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Straight Lady:
The Life and Times of Margaret Dumont, “The Fifth Marx Brother
The sidewalk that lined the thoroughfare in front of the Broadway Theatre in New York was filled with fashionably dressed ticket holders ready to see the musical The Summer Widowers. Written by Glen MacDonough, who also wrote Babes in Toyland, and with music by A. Baldwin Sloane, The Summer Widowers is the story of a female detective hired to keep tabs on three men whose wives are spending the summer in the country. The star-studded cast included comedienne and songstress Daisy Dumont. The reviews received for her role in the musical were beyond favorable. “It is doubtful there is any woman on the American stage who is more strikingly attractive or talented,” the September 23, 1910, edition of the New York Tribune read. “Miss Dumont has had several excellent opportunities in the last few seasons, and she has benefitted by all her stage experience…. She is about the most sought-after woman for light musical comedy roles that there is in the United States. Not only because of her attractiveness but because of her pleasing abilities.”
Daisy was particularly radiant when she stepped onto the stage to regale the audience with one of the production’s most popular songs. She cast a glance toward the balcony area to the right of the stage and smiled lovingly at the distinguished gentleman in the plush box seat. Wealthy, forty-year-old, ex-golf champion John Moller, Jr., nodded and winked at the twenty-seven-year-old actress. At the conclusion of the musical number, he stood up and applauded Daisy’s performance. The theatregoers below him followed suit. Daisy was grateful for the enthusiastic reception and offered a dignified bow in response. Suddenly, a large wedding bell was lowered over the stage and a shower of rice fell from the flies as the orchestra played the wedding march. Daisy was just as surprised by the display as the audience. This was not part of the show. She took another bow as the crowd looked on, still applauding. She blew a kiss to John before sashaying into the wings.
Just twenty-four hours prior to the curtain going up, Daisy and John had been married in a simple ceremony in Greenwich, Connecticut. Irene Franklin, known as the “most popular vaudeville actress,” and her husband, dramatic actor Burton Green, were matron of honor and best man. After they exchanged vows, the four made their way to the New York Athletic Club for a celebratory dinner.
“Yes, it was all very sudden,” Daisy told entertainment reporters. “But I have known Mr. Moller for two and a half years. We couldn’t have been married before because he was only divorced last week.”
