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Marie Burke 1894 - 1988
Husband (1) Tom Burke
Husband (2) Guy Melson King
Daughter Patricia Burke
Marie trained as an operatic singer in Italy.
Her first stage performance was in London in 1919.
In 1922 she went to America for a while. In 1924 she played vaudeville in both South Africa, and then Australia.
She was asked to join Nevin Tait and J.C.Williamson's group (the 2 groups had joined together when Williamson died).
Over the next 3 years, she performed in musical
comedies, including Nina in "Wildflower", Katja in "Katja the Dancer",
Julia Van Osten in The Cousin From Nowhere" and Frasquita in "Frasquita".
1927 saw her playing Norma Lythe in "The Whole Town's Talking".
1934 saw her in America again, this time playing Countess Olga in "Waltzes from Vienna" ("The great Waltz" in USA).
1939 She went to America and then Australia.The plays included "Yes My Darling Daughter", "Robert's Wife",
"Point Valaine". She also did radio broadcasts as well as concerts.
1944 saw her touring with E.N.S.A., in India, Burma, and the Middle East.
1954 - 1955 saw her again touring in the UK. Plays included, "King's Rhapsody",
"September Tide", "Love in Idleness" and "Black Chiffon".
She was one of the original people behind the start of Equity, the Actor's Union.
She died in France in 1988.