Lydia Yeamans Titus

Australian-born Lydia Yeamans came into the world aboard a ship going from Sydney to Melbourne. Both her parents were performers. Her mother, Annie Griffiths, appeared on the stage in Australia when she was ten years old. Annie joined the circus, and married a circus clown from New York named Edward Yeamans. The pair had three daughters: Lydia, Jennie, and Emily, all of whom became performers. In her prime, Lydia performed in England. During a show for King Edward VII, she sang "Sally in Our Alley." The King was so impressed he presented her with a gold bar pin in which the first notes of the tune were shown in diamonds. One of Lydia's famous acts was dressing as a baby, with a cap, bows of blue ribbons on her shoulders, and bare arms. She was one of the first vaudeville artists to have her own piano accompanist - he happened to be Fred Titus, her husband. After her stage career, Lydia entered films and amassed quite a few credits. Late in life, she donated $5000 to the Motion Picture Actors' Relief Association. Ironically, her generosity would come in handy. In November of 1929, while strolling along Hollywood Boulevard, she suffered a stroke which left her paralyzed. She was cared for at a hospital run by the Association. She died on December 29, 1929. In accordance with her wishes, her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.