Kitty Gordon (1878-1974)

Kitty Gordon

Kitty Gordon, whose real name was Constance Minnie Blades, was born in Folkestone, Kent, on 33nd April 1878, where her father Captain Joel Blades of the Royal Artillery was stationed at the time.

Not much is known of her early life other than she was educated in Dumfries (probably where her father was posted). She first appeared on the professional stage at the Prince's Theatre in Bristol in March 1901, as one of the six little wives in the touring production of "San Toy" (which had been a smash hit in London and was still running there). She next toured as 'Olivia' in "Kitty Grey" and then made her West End debut in the same role at the Apollo theatre on 7th September 1901 (joining a distinguished cast which included Evie Greene, Edna May and Maurice Farkoa in the lead roles). She continued on at the Apollo the following year as 'Nancy Lowly' in another successful musical "The Girl From Kays". Next, in October 1903 she joined the cast at the Lyric to play 'The Grand Duchess of Berg and Cleves' in "The Duchess of Dantzic".

In December 1903 Kitty married the successful theatre manager Michael Levenston. It was Michaels third marriage and tragically short lived as he died less than four months later on 29th March, 1904, from exhaustion and 'general sarcoma'. For Kitty, life had to go on and from May 1904 she appeared as 'Agatha' in the comic opera "Veronique" at the Apollo. Then, in October 1904, only seventh months after the death of Michael Levenston, she was remarried to Captain the Honourable Henry William Walter Beresford (who would later become known as Harry Beresford for his supporting roles in Hollywood).

In 1905, Kitty went to New York with the cast of Veronique and appeared at the Broadway theatre. Back in London, after giving birth to her only child, Vera Beresford (also and actress), she opened in January 1907 as 'the Princess Ravlova' in "Nelly Neil" at the Aldwych. She next appeared as 'Teresa' in "The Three Kisses" at the Apollo from August 1907, then as 'Speranza' in "The Antelope" at the Waldorf from November 1908. She then moved north to Manchester to play 'Olga' in "The Dollar Princess" at the Prince's theatre in Manchester, which would be her last role on the stage in England.

In 1909, she made a permanent move to the USA taking up residence with her husband in Brooklyn, New York. From then on her stage appearances were confined to the US. In September 1909 she opened as 'Murietta' in "The Girl and the Wizard" at the Casino Theatre in New York. In the years that followed she became a regular of the New York stage where she was a great hit both in the legitimate theatre and vaudeville, and also appeared on stage in Los Angeles and on tour.

In 1916 she made her first appearance on film as 'Lila Despard' in "As In a Looking Glass" and over the next three years devoted herself exclusively to that medium making twenty-one films in all in that period. That list included the 1918 production of "The Divine Sacrifice" (aka "Carew's Wife) in which Kitty played 'Madeline Spencer' which also counted her daughter Vera in the cast as 'June'.

She then returned to the stage touring in "Thats It" in 1919 and "Lady Kitty (inc)" in 1920, and in subsequent years continued to appear on stage and later on Television, her last appearance being on that medium in "Life Begins at 80" in 1952. Her husband became a regular supporting player in Hollwood using the name Harry Beresford and appearing in 56 films between 1926 and 1938. Harry died in 1944 and Kitty married for a third time to, Ralph Ranlet. After many years in retirement, she died in a nursing home at Brentwood, Long Island, New York, on 26th May 1974, aged 96.

Although an accomplished actress and songstress, it was for her physical beauty and most of all her fabulous dress sense for which she was most reknowned. At the height of her career she was known as 'the tall titian haired beauty'. Her statuesque figure showed off any evening gown to perfection and the gowns she wore were always sure to take the lead in next seasons fashions. It was said of her that she had the art of dressing down to a science, and that any woman could learn to dress to perfection simply by studying her.

Movie Credits (source www.imdb.com)
1916 - As In a Looking Glass [Lila Despard]
1916 - Her Maternal Right [Nina Seabury]
1916 - The Crucial Test, The [Thanya]
1917 - Vera, the Medium [Vera]
1917 - Forget-Me-Not [Stefanie Paoli]
1917 - Beloved Adventuress [Juliette La Monde]
1917 - Her Hour [Rita Castle]
1917 - Diamonds and Pearls [Violetta D'Arcy]
1917 - The Volunteer [Herself]
1918 - The Divine Sacrifice [Madeline Spencer]
1918 - The Wasp [Grace Culver]
1918 - The Purple Lily [Marie Burguet]
1918 - Stolen Orders [Felicia Gaveston]
1918 - The Interloper [Jane Cameron]
1918 - Tinsel [Princess Sylvia Carzoni]
1918 - Merely Players [Nadine Trent]
1919 - Adele [Adele Bleneau]
1919 - Mandarin's Gold [Betty Cardon]
1919 - The Unveiling Hand [Margaret Ellis]
1919 - The Scar [Cora]
1919 - Playthings of Passion [Helen Rowland]