hello! I am wondering if anyone can tell me some fun interesting characters from Detroit's past that are female? I was thinking along the lines of hazen pingree or coleman young, just interesting people that happen to be female?
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hello! I am wondering if anyone can tell me some fun interesting characters from Detroit's past that are female? I was thinking along the lines of hazen pingree or coleman young, just interesting people that happen to be female?
Didn't we have a thread like this a while ago? Rosa Parks, etc.?
I only recently found out about Sophie Lyons, "queen of the underworld."
is there? I am just trying to come up with a good costume for halloween and wanted something good, fun and from Detroit's past and really couldnt think of any interesting female from Detroit's history [[other than some motown peeps and rosa parks) but i wanted someone with a spooky story
Le Nain Rouge? Seems an easy costume for man or woman...
How about Mary Beck, first woman elected to Detroit City Council. She served from 1950 - 1970. As noted in the Detroit Free Press obituary, Dr. Beck was remembered by her political opponents and her colleagues on the Common Council for several other things as well - "her unusual hats" and the "swear box," which, in an era when the council chambers were "outfitted with spittoons and stained by cigar smoke," she initiated to fine councilmen who used profanity during sessions, with the proceeds going to charity. "For two decades she was a presence in city politics, and when she left it would never completely be a man's world again."
You're looking for a fun and interesting character: Lily Tomlin aka Ernestine the telephone operator. She's a Detroiter: Crossman ES, Hutchenson MS, and Cass Tech HS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9e3dTOJi0o
My mom remains convinced to this day that she worked the switchboard in the basement of Kern's with Lily back in the 1950s.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neilr
How about Laura Osborne?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Freele_Osborn
Well I don't know about "fun"... but how about "funny" [[in a twisted sort of way)...
Here we have an image of 3 former important women in Detroit...
1) the left one would win for the "Aunt Esther's Gorilla Cookie Mold" award...
2) this middle one would win for the "Mommy Dearest Reenactment Award" in public meetings...
3) and right one would win an award for "I know music and little else..."
How about Emily Gail? With her pigtails and her "Say Nice Things About Detroit" campaign?
http://community.detnews.com/blogs/i...009/07/02/p701
Though she's not that funny, activist Millie Jeffrey should get a mention here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millie_Jeffrey
The late Councilwoman Irma Henderson gets my vote, she had dignity, style, grace and poise....BUT...hold on to your ass if you pissed her off.
Who has that photo of Stella? That was pretty scary. ;)
Or you and a friend can go as a couple:Quote:
Originally Posted by Gistok
Attachment 11005
Marilyn Turner from the channel 7 news...way back and the morning show called Kelly and Turner
Barbara-Rose Collins.
Not strictly Detroit but Sojourner Truth was a Michigander from Battle Creek
Also Custer's wife, Libby Bacon Custer, was from Monroe, MI
A very energetic lady, my auntie: Lottie the Body
http://www.altweeklies.com/imager/pa...ERBurleskA.jpg
I just thought of another one, but I can't remember her name - and I tried Googling in vain.
In the Detroit mayoral election of 1980, there was Coleman Young, John Mogk, and a few other people running. One of them was an OOLLDD gray-haired white lady, I'm about 75 percent confident her first name was Mary but I have no idea what her last name was. She was definitely a very animated character who was always talking about how she had lots of experience running her business [[whatever it was) "on Vernor Highway." She didn't have a ghost of a chance of winning and everybody knew that but she was still quite a vocal character to listen to and if nothing else kept the debates entertaining!
Does anybody remember her name?
Mary Ann MahaffeyQuote:
Originally Posted by EMG
Thanks for the guess, but I don't think it was Mary Ann Mahaffey, the former Council president. I think the Mary [[or maybe her name wasn't even Mary) I am thinking of was a relative unknown and, as I said, I think owner of a private business on Vernor Highway [[probably a Mom and Pop shop or something like that).
