A Sweet Love Story

With Valentine's Day 2019 right around the corner I thought I'd re-share the sweet love story of Edwin Stanton Ross Jr. and Laura Barrett from 1933. (Originally shared in Memories at FamilySearch.org)

Their story is told in a newspaper article printed in The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware on 3 July 1933. Edwin (1910-1979) is the son of Edwin Stanton Ross, Sr., (1870-1937) who is the son of John Ross (1833-1890) and Ann Elizabeth Spiece (1837-1872.)

REAL ROMANCE IN OPERA CAST
Patrons of the Robin Hood Theatre at Arden are much interested in the announcement of the marriage of two of the popular players, Miss Laura Barrett, of New York, and Edwin Ross, of Arden. The wedding took place on [Friday] April 28 in Denver, Colorado, when both young people were on tour with Walter Hampden and his Shakespearean players.
The story of the wedding, as related by a friend, follows:

"On the 28th of last April the train carrying the Walter Hampden Company pulled into Denver late in the afternoon. Two young people, together with two friends, one of whom was Robert C. Schnitzer, scurried away to the city hall to get there before closing time. They succeeded, and with gentle persuasion convinced the Justice of Peace that although they were not very old they did know their own minds. There was just time enough to say the awesome words and for the groom to clap the ring on the young maiden's finger.

"That night Laura Barrett and Edwin Ross walked into the theatre as Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ross. Straight to Mr. Hampden's dressing room they went and that genial person being late as usual begged them to wait to tell him their secret, unless, of course it was too important. Well, it was important, at least so thought Laura, and quickly she blurted out the startling news that they were now married. Like wild fire it spread through the company with whom the two were great favorites, and the performance of "Hamlet" that night was permeated with an unusual current of excitement.

"The following Saturday, as the curtain came down, Mr. Hampden in his Hamlet's costume called the company together. With fervent words of wisdom and equally fervent kisses in behalf of the entire company, Mr. Hampden presented the young couple with a traveling alarm clock; in other words he gave them the right start in life together with his blessing."
Edwin Ross, who founded the Robin Hood Theatre three summers ago and pulled the company through its first very hazardous season, is well known. He was born in Philadelphia, but he has lived in Arden all his life. He attended schools there and later in Wilmington, going on to Wilmington High. For the past five years he has been with Mr. Hampden, playing in every production that he has had in that time. In the past year, Mr. Ross has toured from coast to coast twice with Mr. Hampden.

Mrs. Ross (nee Barrett) was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her elementary education in Washington and then attended the American University there, of which she is a graduate. She is also a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. Last fall she joined the Walter Hampden Company and it was then that she met Mr. Ross.

Next week will be Miss Barrett's first appearance with the Robin Hood Theatre when the two young people play opposite each other in "The Importance of Being Earnest," which opens tomorrow. They have two very delightful parts: Miss Barrett as Cecily falls in love with Algy, the charming young man who takes life lightly, before she has even met him.