Part of the American History & Genealogy Project

Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden 1872 ~ 1953

Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden

Born at Salt Lake City, Utah, November 11, 1872. Daughter of Annie Adams, a celebrated actress in the United States. She made her first appearance on the stage when but an infant of nine months, in "The Lost Child." As a little girl she made a great success as Little Schneider in ''Fritz," with the late J. K. Emmett.

She made her first appearance on the New York stage in 1888, in "The Paymaster." On February 4, 1889, she played Louisa, in "The Highest Bidder," and was next engaged for the Bijou Theatre, where she appeared March 5, 1889, as the minister's sister, in "A Midnight Bell." In 1890 she played Evangeline at Proctor's Twenty-third Street Theatre, and on October 21, 1890, appeared as Dora, in "Men and Women." November 16, 1891, she played Nell, in "The Lost Paradise." Her next appearance was at Palmer's Theatre as leading lady with John Drew, in 1892, making a great success in the part of Suzanne, in "The Masked Ball."

She continued to play with Mr. Drew until 1897. She was promoted to the rank of "star" by Charles Frohman in 1897, and made her first appearance in New York in that capacity at the Empire Theatre on September 27, when she appeared as Babbie, in "The Little Minister." She has played this part many hundred times since. This was followed by Mrs. Hilary, in "Mrs. Hilary Regrets," which she played with John Drew.

At the Empire Theatre, on May 8, 1899, she appeared for the first time as Juliet, in "Romeo and Juliet," with great success. In 1900 she appeared as the Duke of Reichstadt, in "L'Aiglon," and in 1901 as Phoebe Throssell, in "Quality Street," one of her greatest successes. This was followed by Pepita, in "The Pretty Sister of Jose," and on November 6, 1905, she appeared at the Empire Theatre, New York, in what has been one of her greatest successes, as Peter Pan, in Barriers play of that name. She played in this for two years, relieved by performances of "Quality Street," "L'Aiglon" and "The Little Minister." In September, 1907, she commenced another tour with "Peter Pan." In 1908 she appeared in "The Jesters." Miss Adams is probably the most popular actress on the American stage today. "The fountain head of her personality is nun-like and virginal. Like an instrument of fine silver, she sounds her pure, rare notes in the key of the ideal and celestial, and is content with the response which they waken."

Women of America

Source: The Part Taken by Women in American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.