O O � � � THE EDGEWOOD ENTERPRISE, Thursday, August I, 198S--Page $ ROBERSON is a lady residing in the Edgewood who lives by nciples, who always has declares that she has a father" meaning "Hea- Father," giving thanks !f0r the blessing He has on her throughout the Macaulay was born in Illinois, Nov. 13, 1895 late lrvin and Eva Erwin Upon graduating high school, she started a Varied and lucrative career. been an actress both in theatre and silent a governess, a nurse in school, chaperone and to a wealthy young which resulted in inten- in Europe, Africa ~t. love of the theatre began early formative years. She took every dramatic course a- vailable for credit in high school, appearing in all school produc- tions. However, as many a God-fearing family at that time, her parents were bitterly op- posed to the theatre. "There was a branch of ~he family who were in the theatre, who spelled their name Macau- lay". she said, "which is the reason I changed the spelling of my name." "After graduating from high school. I started working for a wholesale jewelry house. I learned that the drama class from my old high school was to pay a visit to S & A Company, who were filming silent movies directed by Mr. Babille." I wrangled my way to go with the class, and while there he (Babille) noticed me, and asked Ruth Stonehouse about taking my picture. She told him I looked like a good type. They took my picture, then asked me to come back on Saturday in evening gown, which I had to borrow. This started my career in the movies." Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swan- son and Ward Bond. who later appeared in the television series "WagonTrain". were among those whose careers were laun- ched at the S & A Company, which is still in existence, she said. She first appeared as the mother in lrvine Cobb's "Does A Woman Forget". Some of the other films in chich she appear- ed included "The Town That Forgot God", "Well Born." and "Chicago." "My family was so opposed that 1 had to give up the movies, and began to work at Marshal Field's studing drama under Sir Donald Robertson." PHOTOGRAPH which started Miriam in movies was taken in this borroweil evening gown. A Jan. 22, 1921 newspaper clipping while she was starring in "The Guest of Honor" at the LaSalle Theatre tells vividly of her parents objections." "For a year Miriam MaCauley has been a member of William Hodge's company "The Guest of Honor" now playing at the LaSalle, and she will continue to be situated for months to come unless she should have her photograph taken full length. Then her parents, who live at 43 Latrobe Avenue, in Austin, will take her from the stage. It all began on the beach at Wildon Avenue in the Summer of 1919. Being a crack swimmer, Miss MacCauley was in the water every afternoon, and being possessed of a Venus figure, newspaper and moving picture photographers pursed her. Eventually a print got to the eyes of the University Film Comapny, who offered her a well-round contract to wear a one-piece bathing suit in a Pacific Coast Company. Miss MacCauley was determined to go, as both appearances in both Wendell Phillips and Austin High School dramatics fired her with theatrical ambitions, but maternal commands were adamant and she didn't go. That autumn, however, she was of- fered a position by William Hodge, who was playing "A Cure for Curables" at the Stud- ebaker, and her parents finally consented to let her go, 'pro- viding she promised never to allow herself to be photographed full length, or in any pose that might indicate her Venus de Miio measurements." Prior to this, she was pictured in the Chicago Sunday Tribune rotogavure section Aug. 27, 1916 with three other young ladies in two piece bathing suits. In 1920 she was appearing in a minor part on a theatrical production in Saint Louis, when the leading lady became ill. As she knew the part "letter per- fect", she assumed the lead and traveled with the company to New York. The play folded due to an actor's strike. Her willingness to help others is indicated in her recalling about an incident which stands out in her memory. She happen- ed to be attending a concert, when she came across a lady cellist from Czechoslovakia cry- ing, "She had lost her agent, and did not know what to do. I told her I could get her an audition, and l was able to do SO' '. While residing in Greenwich, Conneticut looking after a home for a couple who were in Europe. a measle epidemic broke out in the Edgewood Schools, which was an exclusive boarding schook, headed by a Miss Lan lev. MIRIAM MACAULAY "I was a nurse at the school. Miss Langley was pleased with the manner in which I could handle children." Mrs. Langley introduced me to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence M. Wooley, head of the American Radiator Company. The couple had three children, and I was employed to assume the role of the mother. I looked after the children, managed a household of 50 servants, and even had a chauffer at my disposal." Miriam became friends with a Hindu couple, Mr. and Mrs. Dhan Gopal Mukerji and their son. He was the author of the book "My Brother's Faith" and his wife was teachin~ m one of the colleges. The couple asked her to travel with them and care for their son. As there was no pay, but the opportunity to see India, she called her opera singer friend, Helena Marsh, and said that she would care for her daughter along with the Mukerji child on the trip aboard. However, this situation did not work out pri- marily due to the jealousy of the child's affection toward Miriam. From this venture she was asked to become a companion and chaperone for a young heiress. During this time she traveled extensively in Europe and lived in England for a time. When her father became ill, Miriam returned to the states and was employed as secretary- companion to a Mrs. Morris, whose husband was head of the Union Machine Company. This was during the depths of the depression years, and her In fact, one of the first things she did upon moving to Edge- wood was to see that its citi- zenry had a Republican polling place. Believing in a two-party stystem, she had locked horns years previously with the Thompson-Dailey Democratic machine in Chicago. doing her "bit" to see that voting was carried out according to election code. As an Independent. she stresses that "people need a choice." For the past several years, this young-in-heart lady has shared of her time, efforts, and money to help others. As a reader in the Chrisitan Science Society at Terrell, she has even left her home to care for those persons who were in need of her services. As a lady who stresses others much more than self. her life can best be summed up in her own words, "I try to share what I have with others." mother took in a friend, the late Barbara Bever and her niece. Barbara. who became a close friend of Miriam's when thev were studying drama together. also cared for her parents until their death. Barbara. a former Zigfield Folly beauty, was con- sidered part of the familv and their close association spanned 42 years. After reachiug retirement age, the close knit trio--mother Eva, Miriam and Barbara-moved to Edgewood in 1962. Barbara died unexpectantly in 1968 and Eva followed only two weeks later. Miriam is, and continues to be a great booster of Edgewood and its civic endeavors. She is a member of the Edgewood Ceme- tery Association. formerly the Civic & Culture Club, the Cham- ber of Commerce, the Edgewood Historical Society. and interested in all ventures to better her town and society as a whole. Compnay is which Mirian was a memaer trot. Miriam is pictured with Anges Ayres at the side table. and Sheldon Lewis are actors pictured at the front table. On the rtl ht Miriam is pictured in costume for her role in "A You Like It" staged by her high school drama class.