Amelia Bingham was possibly one of the most glamorous and interesting personalities to come out of Hicksville (Defiance County Ohio). Amelia was born March 20, 1869 to Mr. and Mrs. John Swilley. The Swilleys owned and operated the Swilley Hotel in Hicksville for years. Amelia was a beautiful girl and helped by waiting tables in the hotel. She was also a dreamer type of girl. It was fate that Lloyd Bingham of New York came along, as advance man of a theatrical attraction, and fell in love with Amelia. They were married after Amelia had served theatrical apprenticeship under the somewhat irate direction of McKee Rankin, a splendid character-actor of the old school of theatre and a stern disciplinarian. Taken to New York by her husband, Amelia plunged into stage work and her first debut on December 18, 1893 was in a play called "The Struggle of Life" with Frederick Paulding as the star. She later was to rise to great heights herself.
Amelia had great successes with "The Climbers" at the old Bijou in New York, where she came out as a producer, one of the first woman to assume that position. She was a huge success and she was launched on a notable career. Hits like "A Modern Magdalen," "The Frisky Mrs. Johnson and "Lilac Room" are easily recalled by older theatre goers. She also starred with Douglas Fairbanks and William H Crane in "The New Henriette" Her greatest triumph came when she toured London with "Big Moments from Great Plays"in 1909. These plays were composed of fragments from eminent dramatic works. Her leading man was Lynn Pratt. She also appeared around the country in the famous play "The Circle."
She made several return visits to Hicksville and many of the younger people were in awe of her beauty and fashionable clothes. It has been repeated many times the story of how her husband, Lloyd Bingham, had all the trees in font of the hotel (Swilley Hotel, Hicksville) white-washed when she made a visit to her home. Amelia and her husband owned a residence at 103 Riverside Drive, New York, New York City. They entertained many prominent people including royalty. The home was always pointed out by a guide on the double-decker tour busses in New York. To those who have seen her home, they will remember that the front of the home was flanked by two huge stone lions.
In old newspaper files of Mrs. Lilli Pettit, it was noted that Amelia told of being in spiritualistic communication for months with her deceased husband. Amelia was 58 years old at the time of her death in 1927. Amelia died of pneumonia and her sister, Mrs Mino Leslie, was at her bedside. The services were held at the "Little Church Around the Corner" and huge crowds from Broadway attended her funeral. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. It was said she left an estate valued at approximately $200,000 which was quite an amount in those days.
Amelia had great successes with "The Climbers" at the old Bijou in New York, where she came out as a producer, one of the first woman to assume that position. She was a huge success and she was launched on a notable career. Hits like "A Modern Magdalen," "The Frisky Mrs. Johnson and "Lilac Room" are easily recalled by older theatre goers. She also starred with Douglas Fairbanks and William H Crane in "The New Henriette" Her greatest triumph came when she toured London with "Big Moments from Great Plays"in 1909. These plays were composed of fragments from eminent dramatic works. Her leading man was Lynn Pratt. She also appeared around the country in the famous play "The Circle."
She made several return visits to Hicksville and many of the younger people were in awe of her beauty and fashionable clothes. It has been repeated many times the story of how her husband, Lloyd Bingham, had all the trees in font of the hotel (Swilley Hotel, Hicksville) white-washed when she made a visit to her home. Amelia and her husband owned a residence at 103 Riverside Drive, New York, New York City. They entertained many prominent people including royalty. The home was always pointed out by a guide on the double-decker tour busses in New York. To those who have seen her home, they will remember that the front of the home was flanked by two huge stone lions.
In old newspaper files of Mrs. Lilli Pettit, it was noted that Amelia told of being in spiritualistic communication for months with her deceased husband. Amelia was 58 years old at the time of her death in 1927. Amelia died of pneumonia and her sister, Mrs Mino Leslie, was at her bedside. The services were held at the "Little Church Around the Corner" and huge crowds from Broadway attended her funeral. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. It was said she left an estate valued at approximately $200,000 which was quite an amount in those days.
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