Nationality English Name Daisy Fisher Children 2 | Years active 1920-1951 Other names Daisy Mason | |
Full Name Daisy Gertrude Fisher Occupation Novelist, lyricist, scriptwriter, playwright, actress and singer Spouse(s) Herbert Mason (1914-1960; his death) | ||
Daisy Fisher, born Daisy Gertrude Fisher; (1888–1967) was an English novelist and playwright. She was the writer of several romantic novels, a lyricist, scriptwriter, actress and singer. In the 1920s she wrote the lyrics for some of Eric Coates' compositions. In 1926 she published her first book Lavender Ladies A Comedy in Three Acts followed by more in the 1930s. Fisher authored some plays with the song writer Harold Simpson, Ronald Jeans and Clifford Seyler. She was the wife of Herbert Mason the film director and producer who previously acted on stage (including several productions at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre). After the Second World War they worked together on some plays.
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Early life
Daisy Gertrude Fisher was born in 1888 to William Edgar Fisher (an accountant) and Emma Louisa Beasley. After Brampton Park burned down (circa 1907) she turned to the theatre and joined as a chorus girl.
Career
One of Fisher's earliest plays was Cinderella performed at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (circa 1914-15). Fisher and the composer Eric Coates starred in The Punch Bowl, which Herbert Mason stage managed and choreographed. Fisher's comedy play Lavender Ladies was performed at the Comedy Theatre from 29 July – 21 November 1925. The play starred Herbert Marshall and Louise Hampton. Additionally it was Lydia Sherwood's debut on stage. Fisher and Harold Simpson were authors of The Cave Man, which Mason also presented, produced and had a role in. Louise Hampton also had a part in the play.
In 1933 The Hill Beyond was published. It acts as a sequel to The Gates Swings Open and is about a girl from between settling down in the countryside with her husband or an exciting life in the theatrical world in London. In 1935 Fisher wrote the story for Things Are Looking Up with Albert de Courville, Stafford Dickens and Con West. It was the film debut for Vivien Leigh who had an uncredited role as a school girl. In 1937 Fisher's A Ship Comes Home was performed at St Martin's Theatre, London. The play starred Michael Redgrave who later had a role in Mason's A Window in London. Mason and Fisher financed and were authors of Lend Me Robin (1948), which was shown at Embassy Theatre a few years before it was sold to the Central School of Speech and Drama. It was a comedy about a wife who tries to win back her philandering husband (portrayed by Charles Goldner) by taking a lover. The play also starred William Mervyn who later had a part in Conflict of Wings produced by Mason. Three years later they worked on an eternal triangle thriller Dangerous Woman.
In 1967, Daisy Fisher died in London at the age of 79.
Personal life and family
Fisher first met her future husband when they were in a play about David Garrick with Mason taking the lead. In 1914 they married before Mason and her brother fought in the First World War. Her brother Leslie Fisher was killed in action at the age of 30 on 14 August 1915. She survived Mason with their daughter and son. Their son Michael Mason became a Radio producer at the BBC and wrote several books.