Lottie Grady

For the fictional character, see When We Are Married.
Lottie Grady
Born
Charlotte Grady

(1887-09-08)September 8, 1887
Died1970(1970-00-00) (aged 82–83)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
  • comedian
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1919; div. 1939)​

Charlotte Grady Roxborough (September 8, 1887 – 1970) was a singer, dancer, and comedian who performed in theatrical productions and vaudeville as well as films. She was born to Wesley, a white father, and Susan (Kelly) Grady.[1] She performed at the Pekin Theatre in Chicago[2] where she was a star member of its stock company.[3][4] She starred in William Foster's The Pullman Porter, in 1912, the first black motion picture production.

She was born in Chicago.[5] Her photograph ran in a 1909 edition of the New York Age.[6] She was described as well known and lauded for her performances in reviews.[7]

In 1919, she married Charles Roxborough, a lawyer who served in the Michigan Senate.[8] They had two children, John and Charles Jr.[9] The couple divorced in 1939.[9] She ran a saloon in Idlewild, Michigan.

  1. ^ "Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993". Ancestry.com. 2016.
  2. ^ ""Captain Swift at the Pekin, 1907, with Lottie Grady, The Broadax, Chicago, 23 Nov 1907, Sat, p.2". November 23, 1907. p. 2 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "African American composers and performers: portrait images in sheet music". February 4, 2016.
  4. ^ Bauman, Thomas (May 30, 2014). The Pekin: The Rise and Fall of Chicago's First Black-Owned Theater. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252096242 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Charlotte Lottie Grady: Pioneer Stage Actress of the 20th Century". June 21, 2018.
  6. ^ The New York Age November 18, 1909 Page 6
  7. ^ Sampson, Henry T. (October 30, 2013). Blacks in Blackface: A Sourcebook on Early Black Musical Shows. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810883512 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Black L.A. 1947: Lottie Grady, Pioneering Black Actress in Theater and Film, Visits Los Angeles". June 20, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "C.A. Roxborough Sues for Divorce". Baltimore Afro American. 1939-07-22. p. 5.