User:Eurodog/sandbox84

---

Lynn Wakefield (née Maria Swartz, aka Maria Byrne; born 1916) was a vaudeville actress and singer from New York City.

Career

When she was 12, she was Gypsy Byrne, the Beau Brummel of Broadway. While acting as a duo under the auspices of the Wakefield sisters, her mother, Nora, at age 31, died in her arms between acts. The had been performing Polly at the Station at the Capitol in Philadelphia. Gypsy went back on stage to sing and dance her mother's role, as well as her own.

Under the name "Miss Gypsy Byrne 'Beau Brummel, Jr.,'" her photo in man's tuxedo with top had is in the inset of one version the sheet music of "(I'm Afraid) You Sing That Song To Someone Else," words by Tommy Maile (né Thomas Malie; 1897–1932), music by Joe Verges (né Joseph Michael Verges, Sr.; 1883–1964), Ted Browne Music Co., Chicagto (©1927; renewed 1955).

Other versions of the sheet music with the same original artwork feature:

• Photograph of Julian Hall, with the caption "Featuring Julian Hall and His Orchestra"
• Photograph of Carroll and Grady, with the caption "Featured by Carroll & Grady, Brunswick Record artists"

Under the name Lynn Wakefield, she was a featured vocalist (contralto) with Abe Lyman and later, around 1936, with Bobby Meeker.

Roles

• Just a Minute

October 8, 1928 – circa November 17, 1928: Ambassador Theatre, New York

November 19, 1928 – December 15, 1928: Century Theatre, New York

Music by Harry Archer, book by H.C. Greene, lyrics by Walter O'Keefe

Under the name Gypsy Byrne, she played Helen

Family

Marriage

Lynn was married to lyricist and big band leader Dick Rogers.

Maternal grandfather

Her maternal grandfather father, Andrew Byrne (born 1860), had been a liturgical music director and organist in New York and Chicago and had also worked in vaudeville.

Mother

Her mother, Nora Swartz (née Norah Byrne; 1887–1923), was also a vaudeville actress who died of pnenomia in the arms of Lynn during a performance in Philadelphia — and Lynn finished the performance.

Maternal cousins

By way of her maternal uncle, Andrew George Joseph Byrne (1885–1955), One of her cousins, Francis E. Nation (née Francis E. Byrne; 1909–1997), had been a prima ballerina with the Toronto Ballet Company. When she was younger, she was a vaudeville performer with her sisters under the auspices of "The Byrne Sisters." Francis's son, Roger D. Nation (born 1948), was a teacher for 38 years (from about 1971 to 2009) at Cherry Hill High School East, where he directed its drama program.