Dorsha Hayes (January 2, 1897 - November 27, 1990), born Doris
Bentley, was a stage actress and dancer during the early 20th century.
She was born in Galesburg, Illinois. She made her debut appearance in
Pierre Loti's Daughter of Heaven in 1912. She continued to perform
until suffering a case of rheumatic fever in 1936, and thereafter
became a published writer. Her works include the novels Mrs. Heaton's
Daughter and Who Walk with the Earth?, and the non-fiction works An
American Primer and Chicago, Crossroads of American Enterprise. She
died in Manhattan of complications after a stroke, at age 93 years.
Anthony Hatch, in his book "Tinder Box," mentions Dorsha Hayes as a
young girl visiting Chicago with her family from Galesburg. Among
other things, the family was to see "Bluebeard" at the Iroquois
Theater, until her mother had a premonition and they skipped the
performance. The theater burned down during that performance, killing
605 people. He did not mention the actress in his book, but it is
understandable she might have taken her stage name from a local girl
who escaped a theater disaster.
Bentley, was a stage actress and dancer during the early 20th century.
She was born in Galesburg, Illinois. She made her debut appearance in
Pierre Loti's Daughter of Heaven in 1912. She continued to perform
until suffering a case of rheumatic fever in 1936, and thereafter
became a published writer. Her works include the novels Mrs. Heaton's
Daughter and Who Walk with the Earth?, and the non-fiction works An
American Primer and Chicago, Crossroads of American Enterprise. She
died in Manhattan of complications after a stroke, at age 93 years.
Anthony Hatch, in his book "Tinder Box," mentions Dorsha Hayes as a
young girl visiting Chicago with her family from Galesburg. Among
other things, the family was to see "Bluebeard" at the Iroquois
Theater, until her mother had a premonition and they skipped the
performance. The theater burned down during that performance, killing
605 people. He did not mention the actress in his book, but it is
understandable she might have taken her stage name from a local girl
who escaped a theater disaster.
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