Zipporah Ritchie Woodward (Mrs. Ernest Woodward) 1945. University of British Columbia Archives
Zipporah Ritchie Woodward (July 23, 1885 - July 26, 1976).[1] was a theatre director, writer and supporter of the arts community in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from the 1920s to the 1970s.[2] She was described as the "Grand Dame" of Vancouver's establishment by Vancouver Life Magazine.[3]
Woodward, whose maiden name was Ritchie, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Wells College in Aurora, New York, USA, in the early 1900's.[4] After marriage, she became known as "Mrs. E.A. Woodward" or "Mrs. Ernest Woodward".[4]
Arts career
Woodward directed numerous plays for the Vancouver Little Theatre on Vancouver's Commercial Drive in the 1920s and 1930s.[5][6] Her direction of "The Second Man" at the Vancouver Little Theatre in 1931 was described in the Vancouver Sun as "sure and deft".[7] In the 1930's she was on the Advisory Council to the National Film Society.[8]
In 1941 she directed[9] “Candida” by George Bernard Shaw, produced by the University of British Columbia Players Club. Included in the cast[10] was Arthur Hill, who became a famous Canadian actor, and Lister Sinclair, who went on to great acclaim as a Canadian broadcaster and playwright. Just ahead of the opening night performance, she and other production members were interviewed on a live broadcast on Vancouver's (now former) CJOR Radio Station by Dorwin Baird of CJOR and Pierre Berton of the university’s Radio Society.[11] Her cast also travelled to Vernon, BC. to perform "Candida" in May that year.[12] In 1945 she directed “Claudia”, a production of the UBC Players Club Alumni at the UBC Auditorium.[13]
In 1945 she published a series in The Vancouver Daily Province newspaper "Letters from a Mother to Her Son".[14]
She was president of the BC Drama Association (now known as Theatre BC) from 1948 to 1950.[15] As of 1951 she was the chair of the Vancouver Symphony Society.[16] In 1956 she appeared as a Panelist on Canadian Playwriting at the Frederic Wood Theatre at UBC;[17] in the mid 1960's she sat on the Governing Committee of the Canadian Drama Awards.[18]
She was an active member of the Board of Directors of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver starting from the late 1950’s[19] and early 1960’s[20][21] on into the 1970’s.[22][23][24]
Woodward was known as a prolific letter writer, who would often share special quotations.[25]
Personal
In the early 1920’s, Woodward moved with her family from Winnipeg to Vancouver, where her husband Ernest Austin Woodward built a successful business with an innovative grain elevator. His company was known as Columbia Grain Elevator Company.[26] The family resided on Vancouver’s affluent Point Grey Road, in a home called “Seagate Manor”.[27]
Aside from her active involvement in the arts community, Woodward also was active in the Women’s Auxiliary to Vancouver General Hospital. As of 1954 she was chair and second vice-president;[28][29] by 1963 she had been made Honorary President.[30]
Woodward was survived by her three children: Geoffrey Woodward, Shirley Woodward Grauer Owen,[1] and Peter Woodward.[1][31] Upon her death, Vancouver columnist Mamie Moloney mourned her friend's loss to the city, describing her as "one of the last great ladies".[32]
Prominent family
Woodward's artist[33] daughter Shirley Woodward married Vancouver intellectual and businessman Dal Grauer, who became president of the BC Electric Company. Dal Grauer died in 1961.[34] Shirley Woodward Grauer subsequently married Walter S. Owen,[35] a lawyer who was appointed BC's Lieutenant Governor in 1973.[36]
↑ "A Tribute to the Little Theatre". The Vancouver Sun. March 3, 1934. p.15. ProQuest2239915148.
↑ B, RD (December 18, 1931). "Sex Problem Features Play - 'The Second Man' Proving Most Enjoyable Performance". The Vancouver Sun. p.7. ProQuest2239951852.
↑ "Film Society Opens Season". The Vancouver Daily Province. October 16, 1939. p.6. ProQuest2368598574.
↑ "Shaw and U.B.C. Players Go Well Together/Candida Performed Before Large Audience In Scout Hall". The Vernon News (not available online). Vernon, British Columbia. May 22, 1941. p.1.
↑ "UBC Students Star in Play". The Vancouver Sun. May 7, 1945. p.25. ProQuest2240062722.
↑ Woodward, Zipporah (April 21, 1945). "Letters from a Mother to Her Son". The Vancouver Daily Province. p.8. ProQuest2368791434.
↑ Woodward, Mrs. E.A., Community Arts Council News Calendar (November 24, 1958). "City Sacrifices Beauty for Taxable Tawdriness". The Vancouver Sun. p.5. 2240218764 – via Proquest.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ "Mamie Moloney". The Vancouver Sun. August 20, 1976. p.14. ProQuest2241108348.
↑ Godley, Elizabeth (November 7, 1987). "Through a screen brightly: It's the unique art of Sherry Grauer". The Vancouver Sun. p.39. ProQuest2243743076.
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