The Philadelphia Inquirer; Wednesday, February 15, 1995, Section B Page 7:
"Carmelita A. Manning, 94, whose long leadership of the Charlotte Cushman Club and the Pan-American Association only hinted at the scope of her energies and interests, died Thursday at Graduate Health System City Avenue Hospital. A resident of Center City nearly all her life, Ms. Manning was a former president of the Plays and Players Club, where she acted, directed and served on the board in nearly 50 years of membership. She was also a founder of the Walnut Street Theater Museum and a member of the board of governors of the English-Speaking Union of the United States. She was a vice president of the Rittenhouse Square Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra, organizing field trips to far-flung concerts during the Eugene Ormandy years. "She was a phenomenal person," said Esther Klein, a friend for 40 years. "She was so remarkable in the range of her activities." Ms. Manning - she never married - was born in Washington and moved to Philadelphia at an early age. She attended St. Joseph's College, but her love was the footlights and she acted on local stages. Friends recalled that Ms. Manning was spotted by producers who offered her opportunities to act in New York and Hollywood. But her mother - asserting that nice girls didn't go into the theater - refused to give her permission. Ms. Manning did the next best thing. For decades, sustained by income from an inheritance, she involved herself closely with theatrical organizations. In her long career with Plays and Players, she chaired the club's 75th anniversary celebration. At the 1986 fete, she recalled when Stalag 17 was partly written and first produced at the Delancey Street theater after World War II. For 40 years she was the main force behind the Charlotte Cushman Club, a home for traveling actresses when Philadelphia was a major tryout city for Broadway-bound plays. That led to friendships with Mary Martin, Katharine Hepburn and Angela Lansbury. During World War II, she taught theater and acting at La Salle College, as the university was then called. In 1970 she helped found the Walnut Street Theater Museum; her friend Helen Hayes, the actress, attended the opening. Ms. Manning also belonged to the Philadelphia Opera Guild. Seven years ago, she chaired the first Shakespeare recitation competition for high school students sponsored by the Philadelphia branch of the English- Speaking Union. The group is dedicated to expanding and improving the use of English. A member of the Pan-American Association since its founding in 1940, she became president in 1965. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. today at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, 20th and Locust Streets. Friends may call one hour earlier. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham. Contributions may be made to the Carmelita A. Manning Scholarship Fund of the Pan-American Association, Box 942, Philadelphia 19105."
"Carmelita A. Manning, 94, whose long leadership of the Charlotte Cushman Club and the Pan-American Association only hinted at the scope of her energies and interests, died Thursday at Graduate Health System City Avenue Hospital. A resident of Center City nearly all her life, Ms. Manning was a former president of the Plays and Players Club, where she acted, directed and served on the board in nearly 50 years of membership. She was also a founder of the Walnut Street Theater Museum and a member of the board of governors of the English-Speaking Union of the United States. She was a vice president of the Rittenhouse Square Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra, organizing field trips to far-flung concerts during the Eugene Ormandy years. "She was a phenomenal person," said Esther Klein, a friend for 40 years. "She was so remarkable in the range of her activities." Ms. Manning - she never married - was born in Washington and moved to Philadelphia at an early age. She attended St. Joseph's College, but her love was the footlights and she acted on local stages. Friends recalled that Ms. Manning was spotted by producers who offered her opportunities to act in New York and Hollywood. But her mother - asserting that nice girls didn't go into the theater - refused to give her permission. Ms. Manning did the next best thing. For decades, sustained by income from an inheritance, she involved herself closely with theatrical organizations. In her long career with Plays and Players, she chaired the club's 75th anniversary celebration. At the 1986 fete, she recalled when Stalag 17 was partly written and first produced at the Delancey Street theater after World War II. For 40 years she was the main force behind the Charlotte Cushman Club, a home for traveling actresses when Philadelphia was a major tryout city for Broadway-bound plays. That led to friendships with Mary Martin, Katharine Hepburn and Angela Lansbury. During World War II, she taught theater and acting at La Salle College, as the university was then called. In 1970 she helped found the Walnut Street Theater Museum; her friend Helen Hayes, the actress, attended the opening. Ms. Manning also belonged to the Philadelphia Opera Guild. Seven years ago, she chaired the first Shakespeare recitation competition for high school students sponsored by the Philadelphia branch of the English- Speaking Union. The group is dedicated to expanding and improving the use of English. A member of the Pan-American Association since its founding in 1940, she became president in 1965. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. today at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, 20th and Locust Streets. Friends may call one hour earlier. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham. Contributions may be made to the Carmelita A. Manning Scholarship Fund of the Pan-American Association, Box 942, Philadelphia 19105."