What a fun thread and we haven't even touched the pantheon of Motown and the fabulous and colorful Detroit gals of that era.
Emily Gale came to my mind too. A cheerleader for Detroit at Its depths, when it had driven off the cliff and seemed in free fall. "Say Nice Things About Detroit. " Still good advice.
The one that always fascinated me was Margaret Findlayson Haberkorn-Pabst a.k.a. Margaret Mather [[1859-1898). She went from peddling the Detroit Free Press on Griswold to become one of the world's finest Shakespearean actresses in the Victorian age. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=8891014&
I'll think of more, I'm sure, but that's the first one that popped in my head.
Matilda Dodge was an interesting character. Shortly after she married one of the Dodge Brothers both the Dodge boys kicked off and the company became hers. She was instantly one of the richest women in America and showered the City with things such as the Wilson Theatre [[Music Hall) and loads of money to the DIA. She was also instrumental in starting what would become Oakland University.
I heard Kay Everett was alot of fun!
Stromberg2
I wish I'd saved the issue of Vanity Fair of ten or so years ago that had an article about a wealthy lesbian powerboat racer who contested a lot of races on the Detroit River with Gar Wood in the 1930's. She retired to a privately-owned island in the Caribbean. A very far-out character, whose name I can't recall, but I bet some boat-racing historians will know it.
Not really "fun," but certainly notable -- Viola Gregg Liuzzo:
http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/artic...olaliuzzo.html
Emily was the one that came to mind. We used to get a kick out of her store in Trapper's Alley when it first opened. All kinds of goofy trinkets and novelties. It was almost worth the trip downtown alone.
Fanchon Stinger
What a coincidence! Just finished watching a DVD "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" - the story of the [[unrecognized) Motown house band - The Funk Brothers. In one segment the orignal band members are talking with Lottie and about the old days when they used to play at a club where she performed.Quote:
Originally Posted by gnome
Good times.
That female boat racer was Betty Carstairs. Google her. She was definitely an interesting character. You'll need a little Lord Tod Wadley.
Emily Gail now lives in Hawaii and has a "Say Nice Things About Hawaii" campaign. Emailed her and got a very nice reply a few years ago.
I don't know about "fun," but when it comes to being a character, one could make an argument for Martha Jean the Queen. She was one terrific lady and she could definitely be a character at times. RIP Queen! God Bless You, we love you.
^ you betcha!
:pHow about Cassandra and Cossandra Rutherford from the Fireworks fiasco in 1991?
Let us know who you ended dressing up as!! And post a photo too!!Quote:
Originally Posted by kick22
Spooky story....well it's gotta be Monica or Barbara Blows Collins!
Stromberg2
Woo-hoo!! Matilda Rausch, daughter of German immigrants, left her home in Ontario to attend business school in Detroit ... met and married John Francis Dodge, inherited his fortune [[as DetroitPlanner said), then married lumber baron Alfred Wilson and received the bulk of his estate when he passed away. She was the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, the principal designer of Meadow Brook Hall and [[as DetroitPlanner noted) the co-founder of the Oakland campus of MSU, later Oakland University. Was involved in politics, banking, finance, and philanthropy - seems to have been an all-around good gal. What a lady!!Quote:
Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner
How 'bout Jackie Gordon, wife of the TV gadfly Lou Gordon? Jackie read the "viewers' questions" each week, and she was elegant, poised, and a great asset to her hubby:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...kie_Gordon.jpg
^^^ Helium hair. LOL! j/k
Ruby M. Zahn, founder of Progressive Civic League; crusader for justice in prisons & other institutions; also against cruelty to children & animals during 1900s-1940s. she was also a suffragist, and fought to ban liquor at dance halls
lived at 96 Monterey
Well, if you want spooky/evil, there's Alberta Easter.Quote:
Originally Posted by kick22
But you'd probably have people shooting at you.
Jessie Bonstelle
http://www.answers.com/topic/jessie-bonstelle