Nationality American Name Effie Germon | Role Theatre actor Died March 6, 1914 | |
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Born June 13, 1845 ( 1845-06-13 ) | ||
Euphemia "Effie" Germon (June 13, 1845 - March 6, 1914) was an American stage actress of the late 19th century from Augusta, Georgia. She excelled as a soubrette. She was the daughter of actors Greeneberry Carr Germon a/k/a Greene Germon and Jane (née Anderson) Germon. Her father was the first to perform the role of Uncle Tom at the Troy Museum in the George Aiken adaptation of Uncle Tom's Cabin produced by George C. Howard. Her mother had begun her stage career at the age of 8, was a cousin of actor Joe Jefferson and continued acting for 50 years.
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Germon's theatrical debut was made at the Holliday Street Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland, during the season of 1857 - 1858. She played the role of Sally Scraggs in Sketches in India. Germon acted with both the Baltimore and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania stock companies.
Marriage, return to the stage
She left the theater to marry violinist Carlo Patti, the brother of Adelina Patti, whom she married at Providence, Rhode Island on 13 July 1859. She returned to prominence at the Chestnut Street Theatre during the theatrical season of 1863 - 1864. She made her first appearance on the New York City stage which opened in 1869 under the management of John Brougham. Germon appeared with John Gibbs Gilbert at Wallack's Theatre in a production of Brother Sam in December 1872. At the same venue she acted with Richard Mansfield in Prince Karl, the original production of Little Lord Fauntleroy (play). She paired with Francis Wilson (actor) in Erminie. During the season of 1906 - 1907 Germon performed on the road in Sunday. She married a second time after divorcing Patti. Her second husband was the comedian Nelse Seymour.
Lincoln assassination
She was performing in Aladdin at Grover's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on the evening when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre. While she was singing "Sherman Has Marched To The Sea", C.D. Hess, manager of Grover's Theatre, learned of the shooting of Lincoln. A week earlier Germon was present when John Wilkes Booth came into the office of Hess and inquired as to when Lincoln would attend a performance of Aladdin. The President had been invited and had promised to attend. A photo of Germon was found on Booth when he was killed at Richard H. Garrett's farm in 1865. The President's son, Tad Lincoln attended in his place.
Death
Germon died at the Actors' Fund Home in Staten Island in 1914.
She is buried in Evergreens Cemetery in the Actors' Fund Plot