Gonzalez. A gift to posterity.

 

As usual, I've been started off on a old-time theatrical archeological dig by a photo. This slightly alarming photo

Adelaida Gonzales.

Gonzales only rings a bell in my head for Pancho Gonzales, and the cartoon character 'Speedy Gonzales'. I rattled the brain a little more and, yes .. there was a lady named Gonzales in the American opera world back in the 1860s ... 

Check aged notes. Fanny Gonzales. Born in England as Fanny RICHARDSON or MULLEN in 1841, married in 1864 Hispano-Irish musician, music-seller, actor Charles Gonzales. Sang supporting roles with Caroline Richings, Emma Juch, Campbell and Castle, Gustave Hinrichs et al between 1869 and 1896 (Barbarina, Martha in Faust, Alice in Lucia). Five children of whom four survived and one, Margaret (b Pennsylvania 1872), followed in mother's footsteps as 'Maggie Gonzales'. In the 1900 census he declares he is a widower, and Fanny is living with Maggie and her husband. He spent his last eight years in the Actors' Home before his death 12 March 1912. Fanny had died the previous month (New York 7 February 1912).

Maggie married the musician Max Siegfriend WITT (b Stettin 12 November 1871; d 10 April 1914). He, apparently, makes it into Who's Who is America. He and Maggie wrote a song 'You are the Girl I Love' together in the year of their marriage (16 October 1895). Maggie survived him but I lose her.

Of course, the photo is neither Fanny nor Maggie, both of whom, in their time, had a legitimate place in the world of music. But having dug up all those details, I was damned if I were going to zap them, and I bequeath them to posterity, even if posterity doesn't want them.

It is, as it says, Adelaide (or variant). Whose place in showbiz was much less legitimate. She called herself 'actress', but on a rare mention a newspaper man said that she was vaguely attached to the music hall world. Anyway, the only mention I can find of her is in 1885, when her ex-husband committed suicide in an asylum hospital .. Frank M Cottrill (b 24 October 1848; d Ellenborough 21 March 1885) was on to wife two by then ... and Adelaide invisible to me.

So that's that.  Try another tomorrow.