Volume 16 , Issue 40

1914, Opera Singer Marries the Tinman

Does anyone remember an older 1903 broadway version of "The Wizard of Oz?" This next article might interest you. It was in The Day Book, dated 25 My 1914, Noon Editon, image 20, that we found this interesting story concerning an opera singer marrying the "Tinman." Was it just a publicity stunt? Or Gossip that was published?

New York -- Anna Fitzhugh, grand opera star, was a chorus girl in the 1903 Broadway hit, "The Wizard of Oz" when David Montgomery made his starring debut as the "Tinman" in the same play. Miss Fitzhugh was a grand opera singer with a European reputation and she was returning from Paris soon to become the "Tinman's" bride. This was her second matrimonial venture, but Montgomery had been looked upon by the theatrical profession as a confirmed bachelor. Did they marry, or did their engagement breakup? Or was it just a rumor that got published?

There is nothing to mention that he was married, except this news clipping above. another mention was, "David Montgomery died in 1917, during the post-Broadway tour of their successful CHIN-CHIN, based on the story of Aladdin. He never married, although, gossip columns at one point had announced his engagement to Anna Fitzhugh."

David Montgomery, Tinman

David Craig Montgomery was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on 21 March 1870. He become a star with the success of his role as the Tinman in the 1903 Broadway hit, "The Wizard of Oz." Montgomery died rather suddenly in 1917 at the age of 47. At the time, he was starring and touring in Chin Chin, musical comedy loosely based on the story of Aladdin, but Montgomery's death ended the run of the show. David Craig Montgomery died unexpectedly in Chicago, Illinois, on 20 April 1917. He was aged 47.

At the age of 16, Montgomery joined a medicine show and appeared in minstrel shows before joining with Stone in 1894. Montgomery was short and seemed to be known as the little fellow.
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