Norma Terris

Biography

From WikipediaNorma Terris (November 13, 1904, Columbus, Kansas - November15, 1989, Lyme, Connecticut) was an American musical theatre star. Her mother,a singer, named her after the heroine of Bellini's opera, Norma.Born Norma Allison, she was acclaimed for her adroitimpersonations of popular public figures, which she had performed in FlorenzZiegfeld's Follies, but may be best known for having originated the roles ofMagnolia Hawks and her daughter Kim (as an adult) in the original Broadwayproduction of Show Boat in 1927. Terris was originally chosen to play the dual roles ofMoonyean Clare and her niece Kathleen in Through the Years, Vincent Youmans's1932 musical version of Jane Cowl's once-popular play, Smilin' Through, but shewas replaced at the last minute. The musical was a failure, but in 2001, it wasgiven a highly acclaimed studio cast recording. She made two films during theearly days of talking pictures - Married In Hollywood, and the 1930 version ofCameo Kirby, which was, like Show Boat, a riverboat musical involving agambler. Cameo Kirby appears to be lost, and only twelve minutes of Married inHollywood apparently survive.