author
Lottie Blair Parker
A playwright and actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, she is best remembered for the hugely popular melodrama Way Down East. Writing under the name Lottie Blair Parker, she built a strong stage career before becoming known for plays that reached wide audiences.
1 Audiobook
'Way Down East A Romance of New England Life
by Joseph Rhode Grismer, Lottie Blair Parker
About the author
Born Charlotte Blair Parker in Oswego, New York, in 1858, she worked first as an actress and later became a successful American playwright. Sources agree that she appeared onstage with major performers of her era, including John Edward McCullough, Mary Anderson, and Dion Boucicault.
Writing as Lottie Blair Parker, she produced about a dozen plays, but her reputation rests most strongly on Way Down East, which became one of the best-known popular melodramas of its time. She is also remembered for works including Under Southern Skies and The Redemption of David Corson.
She died in Great Neck, New York, on January 5, 1937. Her career stands out for its blend of performance and authorship at a time when women were still fighting for lasting recognition in the theater.