Suzanne Bennett

Suzanne Bennett (1893–1974) (also known as Lady Hubert Wilkins) was an Australian-born actress who achieved success on Broadway in the United States in the 1920s. She was born Susannah Catherine Evans in the goldfields town of Walhalla, Victoria to John Evans (a miner) and Alice Louisa Whitlow. She had three siblings (a sister, Mabel, and two brothers John and Arthur).[1]

Suzanne Bennett
Born
Suzanne Evans

Walhalla, Victoria, Australia
DiedDecember 1974
Resting placeNorth Pole
Other namesLady Hubert Wilkins
OccupationStage actress
Spouse(s)Hubert Wilkins

She took the name Bennett from her 1915 marriage to 20-year-old soldier, Private Oscar Bennett (AIF service number 381). At the time of their marriage she was living in St. Kilda. Oscar Bennett survived the war, returning to Australia in 1919. At this time, Suzanne Bennett had worked on stage in Australia, first in the chorus of the Rigo Grand Opera Company, and later with Hugh D. McIntosh's productions.[2][3] However, her marriage to Oscar was an unhappy one and a divorce was finally granted in early 1922.[4] By 1923, Suzanne was in New York looking for work. Within a year, she was performing in Broadway productions.[5][6]

Bennett met the celebrated explorer Sir George Hubert Wilkins on June 20, 1928, in New York City during a reception honoring Wilkins after his famed flight over the Arctic Sea. The couple were sufficiently famous to warrant a marriage announcement in the September 9, 1929 issue of Time magazine. There it was reported that the famous Australian couple had wed in Cleveland, Ohio. That notice also credits Ms. Bennett with having appeared on stage in "Vanities" and "The Cyclone Lover".

After her August 30, 1929 marriage she was known as Lady Hubert Wilkins, living with Sir Hubert in New York City. In her later years, she and Sir Hubert spent their summers living on a 100-acre rural converted farm in the Endless Mountains area of Rush Pennsylvania, a property she and Sir Hubert purchased in the 1950s. Lady Suzanne Wilkins was a gifted portrait artist, and did many paintings during her lifetime. She suffered a stroke in 1972, which left her blind. She was cared for by Winston Ross—Sir Hubert's former personal secretary, and his wife Marley Ross—relocating to Southern California. She died in Orange County, California in December 1974,[7] and her ashes were scattered at the North Pole from USS Bluefish on 4 May 1975, as were her husband's from USS Skate in 1959.

The couple had no children during their twenty-nine years of marriage.

Broadway performances

Guns [Original, Play]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett [Cora Chase] -Dates: Aug 6, 1928 – Sep 1928

The Cyclone Lover [Original, Play, Comedy]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett [Katherine] -Dates: Jun 5, 1928 – Jul 1928

What Do We Know? [Original, Play]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett [Ernestine Fox] -Dates: Dec 23, 1927 – Jan 1928

Merry-Go-Round [Original, Musical, Comedy, Revue]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett -Dates: May 31, 1927 – Sep 24, 1927

Nic Nax of 1926 [Original, Musical, Revue]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett -Dates: Aug 2, 1926 – Aug 13, 1926

Port O' London [Original, Play]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett [May] Feb 9, 1926 – Mar 1926

Earl Carroll's Vanities [1925] [Original, Musical, Revue]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett [Ensemble] -Dates: Jul 6, 1925 – Dec 27, 1925

The Rat [Original, Play]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett [Mimi] -Dates: Feb 10, 1925 – May 1925

Innocent Eyes [Original, Musical, Revue]
Performer: Suzanne Bennett -Dates: May 20, 1924 – Aug 30, 1924

References
  1. http://www.walhalla.org.au/news/People/1111E.pdf
  2. "HENLEY REGATTA" Table Talk (Melbourne), Thu 19 Oct 1922 Page 28 Accessed 9 January 2017
  3. "THEATRICAL OFFERINGS OF THE MOMENT" Sunday Times (Sydney) Sun 7 May 1922 Page 18 Accessed 9 January 2017
  4. "TYPISTE AND SOLDIER" The Ballarat Star (Vic.) Tue 21 Feb 1922, Page 3, Accessed 9 January 2017
  5. "AN IDLE WOMAN'S DIARY" Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW) Fri 17 Nov 1922 Page 8 Accessed 9 January 2017.
  6. "THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS" The Traralgon Record (Vic.) 9 December 1924, accessdate=30 August 2015
  7. The Australian Women's Weekly, Wed 19 Mar 1975, Page '96b' "MARRIAGE RETAINED ITS ROMANCE" Accessed 9 January 2017
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