Owen, Barnett

Ruth Draper, monologist, was born in New York City in 1884. She began her career writing sketches about people she knew or observed and performing them at parties, until Ignace Jan Paderewski encouraged her to take her talent to the stage. Her only appearance in a full-length play wasas the maid in A Lady's Name at the Maxine Elliott Theatre in May, 1916. In February, 1917 she made her debut as a monologist. The only successful sketch in her first performance was " The Actress " which was the only one she wrote herself. This gave her the encouragement to write and perform her own sketches, and she did this to worldwide acclaim until her final performance December 26, 1956. She died December 30, 1956 at the age of 72.

From the guide to the Barnett Owen papers regarding Ruth Draper, 1905-1956, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)