This semester, I’m working on a three part project. Part one is a history of stage management, which is what I was researching tonight. It’s really amazing how little is known about the history of stage management. It’s a fairly modern job; it appears to have its roots around the turn of the century (1900s). I have a couple leads which are proving difficult to follow-up on.
First, Maud Gill is sometimes credited as the first female stage manager. I found a book she wrote—her memoirs—and I’ve been devouring that for some time. I’m currently trying to find out things about her, such as her obituary. Now here’s the problem: there is no information out there that gives either her date of birth or date of death. I managed to find a little on her husband, Ernest Stuart Vinden, credited on the stage as Stuart Vinden. But here’s the interesting part. I discovered a geneology site which says he was born 1884 and died 1942. I also found a record from Ellis Island with an Ernest Stuart Vinden who passed through Ellis Island in 1910 at the age of 26 (yes, the math works out), from Croydon, England. Marital Status: Single. Now, Maud’s book suggests their son was born around 1914 (one of the few dates she actually gives), although I can’t find a name for her son, which is irritating me no end. Maud and Stuart worked in England, I know for sure. And the information I’ve got on Stuart indicates his father lived in Surrey. I don’t know enough UK geography to make sense enough of this, but between the name and the age, it’s gotta be the same guy.
I need to sleep on this. Maybe all the pieces will have fallen together by morning…
Meg Says:
November 25th, 2005 at 9:41 amVisit Meg
Hello,
Like you I am in the hunt for any information on Maud Gill as well. I am a theatre productin student, but also close to my graduation, I am employed at two theatres as an SM. Im writing a term paper on the beggining of stage management (mostly female SM’s). It’s good to know someone else is having problems with finding dates for Maud, because it is driving my crazy! It hard to support a paper without dates, and just a general time line haha.
Good luck with the hunt!
~Meg
Bubble Keeper Says:
November 25th, 2005 at 2:32 pmVisit Bubble Keeper
If you find anything out, let me know! I’ll be updating with anything I can manage to find, but anything on the history of stage management is difficult to find. Do you have any leads that have been particularly helpful? If you’re interested, I’ll post my bibliography so far.
Kacy Says:
December 19th, 2005 at 8:21 pmVisit Kacy
It’s so good to know that I’m not crazy..that there really is next to nothing on the history stage management. I am writing my big term paper on the subject for next semester and have been long term searching. Good Luck!! Please post your bibliography
I will come back with anything new that I can possibly find.