In 1923, Hutchinsons published a cook book, edited by Elizabeth Craig, containing over four hundred recipes donated by stage actresses of the times. It was called "The Stage Favourites Cook Book", and reproduced below I give you the preface from the book and links to pages containing a selection of interesting recipes taken from the book.
PS: Ladies, I hereby disassociate myself from the comments in the opening preface.
THE GOD OF GOOD COOKING
IT is but fitting and just that the Preface of this book should be written by a mere man (even if he is the author's husband), for the fine art of cookery would not exist save for him. Not that he can claim to have brought that art to its present perfection by his own labour. But, in the main, he may take pride in being the inspirer of good cooking.
Can anyone imagine, for instance, that the fair actresses whose culinary conquests are given in this volume ever prepared these dishes for themselves alone, or even for a party exclusively of women? I doubt it; and if the secret history of these recipes were available, I am certain that there should be added to every one the line: "As prepared for John Doe."
This belief is not based upon mere theory and surmises but is the result of some considerable study of the cookery "complex" of women. I cannot recall, in the case of the women-folk I have known, more than half-a-dozen occasions when the hostess performed her modern miracles with "loaves and fishes" except for men. There are, indeed, excellent menus frequently produced for women's luncheons and dinners, but it is almost invariably the case that they were achieved by professional practitioners at the behest of their mistresses.
One woman will seldom voluntarily go into the kitchen for another.
Arthur E. Mann - November 26, 1923.
CURTAIN-RAISER
Noticing the interest so many actresses take in cookery, I have often wondered if a good actress gained was a good cook lost. But, after tasting all the recipes contained in this book I am firmly convinced that it is possible ro act well and cook well, and hope you will agree with me after personal experiment.
As they say in Scotland, "The proof o' the pudden' is the preein' o' it".
Elizabeth Craig.
If you are inspired to try any of these recipes out, please let me know how you fare.