Family History:
The Ellis Family theatrical history began in 1859 when Edward Charles Ellis, age 14, left home and made his stage debut as a blackface comedian. This performance marked the beginning of over 100 years in theater for the Ellis Family.
Beginning in approximately 1900, Edward's daughter, Edith Ellis, wrote three dozen plays for production on Broadway, elsewhere in the United States, and in London. Edward's son, also Edward Ellis, had a successful career on Broadway and went on to Hollywood. Granddaughter Ellis Baker acted on Broadway, performed the successful "Showoff" in London, and headed acting companies across America. She retired to Escondido, California in 1979.
From the guide to the Ellis Family Theater Memorabilia Collection, 1887-1959, (Special Collections & University Archives)
