Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
GILMORE, Virginia Cooper
GILMORE, Virginia Cooper. (Dubuque, IA,--Dubuque, IA, Sept. 22, 1981). After the death of her mother, Regina and her brother Paul were raised by their grandparents, Dubuque businessman Austin Augustine COOPER and his wife, until she was old enough to act.
Regina changed her first name to Virginia and joined her father Paul GILMORE, after her graduation from CLARKE COLLEGE, in many stage productions including Jealousy and The Bishop Misbehaves. At one time involved with her father in three theaters on Broadway, Gilmore and her father successfully opened the Cherry Lane Theater in New York during the GREAT DEPRESSION. (1) Beginning with mysteries, the Gilmores gradually tried musical reviews. It is claimed that they tried out more plays than any other theater in New York and shared responsibility for introducing Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker who went on to become stars. (2)
Gilmore returned to Dubuque with her father and lived at 418 Raymond Place where they conducted auditions for their playhouse in Duluth, Minnesota. With the death of her father in 1962, Gilmore divided her time between Dubuque and Hollywood, Florida.
Upon her death, Gilmore's estate (valued in excess of one million dollars) was divided among relatives and the church, Catholic charities and ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL. (3)
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Source:
1. Hendricks, Mike. "Cooper: A Proud Family Now Gone," Telegraph Herald, Dec. 7, 1981, p. 1
2. Tigges, John. They Came From Dubuque, "The Gilmores," by Kathy Bauer, Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1983, p. 75
3. Hendricks, Mike.
