Juliette Crosby
Juliette Crosby was an American actress and debutante. She is perhaps best remembered for originating the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago in 1926.
Early life
Crosby was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of explorer and politician Oscar Terry Crosby and Jeanne Maria Bouligny Crosby. Her parents were both from Louisiana; her father was an author and traveler and served as United States [Assistant Secretary of the Treasury|Assistant Secretary of the Treasury] in the Woodrow Wilson administration. She graduated from Holton-Arms School. She was presented as a debutante in Washington, D.C. Her older sister Miriam [Caracciolo di Melito|Miriam], also an actress, married Italian aristocrat Mario Carillo.Career
During World War I, Crosby went to France as a International [Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross] nurse, while her father was director of the Commission for Relief in Belgium. Her Broadway credits included roles in Martinique, The Nest, The Love Child, Home Fires, The Show-Off, Nirvana, Chicago, and Charley's Aunt. In the original production of Chicago, she was the first actress to play Velma Kelly. She appeared in two films, Paris Bound and Charming Sinners. In 1935 and 1936, she toured in a production of Dodsworth with Walter Huston.Crosby was considered stylish, and her dresses were photographed and described in detail in newspapers.