Gertrude Lawrence

Gertrude Lawrence

Source: Peoples

Gertrude Lawrence was first and foremost a theatre actress who also recorded, appeared in early sound films and lived long enough to perform on television. Although her fame is largely that of a Broadway star she is listed herein as a UK artist because she made both sides of the Atlantic her venue and retained her British citizenship throughout her life. Born Gertrude Klasen in London on 4 July 1898, she was raised by her mother and stepfather due to troubles with a father who liked his drink. Gertrude first became ten years of age in 1908, also beginning her career that year in the chorus at the Brixton Theatre in London to augment her family's poor income. As she continued in theatre Gertrude studied acting and dance under Italia Conti, performing in his play, 'Where the Rainbow Ends', in 1911. Continuing with theatre variously, she changed her name from Klasen to Lawrence circa 1912. "Arthur Lawrence" was her actual father's assumed name as a professional basso. Among Gertrude's more important professional relationships was Noël Coward whom she met in 1913 as they worked together on a production of 'The Assumption of Hannele'. Further work on stage led to marriage w impresario, André Charlot, in 1918 with whom Lawrence had her only child, Pamela. They would divorce a decade later.

Lawrence's earliest recordings well preceded their performance in the theatrical, 'Buzz-Buzz', which premiered in December of 1919. Brian Rust has 'I've Been Waiting for Someone Like You', 'Winnie the Window Cleaner' and 'I Have Lost My Heart in Maoriland' going down in London in February of 1919. 'I Have Lost My Heart' saw issue on Columbia L-1293. 'I've Been Waiting' was released back to back with 'Winnie' on Columbia L-1296. 'I've Been Waiting was a duet with Walter Williams also issued on an LP in 1972 called 'Revue 1912-1918' (Parlophone PMC-7145).

'I've Been Waiting for Someone Like You'   Gertrude Lawrence   Duet w Walter Williams

Recorded Feb 1919 in London   Columbia L-1296 & 'Revue 1912-1918' (Parlophone PMC-7145)

Music: Herman Darewski   Lyrics: Ronald Jeans

Continuing in theatre, Lawrence replaced an ill Beatrice Lillie in 'A-Z' in October 1921 opposite Jack Buchanan. Gertrude recorded unissued titles from 'A-Z' in 1922 ('When I'm Dressed in Blue', 'Come On and Kiss Your Angel Child', 'Sweetie Dear') and 1924 ('Limehouse Blues'). A quarter century later she put away 'Limehouse Blues' again on 15 Dec of 1950 toward issue on Decca 28268. Come Noël Coward's first revue, 'London Calling', created for Gertrude in particular in 1923.

Lawrence first arrived to the the United States to perform on Broadway in 1924 when Charlot took 'André Charlot's London Revue of 1924' across the Atlantic to New York City. That premiered on 9 January 1924 for a run into September. Lawrence recorded 'Broadway Medley' from that back across the water in Hayes, Middlesex, with Lillie on 6 May 1925 backed by pianist, Wilhelm Backhaus. Rust has that issued on HMV C-1206 and the later LP of 1971, 'Noël and Gertie and Bea' (Parlophone PMC-7135).

Now a trans-Atlantic star, on 17 November of 1925 Lawrence joined Jack Buchanan in the duet, 'A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich, and You' (Columbia 512), that charting in the United States at #5 in March. 'Poor Little Rich Girl' (Columbia 513) reached #11 in April. Two more titles found the Top Ten in 1927: 'Do-Do-Do' (#8 Victor 20331) and 'Someone to Watch Over Me' (#2 Victor 20331).

'Do-Do-Do'   Gertrude Lawrence

Recorded 29 Oct 1926 in Camden NJ   Victor 20331  Charts in US at #8 1927

Coinciding with Bolton & Wodehouse's 'Oh Kay!' on Broadway from Nov 1926 to June 1927

Music: George Gershwin   Lyrics: Ira Gershwin

'Someone to Watch Over Me'   Gertrude Lawrence

Recorded 25 Oct 1927 at His Majesty's Theatre in London   Columbia 4618

This title recorded on 29 Oct 1926 had already charted in the US at #2 in 1927 (Victor 20331)

Music: George Gershwin   Lyrics: Ira Gershwin

IMDb has Lawrence appearing in about ten films, her first a short titled 'Early Mourning' in 1929 followed by 'The Battle of Paris' the same year. Noel Coward's play, 'Private Lives', premiered on 18 August 1930 at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh before opening on Broadway (Times Square Theatre) on 27 January 1931 for a run of performances into September. Lawrence appeared in her initial sound film back in the UK the same year, a Pathetone short in which she sang George Posford's 'You're My Decline and Fall' with Posford at piano. Coward's 'Tonight at 8.30' premiered in Manchester in 1935, that a cycle of 10 one-act plays written for Gertrude and himself. It arrived to Broadway on 24 November 1936. 'Tonight at 8.30' saw reworking in a 1940 production at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts, whose manager, Richard Aldrich, Gertrude married for the remainder of her life.

'They All Fall in Love'   Gertrude Lawrence

Film: 'The Battle of Paris'   Premiere in US 30 Nov 1929

Composition: Cole Porter

'You're My Decline and Fall'   Gertrude Lawrence   Issued 2 Nov 1931

'Pathetone Presents Another Star'

Piano: George Posford   Composition: George Posford

'Someday I'll Find You'   Gertrude Lawrence

Recorded 11 March 1932 in London   Decca F-3140

Recorded again on 28 Dec 1950 in NYC toward Decca 28267

Composition: Noël Coward

'Jenny'   Gertrude Lawrence

Recorded 23 Feb 1941 in NYC toward Decca 27330

Coinciding with Moss Hart's 'Lady in the Dark' premiering on Broadway 23 Jan 1941

Music: Kurt Weill   Lyrics: Ira Gershwin

In 1945 Lawrence published her autobiography, 'A Star Danced', and is said to be the first to tour the nation to publicize a book. She appeared on television in the States as late as 'The Prudential Family Playhouse' in January of 1951, followed by her Broadway premiere in March in Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'The King and I' with Yul Brynner. DAHR traces recording sessions to as late as 17 April for 'I Whistle a Happy Tune', 'Hello Young Lovers' and 'Getting to Know You', those issued by Decca that year on the 45 rpm EP, 'The King and I' (ED-800), and the 10" LP, 'The King and I' (DL 9008), reissued on DL 79008 in 1959.

'Hello Young Lovers'   Gertrude Lawrence   From 'The King and I'

Recorded 17 April 1951 in NYC toward Decca 40210

Music: Richard Rodgers   Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

Lawrence began missing performances of 'The King and I' due to poor health until eventually collapsing after a Saturday matinee show, to die relatively young of liver cancer on 6 September of 1952. IMDb has her airing posthumously 10 days later on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'.