The Philadelphia Inquirer; Wednesday, February 15, 1995, Section B Page 7:
"Carmelita A. Manning, 94, whose long leadership of the Charlotte Cushman Club and the Pan-American Association only hinted at the scope of her energies and interests, died Thursday at Graduate Health System City Avenue Hospital. A resident of Center City nearly all her life, Ms. Manning was a former president of the Plays and Players Club, where she acted, directed and served on the board in nearly 50 years of membership. She was also a founder of the Walnut Street Theater Museum and a member of the board of governors of the English-Speaking Union of the United States. She was a vice president of the Rittenhouse Square Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra, organizing field trips to far-flung concerts during the Eugene Ormandy years. "She was a phenomenal person," said Esther Klein, a friend for 40 years. "She was so remarkable in the range of her activities." Ms. Manning - she never married - was born in Washington and moved to Philadelphia at an early age. She attended St. Joseph's College, but her love was the footlights and she acted on local stages. Friends recalled that Ms. Manning was spotted by producers who offered her opportunities to act in New York and Hollywood. But her mother - asserting that nice girls didn't go into the theater - refused to give her permission. Ms. Manning did the next best thing. For decades, sustained by income from an inheritance, she involved herself closely with theatrical organizations. In her long career with Plays and Players, she chaired the club's 75th anniversary celebration. At the 1986 fete, she recalled when Stalag 17 was partly written and first produced at the Delancey Street theater after World War II. For 40 years she was the main force behind the Charlotte Cushman Club, a home for traveling actresses when Philadelphia was a major tryout city for Broadway-bound plays. That led to friendships with Mary Martin, Katharine Hepburn and Angela Lansbury. During World War II, she taught theater and acting at La Salle College, as the university was then called. In 1970 she helped found the Walnut Street Theater Museum; her friend Helen Hayes, the actress, attended the opening. Ms. Manning also belonged to the Philadelphia Opera Guild. Seven years ago, she chaired the first Shakespeare recitation competition for high school students sponsored by the Philadelphia branch of the English- Speaking Union. The group is dedicated to expanding and improving the use of English. A member of the Pan-American Association since its founding in 1940, she became president in 1965. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. today at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, 20th and Locust Streets. Friends may call one hour earlier. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham. Contributions may be made to the Carmelita A. Manning Scholarship Fund of the Pan-American Association, Box 942, Philadelphia 19105."
"Carmelita A. Manning, 94, whose long leadership of the Charlotte Cushman Club and the Pan-American Association only hinted at the scope of her energies and interests, died Thursday at Graduate Health System City Avenue Hospital. A resident of Center City nearly all her life, Ms. Manning was a former president of the Plays and Players Club, where she acted, directed and served on the board in nearly 50 years of membership. She was also a founder of the Walnut Street Theater Museum and a member of the board of governors of the English-Speaking Union of the United States. She was a vice president of the Rittenhouse Square Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra, organizing field trips to far-flung concerts during the Eugene Ormandy years. "She was a phenomenal person," said Esther Klein, a friend for 40 years. "She was so remarkable in the range of her activities." Ms. Manning - she never married - was born in Washington and moved to Philadelphia at an early age. She attended St. Joseph's College, but her love was the footlights and she acted on local stages. Friends recalled that Ms. Manning was spotted by producers who offered her opportunities to act in New York and Hollywood. But her mother - asserting that nice girls didn't go into the theater - refused to give her permission. Ms. Manning did the next best thing. For decades, sustained by income from an inheritance, she involved herself closely with theatrical organizations. In her long career with Plays and Players, she chaired the club's 75th anniversary celebration. At the 1986 fete, she recalled when Stalag 17 was partly written and first produced at the Delancey Street theater after World War II. For 40 years she was the main force behind the Charlotte Cushman Club, a home for traveling actresses when Philadelphia was a major tryout city for Broadway-bound plays. That led to friendships with Mary Martin, Katharine Hepburn and Angela Lansbury. During World War II, she taught theater and acting at La Salle College, as the university was then called. In 1970 she helped found the Walnut Street Theater Museum; her friend Helen Hayes, the actress, attended the opening. Ms. Manning also belonged to the Philadelphia Opera Guild. Seven years ago, she chaired the first Shakespeare recitation competition for high school students sponsored by the Philadelphia branch of the English- Speaking Union. The group is dedicated to expanding and improving the use of English. A member of the Pan-American Association since its founding in 1940, she became president in 1965. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. today at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, 20th and Locust Streets. Friends may call one hour earlier. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham. Contributions may be made to the Carmelita A. Manning Scholarship Fund of the Pan-American Association, Box 942, Philadelphia 19105."
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