From Stage to Page Penny Johnson

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1882, to Henrietta Barnes and the professional baseball player, Sidney Farrar (who played in the MLB out of Philadelphia from 1883-90), Geraldine Farrar would go on to become one of the great American sopranos who also appeared in over a dozen films during the period of 1915-20.  These included Cecil B. De Mille’s 1915 adaptation of Georges Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the role of Joan of Arc in the 1917 film, Joan the Woman.

Possessing a tireless work ethic which saw her give ninety-five appearances as Madama Butterfly and fifty-eight performances as Carmen, both over the span of sixteen seasons at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, Farrar counted amongst her acquaintances such distinguished individuals as David Belasco, Sarah Bernhardt, Emma Calvé, Enrico Caruso, Jean de Reszke, Maurice Grau, Lilli Lehmann, Guglielmo Marconi, Jules Massenet, Nellie Melba, Lillian Nordica, King Oscar of Sweden, Camille Saint-Saëns, Emma Thursby, Arturo Toscanini, Mark Twain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and his son, the Crown Prince Wilhelm.

Having sung at the Berlin State Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Company, Farrar was known for her striking physical appearance. Farrar’s young, female fans were famously known in New York as “Gerry-flappers.” Early studies occurred in Boston and later in New York City with Emma Thursby. Later studies occurred in Europe with Trabadello, Francesco Graziani and Lilli Lehmann, to whom Farrar had been recommended by Lillian Nordica.

Published in 1916, just prior to her marriage to the actor, Lou Tellegen, Geraldine Farrar: The Story of an American Singercovers the singer’s early years up to the age of thirty-four. Years later, in 1938, she wrote another book, The Autobiography of Geraldine Farrar: Such Sweet Compulsion. Farrar recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company and made her debut radio broadcast in 1931. In Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1967, Farrar died of heart disease at the age of eighty-five.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1882, to Henrietta Barnes and the professional baseball player, Sidney Farrar (who played in the MLB out of Philadelphia from 1883-90), Geraldine Farrar would go on to become one of the great American sopranos who also appeared in over a dozen films during the period of 1915-20.  These included Cecil B. De Mille’s 1915 adaptation of Georges Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the role of Joan of Arc in the 1917 film, Joan the Woman.

Possessing a tireless work ethic which saw her give ninety-five appearances as Madama Butterfly and fifty-eight performances as Carmen, both over the span of sixteen seasons at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, Farrar counted amongst her acquaintances such distinguished individuals as David Belasco, Sarah Bernhardt, Emma Calvé, Enrico Caruso, Jean de Reszke, Maurice Grau, Lilli Lehmann, Guglielmo Marconi, Jules Massenet, Nellie Melba, Lillian Nordica, King Oscar of Sweden, Camille Saint-Saëns, Emma Thursby, Arturo Toscanini, Mark Twain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and his son, the Crown Prince Wilhelm.

Having sung at the Berlin State Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Company, Farrar was known for her striking physical appearance. Farrar’s young, female fans were famously known in New York as “Gerry-flappers.” Early studies occurred in Boston and later in New York City with Emma Thursby. Later studies occurred in Europe with Trabadello, Francesco Graziani and Lilli Lehmann, to whom Farrar had been recommended by Lillian Nordica.

Published in 1916, just prior to her marriage to the actor, Lou Tellegen, Geraldine Farrar: The Story of an American Singercovers the singer’s early years up to the age of thirty-four. Years later, in 1938, she wrote another book, The Autobiography of Geraldine Farrar: Such Sweet Compulsion. Farrar recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company and made her debut radio broadcast in 1931. In Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1967, Farrar died of heart disease at the age of eighty-five.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1882, to Henrietta Barnes and the professional baseball player, Sidney Farrar (who played in the MLB out of Philadelphia from 1883-90), Geraldine Farrar would go on to become one of the great American sopranos who also appeared in over a dozen films during the period of 1915-20.  These included Cecil B. De Mille’s 1915 adaptation of Georges Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the role of Joan of Arc in the 1917 film, Joan the Woman.

Possessing a tireless work ethic which saw her give ninety-five appearances as Madama Butterfly and fifty-eight performances as Carmen, both over the span of sixteen seasons at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, Farrar counted amongst her acquaintances such distinguished individuals as David Belasco, Sarah Bernhardt, Emma Calvé, Enrico Caruso, Jean de Reszke, Maurice Grau, Lilli Lehmann, Guglielmo Marconi, Jules Massenet, Nellie Melba, Lillian Nordica, King Oscar of Sweden, Camille Saint-Saëns, Emma Thursby, Arturo Toscanini, Mark Twain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and his son, the Crown Prince Wilhelm.

Having sung at the Berlin State Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Company, Farrar was known for her striking physical appearance. Farrar’s young, female fans were famously known in New York as “Gerry-flappers.” Early studies occurred in Boston and later in New York City with Emma Thursby. Later studies occurred in Europe with Trabadello, Francesco Graziani and Lilli Lehmann, to whom Farrar had been recommended by Lillian Nordica.

