Bertha M. Wilson

Bertha M. Wilson (August 14, 1874 – 1936) was an American dramatist, critic, and dramatic actress, who earned a reputation throughout the Central United States. She leased some of her monologues, sketches, drills, and plays to educators and professionals. Her own work was of three kinds: home talent entertainments, including original drills, tableaux, and pantomimes; plays and farces; and costume monologues for platform and stage. Wilson's Book of Drills and Marches for Young People and Small Children was published in 1895.

This article is about the American dramatist. For the Canadian jurist, see Bertha Wilson.

Bertha M. Wilson
Born	Bertha May Wilson August 14, 1874 Missouri, U.S.
Died	1936
Occupation	dramatist, critic, actress
Language	English
Nationality	American
Alma mater	State University of Iowa
Genre	monologues, sketches, drills, plays, dramatic, pathetic, comedy, farce, pantomime
Notable works	Wilson's Book of Drills and Marches for Young People and Small Children[1]
Spouse	Herbert F. Allen ( m. 1899)

Education

Bertha May Wilson was born in Missouri, August 14, 1874. Her father, Isaac Wilson was born in Maryland, April 24, 1824, while the mother's birth occurred in Canada on August 15, 1834. They came to Hamilton County, Iowa when Allen, the youngest in a family of nine, was a month old. In order of birth the other children were as follows: Elizabeth Jane (1854-1863), Jeanette Lamont (1855-1876), Lucy Agnes Hogan-Hohlwegler (1857-?), David Carlton (1859-1863), Joseph Lincoln (1860-?), Lillie Daugherty (1863-?), Minty May (1870-1872), and George Sears (1871-1873). The first five were natives of Illinois and the last named of Missouri. The father, who was a farmer, was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of Hamilton county, but he was living in Blairsburg, Iowa at the time of his death, which occurred January 20. 1905. The mother passed away on March 12, 1900.[2]

Wilson was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from State University of Iowa in 1892.[3] She also received a degree of Master of Arts. As a student she excelled in languages and literature, and won many prizes in those branches. Indeed, it was the study of classic drama in the original Greek and Latin that first interested her in this phase of literature. She was the special pupil of Helen Potter.[4]

Career

Bertha M. Wilson in "The Snow Song and Dance"

Bertha M. Wilson in "Ye're a Dandy, Ain't Yer!" (from "At Buffalo Bill's.")

Bertha M. Wilson

Bertha M. Wilson, in The Girl Queen

For her own amusement, Wilson began analyzing the writings of various dramatists, from the classics to the modern French and English schools, studying plot, style, treatment, and dramatic situation. Later, she tried paraphrasing and rearranging, and finally drifted into original production. Her own work was of three kinds: home talent entertainments, including original drills, tableaux, and pantomimes; plays and farces; and costume monologues for platform and stage, which was her specialty. Wilson's work was distinguished for its dramatic conception, its vividness, originality and unaffectedness. While artistic, it was written with vigor and directness. Most of it had the test of public presentation, either in home talent entertainments under her own supervision for the purpose of studying effects and gaining experiences in stage management, or in her own programs.[4]

Wilson’s experiences and painstaking study fitted her for the role of dramatic critic as well as writer. She wrote for many popular magazines and papers under different pseudonyms, and many publishers offered to handle her dramatic work.[4]

Manuscripts

Wilson's manuscripts included monologues, sketches, drills and plays. In the 1894 season, she leased her various manuscripts to readers, actors, societies, and companies.[4] For several years, Wilson successfully superintended in person the leasing of her manuscripts, her leasing plan fitting a special demand for those seeking something new. By keeping a sketch in manuscript form and leasing it at a price higher than the printed sketch and yet at a price not beyond the means of the average teacher or entertainer, kept it from being over-used. Entertainers preferred to "lease by the season," or have sketches written specially for them. Teachers and students favored the plan of leasing five or six different manuscripts for a single performance making a full evening's program. The manuscripts were open to examination before leasing on the payment of a US$.25 examination fee which was deducted from the regular leasing fee in case the manuscript was accepted. The list of manuscripts included the dramatic, pathetic, comedy, farce, pantomime, and the spectacular. Wilson oversaw all correspondence and was ready to offer suggestions or aid in selecting a sketch suited to someone‘s special purpose.[5]

Personal life

In 1899, she married Herbert F. Allen. They were Congregationalists in religious faith, and assisted in the work of the various organizations of the local church of that denomination.[2]

Style

"A Chinese Wedding" was arranged as a costume pantomime in seven scenes, for ten male and ten female characters, with as many additional ones as desired. This pantomime could be easily produced and had a duration of twenty-five minutes. The scenes gave a vivid and faithful picture of everything pertaining to the wedding ceremony in China in that period.[6]

"The Christmas Star" was a monologue for a young lady, lasting twenty minutes, with easy scenery and costumes. It was a story of a country maid whose musical talent is discovered bv an unexpected visitor who comes on a Christmas Eve. Through his influence, she is brought before the public, develops into a musical wonder, and later, marries him.[6]

Selected works

• The bootblack drill, a novelty drill for small boys or girls
• Playing the society belle; or, The tragedy of a slipper. Comedy monologue for a woman. Time, 15 minutes., 1894
• Wilson's book of drills and marches for young people and small children of both sexes, 1895
• John Brown's ten little Injuns; a tomahawk march and drill for the male characters,, 1895
• The Turk-ey drill, a nonsense comedy-song drill for male characters., 1895
• The witches' march and broom drill, a fantastic drill and march for female characters., 1895
• Maud Muller drill; a pantomime drill for male and female characters,, 1895
• Spring garlands; a "pose"-y drill and march for maids and gallants of ye olden tyme., 1895
• The vestal virgins : a spectacular taper drill for ten or more female characters, 1895
• Nigger baby : a monologue, 1895
• The show at Wilkins' Hall, or, A leaf from the life of Maria Jane, 1895
• A Chinese wedding : a representation of the wedding ceremony in China, arranged as a costume pantomime in seven scenes, 1895
• The tragedy of blind Margaret ; an adaptation from Longfellow's Blind girl of Castèl-Cuillè. A monologue in three scenes., 1900
• Preciosa, the Spanish dancer., 1911
• The Christmas star; a monologue in two scenes,, 1911
• Mr. Spriggs' little trip to Europe, a comedy in one act, 1912
• The march of the Chinese lanterns, a spectacular novelty drill for girls., 1912
• Raggles' Corner, a farce in one scene ..., 1913

References

1. Wilson 1895, p. 1.
2. Lee 1912, p. 27.
3. State University of Iowa 1894, p. 138.
4. Werner's Magazine Company 1894, p. 465.
5. Werner 1898, p. 555.
6. Hints Publishing Company 1902, p. 32.

Bibliography

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Hints Publishing Company (1902). Books & Plays (Public domain ed.). New York: Hints Publishing Company.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Jesse W. (1912). History of Hamilton County, Iowa. 2 (Public domain ed.). S.J. Clarke Publishing Company.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: State University of Iowa (1894). Catalogue of the State University at Iowa City for ... (Public domain ed.). State University of Iowa.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Werner's Magazine Company (1894). Werner's Magazine: A Magazine of Expression. 16 (Public domain ed.). Werner's Magazine Company.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Werner, Edgar S. (1898). Werner's Magazine. 21 (Public domain ed.). E.S. Werner.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wilson, Bertha M. (1895). Wilson's Book of Drills and Marches for Young People and Small Children ... (Public domain ed.). Dick & Fitzgerald.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

External links

• Works by or about Bertha M. Wilson at Internet Archive