Effie Shannon

Shannon had a 60-year career as starring performer and later character actress. She began as a child actor appearing with John McCullough and later in 1886 with Robert B. Mantell. She was one of the founding members of the Twelfth Night Club for female actresses in 1891 (along with Alice Fisher, Lelena Fisher and Maida Craigen).^[4]

Her partner and/or husband was Herbert Kelcey who died in 1917. They appeared in numerous plays as a team predating by a generation the famous Lunt and Fontanne as a great Broadway romantic team. Effie's sister, Winona Shannon (1874-1950) was also an actress and regularly performed in the Herbert Kelcey and Effie Shannon Company.^[5] In 1914, Effie appeared in her first silent film along with Kelcey. They made one more film together in 1916 before his 1917 death. Shannon continued to appear in silent films and early sound films until 1932 while still appearing on Broadway. One of her later roles was in a revival of Arsenic and Old Lace.^[6][7]

Shannon appeared at the legendary Elitch Theatre as part of the Summer stock cast in 1900 and 1929.

On September 16, 1932 Peg Entwhistle, wearing a dress borrowed from Shannon, jumped to her death from the top of the Hollywoodland sign.^[8]