Published in 1916, just prior to her marriage to the actor, Lou Tellegen, Geraldine Farrar: The Story of an American Singercovers the singer’s early years up to the age of thirty-four. Years later, in 1938, she wrote another book, The Autobiography of Geraldine Farrar: Such Sweet Compulsion. Farrar recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company and made her debut radio broadcast in 1931. In Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1967, Farrar died of heart disease at the age of eighty-five.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1882, to Henrietta Barnes and the professional baseball player, Sidney Farrar (who played in the MLB out of Philadelphia from 1883-90), Geraldine Farrar would go on to become one of the great American sopranos who also appeared in over a dozen films during the period of 1915-20.  These included Cecil B. De Mille’s 1915 adaptation of Georges Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the role of Joan of Arc in the 1917 film, Joan the Woman.

Possessing a tireless work ethic which saw her give ninety-five appearances as Madama Butterfly and fifty-eight performances as Carmen, both over the span of sixteen seasons at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, Farrar counted amongst her acquaintances such distinguished individuals as David Belasco, Sarah Bernhardt, Emma Calvé, Enrico Caruso, Jean de Reszke, Maurice Grau, Lilli Lehmann, Guglielmo Marconi, Jules Massenet, Nellie Melba, Lillian Nordica, King Oscar of Sweden, Camille Saint-Saëns, Emma Thursby, Arturo Toscanini, Mark Twain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and his son, the Crown Prince Wilhelm.

Having sung at the Berlin State Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Company, Farrar was known for her striking physical appearance. Farrar’s young, female fans were famously known in New York as “Gerry-flappers.” Early studies occurred in Boston and later in New York City with Emma Thursby. Later studies occurred in Europe with Trabadello, Francesco Graziani and Lilli Lehmann, to whom Farrar had been recommended by Lillian Nordica.

Published in 1916, just prior to her marriage to the actor, Lou Tellegen, Geraldine Farrar: The Story of an American Singercovers the singer’s early years up to the age of thirty-four. Years later, in 1938, she wrote another book, The Autobiography of Geraldine Farrar: Such Sweet Compulsion. Farrar recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company and made her debut radio broadcast in 1931. In Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1967, Farrar died of heart disease at the age of eighty-five.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1882, to Henrietta Barnes and the professional baseball player, Sidney Farrar (who played in the MLB out of Philadelphia from 1883-90), Geraldine Farrar would go on to become one of the great American sopranos who also appeared in over a dozen films during the period of 1915-20.  These included Cecil B. De Mille’s 1915 adaptation of Georges Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the role of Joan of Arc in the 1917 film, Joan the Woman.

Possessing a tireless work ethic which saw her give ninety-five appearances as Madama Butterfly and fifty-eight performances as Carmen, both over the span of sixteen seasons at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, Farrar counted amongst her acquaintances such distinguished individuals as David Belasco, Sarah Bernhardt, Emma Calvé, Enrico Caruso, Jean de Reszke, Maurice Grau, Lilli Lehmann, Guglielmo Marconi, Jules Massenet, Nellie Melba, Lillian Nordica, King Oscar of Sweden, Camille Saint-Saëns, Emma Thursby, Arturo Toscanini, Mark Twain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and his son, the Crown Prince Wilhelm.

Having sung at the Berlin State Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Company, Farrar was known for her striking physical appearance. Farrar’s young, female fans were famously known in New York as “Gerry-flappers.” Early studies occurred in Boston and later in New York City with Emma Thursby. Later studies occurred in Europe with Trabadello, Francesco Graziani and Lilli Lehmann, to whom Farrar had been recommended by Lillian Nordica.

Published in 1916, just prior to her marriage to the actor, Lou Tellegen, Geraldine Farrar: The Story of an American Singercovers the singer’s early years up to the age of thirty-four. Years later, in 1938, she wrote another book, The Autobiography of Geraldine Farrar: Such Sweet Compulsion. Farrar recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company and made her debut radio broadcast in 1931. In Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1967, Farrar died of heart disease at the age of eighty-five.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1882, to Henrietta Barnes and the professional baseball player, Sidney Farrar (who played in the MLB out of Philadelphia from 1883-90), Geraldine Farrar would go on to become one of the great American sopranos who also appeared in over a dozen films during the period of 1915-20.  These included Cecil B. De Mille’s 1915 adaptation of Georges Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the role of Joan of Arc in the 1917 film, Joan the Woman.

Possessing a tireless work ethic which saw her give ninety-five appearances as Madama Butterfly and fifty-eight performances as Carmen, both over the span of sixteen seasons at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, Farrar counted amongst her acquaintances such distinguished individuals as David Belasco, Sarah Bernhardt, Emma Calvé, Enrico Caruso, Jean de Reszke, Maurice Grau, Lilli Lehmann, Guglielmo Marconi, Jules Massenet, Nellie Melba, Lillian Nordica, King Oscar of Sweden, Camille Saint-Saëns, Emma Thursby, Arturo Toscanini, Mark Twain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and his son, the Crown Prince Wilhelm.

Having sung at the Berlin State Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Company, Farrar was known for her striking physical appearance. Farrar’s young, female fans were famously known in New York as “Gerry-flappers.” Early studies occurred in Boston and later in New York City with Emma Thursby. Later studies occurred in Europe with Trabadello, Francesco Graziani and Lilli Lehmann, to whom Farrar had been recommended by Lillian Nordica.

Published in 1916, just prior to her marriage to the actor, Lou Tellegen, Geraldine Farrar: The Story of an American Singercovers the singer’s early years up to the age of thirty-four. Years later, in 1938, she wrote another book, The Autobiography of Geraldine Farrar: Such Sweet Compulsion. Farrar recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company and made her debut radio broadcast in 1931. In Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1967, Farrar died of heart disease at the age of eighty-five.