Ethelind Terry

Biography

A famous beauty in her day was Philadelphia-born Ethelind Terry, who made a successful career for herself as temperamental prima donna on the New York musical stage during the 1920's. She first came to notice in "Music Box Revue" and then scored with the Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.-produced "Kid Boots" in 1923. Her biggest Broadway hit was "Rio Rita" (1929), but it was Bebe Daniels who got to sing in the screen version that same year. Nonetheless, she was noticed by Hollywood and launched amidst a big publicity campaign for the screen operetta Lord Byron of Broadway (1930). Though touted as the great star from the theatre and attired for fan magazines in rose velvet and lace pyjamas designed by David Cox , it was all to little avail. While the picture was technically competent, Ethelind and fellow-Broadway co-star Charles Kaley went into what Douglas Eames ("The MGM Story",p.61) aptly called a 'camera coma' from which neither of their careers ever recovered. After scathing reviews, Ethelind was reduced to an uncredited bit-part as one of Tex Ritter's minstrel singers in the C-grade western Arizona Days (1937)- and then appeared on screen no more.