sister too, I need to remember her name. He inherited the house and effects when they had all passed.

I wonder if he is a relative?

Richard Flexmore
Richard Flexmore was the son of a comic dancer of the same name, and was born at Kennington, September 15th, 1824. Began his career at the Victoria ; first appeared as clown at the Grecian 1844. In his first season he broke the small bone of his leg, which incapacitated him for some time; but he appeared the following year at the Olympic as clown. He was for several seasons at the Princess's, and one of his greatest successes was his graceful imitation of the principal opera dancers; the dance he used to accompany by a very clever song. He was seen at most of the theatres in London, and last appeared as clown in Jack and the Beanstalk, at Drury Lane, in 1859. He married in 1852 Mdlle. Auriol, and performed with her a great deal on the Continent. He was most generous, and supported his mother up to the time of his death. He died about 20th Aug 1860 and was buried at Kensal Green.

http://www.britanniavarieties.co.uk/artists1880-85.htm

The Flexmore Trio?

Thanks all,
Yes, maybe I have his dob wrong or maybe I've gone along the wrong track. My 'Dunn's' were all from Bethnal Green and Walthamstow areas so am really interested in the shipping list, thanks Maureen.

I have seen other Flexmore's - I know that there was also another Flexmore on stage.

Thanks again!

Hundreds of women were having children way into their 40's at that time Shirley, and actually many still do.

Dea x

???
Name: Lily Betty Silverton
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1879
Registration district: Halifax
Inferred County: Yorkshire - West Riding, West Yorkshire
Volume: 9a
Page: 480

But a bit old to having a child in 1922 she would be c44 years old

There's a couple (George/30 and Lily/28) Flexmore sailing to NY in 1907. He's described as a theatr* artist. NOK is given as Mrs Dunn 41? Chester Rd Walthamstow.

Just thought I'd throw that in!!!

Maureen

Whilst she may have taken Flexmore as her stage name, are you aware that the surname does actually exist. I found the name on FreeBMD and search records on GR. J

probable child of that marriage in case the name means anything to you

Births Sep 1922 (>99%)


Dunn Ronald Silverton Bradford 9b 287

several children with same surnames but in different areas which may or may not be relevant.

???

Marriages Dec 1921 (>99%)


Dunn Albert H Silverton Bradford 9b 406

Silverton Lily Dunn Bradford 9b 406

Miss Lily Flexmore was announced on the programme as a high kicker and dancer. She succeeded by dind of some force in getting a portion of her left leg over her left shoulder, and her violent excertions said more for her energy than her grace. That she is by no means lacking in the latter qualification she proved in the few steps of her dance. In one of her selections she sang of poor Mary, who, since her advent on the stage, is sometimes liable to forget to come home at all, and at others is given to waking up at six in the morning with ''The Dandy Coloured Coon.'' ''I'm going to wink my eye and kick my tootsies high'' are phrases that Miss Flexmore aptly illustrates, though her vigorous emphasis is more to be commended than her pronunciation. . . .'
(The Era, London, Saturday, 21 January 1899, p. 20b/c) The Grand music hall, Clapham, South London

so she was an adult in 1899.

if she started performing in the 1880,s the she would have been considerably older than Albert born 1898

Hi there
Thanks for suggestions - His name was Albert Henry Dunn b 1898. I'll have a look in the marriage records.
cheers

What was your Great Uncles name please?

As Wisechild has said, it may be better to try finding more about you great uncle's marriage and follow it from there.

Presumably you know your great uncles name & approximate date of birth.
If you look for his marriage you will be able to see his wife´s name, or failing that, send for the marriage certificate which will give you her age, maiden name & father´s name & occupation.