Edith Day and Pat Somerset as they appeared in the leading roles in the London production of Irene, the hit musical comedy by James Montgomery, with music by Harry Tierney and lyrics by Joseph McCarthy, which opened at the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square, on 7 April 1920. It was in this production that Miss Day sang ‘Alice Blue Gown,’ which she recorded in London on 15 April 1920.
(photo: Foulsham & Banfield, London, 1920)
‘A theatrical star of rare brilliance has appeared (says the London Daily Mail), and has taken by storm the hearts of a London audience. Miss Edith Day, who as Irene in the musical comedy of that title, produced at the Empire, scored such a great success with her singing and her dramatic and dancing abilities, is an American girl of 21. She is quite short, with shapely white arms, and a beautifully moulded neck, but on first sight all that is noticed is her face, because it is so radiant with vivacity and the joy of life. She is a typical American girl, with thick and lustrous hair of a dark rich brown drawn back from a smooth, high forehead, and brought in a wave to the side of the ears.
‘At a casual glance her eyes, full of suppressed laughter, seem to be dark, but are really a charming grey-blue. Delicately arched eyebrows, a small and straight nose, a dark complexion, a mobile mouth ready to reveal her even, white teeth – such is the face of this clever actress who has won London’s laughter.’
(The Argus, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, 5 June 1920, p. 8e)
‘DEPORTATION FACED BY PAT SOMERSET
‘Actor Who Came Here With Edith Day From London Served With Warrant.
‘TO APPEAR AT ELLIS ISLAND
‘Charge Involves Moral Turpitude – Accused Says Actress’s Husband Is Responsible.
‘Pat Somerset, the English actor whose relations with Edith Day in London have figured in print several times in the last few years, was served with a Federal warrant yesterday morning at a rehearsal of Orange Blossoms, in which both he and Miss Day are appearing at the Fulton Theatre, summoning him to appear on Ellis Island today to face charges which may result in his deportation.
‘The warrant, issued by Assistant Secretary of Labor White, charges that Somerset is subject to deportation because he has admitted the commission of a crime involving moral turpitude. At the Fulton Theatre last night the actor declared that the issuance of the warrant was ”childish and ridiculous.”
‘Mr. Somerset’s relations with Miss Day, which formally were admitted in London three years ago, led to the actor’s divorce in England in 1921, and this divorce was to have been followed by Miss Day’s divorce from Carle Carlton, the American producer. Mr. Somerset last night charged that the warrant for his appearance had been sworn out by Mr. Carlton and that the officer who served it had admitted that fact. The warrant, Mr. Somerset said, was sworn on Aug. 20 [1922]; but the officer declared that service had been delayed in the expectation that Mr. Carlton would let the matter drop.
‘In accordance with the warrant, Mr. Somerset will appear at the immigration station on Ellis Island shortly before noon today. He will be accompanied by his counsel, Malevinsky, O’Brien & Driscoll. Mr. Somerset charged last night that Carle Carlton, after refusing to grant a divorce to Miss Day, had first tried to prevent his entrance into this country by charging that he and Miss Day had arrived together. Mr. Somerset said that he reached here in July via Canada and that Miss Day came directly from London a week or so later.
‘The actor also said that his passports were in order and that he anticipated no real trouble as a result of the deportation warrant. He said that he would make no defense, since there had at no time been any secret regarding his relationship with Miss Day, but that he could see no grounds on which deportation could be asked. His counsel, he declared, will apply for his release under bond, pending the final outcome of the hearing.
‘Edith Day, after scoring a success here in A HREF=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=8647>Going Up, appeared in the title rôle of Irene, under the management of Carle Carlton. She was married to Mr. Carlton in December, 1919. Subsequently she appeared in Irene in London, and it was there that she met Mr. Somerset. Her break with Carlton followed. Then Somerset’s wife, Margaret Bannerman, secured a divorce from him in May, 1921, naming Miss Day as co-respondent.
‘Mr. Carlton, on Jan. 16 of this year [1922], filed suit for a divorce in the Supreme Court, saying at the time that he intended to divorce Miss Day so that ”the other man” could marry her. This suit was based on the testimony given in the Somerset-Bannerman divorce, which included the charge that a child had been born to the actress in London.’
(The New York Times, New York, New York, 19 October 1922, p. 9)
Footlight Notes 