Elise Bartlett

Elise Bartlett (born Elise Bartlett Porter; October 5, 1897 – May 22, 1947) was an American actress who appeared in numerous stage productions throughout the 1920s and 1930s, as well as several feature films, including the 1929 film Show Boat. She was born into a rich and aristocratic family.

Bartlett's several marriages were well-reported during her life, which included Joseph Schildkraut, who she divorced in 1930, Horace Liveright which lasted just several months, and later Michel Picard. She died in May 1947 of alcoholism.

Early life Born in Union City, Tennessee, She was educated at a convent in Paris She had always wanted to perform on stage since she was a baby. She used the first two parts of her name for her stage name, dropping her surname of Porter. She learnt various languages to perfection outside her stage career, including German, French, Spanish as well as her native English, and would spend considerable time studying, as well as training in singing, fencing, and dancing. and The Gipsy Trail in May 1918, the latter of which she was described as being "a lovely young girl". She appeared alongside Leo Carrillo in a production of The Bad Man, changing her gown several times as she did not feel her choices matched the mood she wanted to convey. In May 1930, she presided over a meeting of notable stage stars in a campaign to increase support for the Civic Repertory Theater.

Bartlett lived in California for six years before moving to New York and appeared in 13 plays, such as Pagan Lady.

She was featured in the film Show Boat, as well as stage productions So To Bed, Lilliom and Children of the Moon to name a few. in his capacity as a phosphate manufacturer. She was the only daughter of her parents. Schildkraut was heralded as "the handsomest man in the world" by Max Reinhardt, a title he resented. He was born in Romania to a Romanian father Rudolph Schildkraut, a distinguished actor and a Hungarian mother, although also had Turkish and Spanish ancestry. They were married in Philadelphia City Hall in the presence of their parents Upon their marriage, Bartlett lost her American citizenship, though this was restored by the Federal Court in 1926. She was ultimately awarded a divorce on June 9, 1930, in an agreement reached out of court, in which Schildkraut would have to pay his wife a $250 weekly alimony and divide $20,000 worth of "community property".

Horace Liveright In December 1931, Bartlett announced her engagement to producer and publisher Horace Liveright, having known each other for eight years. Liveright by that time was managing Bartlett. Just four months of living together, the couple filed for divorce, with Bartlett saying that "my marriage to him was just something I shouldn't have done. I found that out immediately after we were married." She described him as a "charming fellow" and had no resentment, despite reports of physical abuse between the couple.

Michel Picard Her final marriage was to Longshore Beach and Country Club manager Michel Picard. The marriage was performed by Justice of the Peace John Carpenter with just one witness. Picard had previously been married to Leona Lane who he divorced in 1930. Bartlett had known Picard for ten years and said she "simply adores" him.

Death Bartlett died suddenly at a local hospital in Daytona Beach on May 23, 1947 from alcoholism. The funeral was arranged by Baggett-McIntosh.

Filmography The Con in Economy (1919) The Angel of Broadway (1927) A Harp in Hock (1927) Show Boat (1929) Oh Sailor Behave (1930) The Hot Heiress (1931)