Eliza Newton
Eliza Newton (1837–7 February 1882) was a Scottish stage actress born in Dumfries, Scotland. She was personally attractive, intelligent, and vivacious.
English Actress
Newton was from a theatrical family, her father having been a comedian in a number of English theatres. Her grandfather was a theatre manager. She began to act as a child and played juvenile parts in prominent theatres in London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Edinburgh.
Newton married a young actor, Frederick Loyd, before she was twenty years old. The couple travelled and performed popular musical and variety shows. She reached a peak of popularity with the English public about the time her husband died.
American Theater
Soon after she came to America under the management of J.H. Selwyn. She made her New York City debut at the Olympic Theater on 31 October 1864, as Helen in Marguerite’s Colors. She played there with some success before returning to England for about a year. When she returned to the United States she met and married a merchant named W.H. Blackmore.
Newton was with the company of John Brougham when the Fifth Avenue Theater opened in 1869. She became a favourite of the New York public. She left the Fifth Avenue Theater and said goodbye to America at New York’s French Theater.
Decline and Death
A decline in her health kept Newton from leaving America and she stayed even though her career was less successful. She travelled throughout the country, appearing in variety theatres for about five or six years.
Eliza Newton died at Bellevue Hospital in New York in February 1882. She came to Bellevue the previous January from her residence at 131 East Twenty-Seventh Street. Her death was due to cirrhosis of the liver. Newton was around forty-five years old.
She was survived by two sons, Arthur and Charles. The former resided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the latter lived with her in New York.
Minnie Cummings, manager of the New Haven, Connecticut opera house, offered proceeds from a benefit entertainment at her theatre to be used to cover expenses for Newton’s burial.
References
- New York Times, "Eliza Newton’s Death," 8 February 1882, Page 8.
- New York Times, "City and Suburban News," 11 February 1882, Page 8.