In 1893, Chicago held the World's Columbian Exposition -- the first World's Fair -- to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America. The event put Chicago on the map as a progressive city.
As part of the Exposition, the World's Congress of Representative Women convened, where 150,000 attendees gathered to watch almost 500 women from 27 countries speak on a variety of topics, from social reform and education to science, art, and industry.
The speeches were wildly popular and well-attended -- but which had the crowds spilling over into the standing-room-only halls? When four remarkable female stage stars spoke, the world listened. More than a century later, it's time to hear them again.
Speeches Delivered By Four Actresses on the topic of Women and the Drama
-- May Wright Seawall
Click photos below to read full speech.
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""Who can influence the public? I think only women. She forms the larger half of it." |
1893: Stage star Georgia Cayvan makes a plea to the audience not to dismiss the aging actress in favor of the new, using the elegant language seen here.
2015: More than a century later, actress Amy Schumer delivers a similar message...
Ms. Morris was known for her ability to shed tears convincingly on stage. Here, she speaks out against women being defined as an emotional actress. She begins with a ladylike statement of gratitude for being invited to speak, and transitions into her argument with grace and authority.
In this video, film actress and director Emilie McDonald portrays Morris with a quiet strength, bringing modern relevance to a century-old speech. |
Here, Ms. Modjeska, a star who specialized in Shakespearean roles and became the most famous American actress of the 19th century, gives a comprehensive history of women on stage, arguing that women originated the drama.
English actress Julia Marlowe remarks on the absurdity that women were once played by men, and notes the progress women have made to gain repute and respect in the theater. She believes it is women who have elevated the drama. Her speech is a reminder of the strides the actress has already made -- and that she is far from finished.