Born: 1892 or 1894, United States
Died: 1969 (circa)
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Isabel or Isabella
The following is republished from the Library of Congress. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
1892 or 1894 Isobel Stone (also known as Isabel or Isabella) was born in Washington, D.C., to Elizabeth B. White Stone (1853-1910) and William Alexis Stone (1846-1920), governor of Pennsylvania from 1898 to 1904
1898-1904 Lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
1904-1920? Lived in Pittsburgh
circa 1918-1920 Studied opera on a scholarship
1921 Made her stage debut in Aphrodite at the Century Theatre in New York City
circa 1922 Sang with the San Carlo Opera Company in the role of Siebel in Faust
circa 1922-circa 1930 Appeared in several Broadway productions. Served as an understudy. Continued voice studies
1925 Performed in the San Carlo Theater Company’s production of Carmen in Pittsburgh
circa 1925-1926 Toured picture theaters with a photoplay
1927 July-September Performed with Starlight Park Opera in the Bronx
1927 September Booked for a series of picture house engagements that opened in Philadelphia
circa 1927 Moved into the derelict barge “Nancy May” on Sherman Creek near Dyckman Street with sister Peggy O’Neill. Began singing in nightclubs
circa 1927-1930 Was heard on the radio in New York City
1928 January Billboard reported that Stone was to head the vaudeville novelty Gold Act, set to play locally as well as tour on a major circuit. Performed at the Pennsylvania Society’s Tea and received favorable reviews
1928 July Stone’s “riches to rags” story of living on a barge published in newspapers across the country
1928 August Bought a house on Barrow Street in Greenwich Village
1928 September Engaged to editor, vanity publisher, and poet Henry Harrison, son of Dr. Morris and Fanny Harrison
1928 October Studied music at the Charles Trier Operatic Workshop. Offered roles by San Carlo Opera Company and Philadelphia Civic Opera
1929 Poetry included in the collection 5 Poets published by Henry Harrison. Billboard reported that Stone’s act was being “reroutined” and that she filled in with road-house engagements, including ones at Ben Riley’s Arrowhead Inn, and Shannon’s Resort in New Jersey
1930 September Featured in The Royal Egyptians produced by Prince Hadji Tahar, complete with Arabian swordsmen, gun twirlers, dancers, a singing comedienne, and seven-piece orchestra
1930 Poetry included in the collections Singing Davids, Daggers in a Star, and Lyric Invaders published by Henry Harrison. Her work was included in the first issue of the literary and arts review Gumby Studio Quarterly published by L. S. Alexander Gumby
1938 Monograph Crossroads of Night: A Novel of Ancient Egypt published by Bruce Humphries, Inc. (Boston)
1941 Copyrighted her play The Man Possessed
1942 Monograph The City of a Hundred Gates published by Bruce Humphries, Inc. (Boston). Stone supplied the cover art
circa 1947 Lived at 2925 West Nineteenth Street, Coney Island, New York
1961 Either visited or moved to Washington, D.C., to apply for a job as an ambassador
circa 1969 Died
2001 Collection of Stone’s work published in Portraits and Snapshots by United Press Ltd. (London)