THAT'S A-LOTTA FAME

When we hear the term "child star" we think of Shirley Temple, singing and dancing, curls bouncing, dimples... dimpling. But Shirley had a predecessor from the Gold Rush era - Lotta Crabtree. Lotta Crabtree is a little remember today, but once "The Nation's Darling," she captivated theatergoers. Charlotte Mignon Crabtree was born November 7, 1847 in New York City. When her bookseller father sought his fortune in the gold rush, Lotta and her mother followed him to California and opened a boarding house. Their neighbor was famed performer Lola Montez, who encouraged Lotta's love of singing and dancing. 

Lotta began touring mining camps, her mother in tow, collecting payments of gold and coins in a steamer trunk. Lotta sang, danced, played banjo, and personified a lovable scamp. Rowena Steele, popular stage actress of the era made Lotta her protege and gave Lotta a home in her theater. When silver became the element of the day Lotta performed in Nevada mining camps. In 1864 Lotta and her mother went to New York. Lotta performed in plays like Uncle Tom's Cabin and The Old Curiosity Shop, to nation wide acclaim.

Lotta's fame continue to grow. She inspired two dances: the Lotta Polka and the Lotta Gallup. In 1875 Lotta, her mother, and the steamer trunk toured America with Lotta's own theater company. The steamer trunk was necessary as a Lotta became the highest paid actress in the country. The trunk was emptied when Lotta's mother invested her money in real estate, racehorses, and bonds. Lotta gave to several charitable organizations and built public fountains. Lotta's Fountain in San Francisco stands today. Lola and her mother traveled abroad. Lola studied languages and began painting.

After an onstage fall in 1889 Lotta retired. Her last public appearance was a 1915 for Lotta Crabtree day in San Francisco. Lotta built a house in New Jersey where she lived with her mother, two brothers, and their horses. Despite having romances Lotta never married. Lotta traveled and painted in her later years. She spent the last 15 years of her life in a hospital (which she owned.) Lotta died September 25, 1924 leaving $4 million in a trust for several charities. Once an idol of America, Lotta Crabtree is mostly forgotten, having been eclipsed by the child stars who came after her, who wouldn't have had careers if not for Lotta Crabtree.