Paula Edwardes

Edwardes was born in New York City^[2] or possibly Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Boston, where she began her stage work as a chorus girl.^[3] She made her stage debut in 1894 in the chorus of the premiere production of the burlesque opera Tabasco which was mounted by Thomas Q. Seabrooke.^[4]

She had a part in The Belle of New York (1897), which traveled to London; her sister Peggy Edwardes was also in the company. She was also in The Great Ruby.^[2] Her Broadway appearances included roles in A Runaway Girl (1898–1899); The Show Girl (1902); The Defender (1902); Winsome Winnie (1903); The Man from Now (1906); and The Princess Beggar (1907).^[5] Edwardes was known for performing soubrette parts using an exaggerated accent called "Americanized Cockney" by one reviewer.^[6]

In 1906, ragtime composer Cora Folsom Salisbury wrote a valse caprice for piano named "Paula" and dedicated it to Edwardes.^[7] In 1907, she contracted to provide "electric music" (recordings) in theatre lobbies before her live performances, one of the first musical theatre stars to be recorded for such purposes.^[8]

At the end of 1907, rumors arose^[9] that she was engaged to marry steel magnate Joseph E. Schwab,^[10] which both parties denied.^[11] In 1910, she was headlining a variety show in New York City.^[12]