Timelines for year 1899
Winston Churchill
Met his namesake, Winston Spencer Churchill, in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1899. Although they had much in common, they were unable to come up with a single common relative.
Mabel Taliaferro
Child actress, on stage from the age of two. First appeared on Broadway in 1899. Her last major hit was the musical comedy 'Bloomer Girl' (1944-1947). Started in films with Selig Studios in 1911.
William Gillette
Was the first actor to be universally acclaimed for portraying Sherlock Holmes, having staged the first authorized play in 1899.
Ida Waterman
Stage actress. Waterman performed on Broadway extensively from 1899 to mid-1922 (see "Other Works").
Jane Greer
She is of Scottish royal descent. Born in Washington, D.C. to Charles Dean McLean Greer, Jr. Her grandfather, Charles, Sr., according to the Biographical Directory of the Tennessee General Assembly was a representative of Shelby County, TN in the state House from 1899-1901 and in the state Senate 1901-1903 as speaker. Greer street in Memphis, TN is named after Charles Sr.
Humphrey Bogart
Was nicknamed "The Last Century Man" because he was born on Christmas Day 1899 (based on the popular belief that the 19th Century ended in 1899, not 1900 as it really was).
Zenaide Williams
A well-know Broadway actress before entering films. She was perhaps most widely acclaimed for her supporting role in the 1899-1900 production of "Becky Sharpe" produced by and starring Minnie Maddern Fiske. Williams played the roll of Amelia Sedley.
Alfred Hitchcock
Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville, was one day younger than him. They were born August 13 and August 14, 1899.
Kay Francis
Birth year has been in speculation for some time, with sources stating the year as anywhere between 1899-1908. Studio records (which occasionally were used to her detriment when the studio got mad at her) reflect the year of birth as 1899. However, her listing in the U.S. Census taken in April 1910, when she was living at a convent school, gives her age as five years.
John Cleese
His mother, Muriel Cleese (b. Cross, 5 October 1899 - 5 October 2000) died on her 101st birthday.
James Cagney
A studio changed his birth date from 1899 to 1904 to capitalize on his youthful appearance.
Tyrone Power Sr.
He made 25 appearances on Broadway from 1899 to 1930. He was sometimes billed as "Tyrone Power II" out of respect to his grandfather, the great Irish actor Tyrone Power.
Ned Wayburn
Ned Wayburn was far more involved with the legitimate theater than Hollywood. He was an extremely prolific jack-of-all-trades on Broadway; active from 1899-1931 as an actor, director, choreographer, producer and conceptual designer (he even did lighting). Wayburn worked closely with Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. in numerous productions. His career spanned over 44 major stage productions.