Lillian Burkhart Goldsmith

Lillian Burkhart Goldsmith (February 8, 1871 – February 25, 1958) was an American vaudeville performer, clubwoman, and businesswoman, based in Los Angeles.

Lillian Burkhart Goldsmith
Lillian Burkhart Goldsmith, in a 1922 publication
Born	(1871-02-08)February 8, 1871 Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Died	February 25, 1958(1958-02-25) (aged 87)
Occupation(s)	Vaudeville performer, clubwoman, and businesswoman
Spouses	Charles Dickson ​ (m. 1891)​ George Goldsmith ​ ​ (m. 1903, d. 1928)​
Children	Rosalie Faith Goldsmith

Lillian Burkhart, from a 1901 publication.

Early life

Lillian Burkhart was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Adolph Burkhart and Rosalie Cirker Burkhart. Her parents were both Jewish immigrants: her father was born in Russia, and her mother was born in Germany. Lillian trained as a teacher in the Pittsburgh area.^[1]

Career

In her early years, Lillian Burkhart produced and performed in more than two dozen one-act sketches, and was remembered as "the foremost comedienne in vaudeville".^[2][3][4] After she married her second husband and moved to California, she continued giving recitations and dramatic readings,^[5] often for community groups,^[6] and she produced "municipal pageants" and theatrical events, including a benefit show for the victims of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and the Los Angeles pageant marking Shakespeare's tercentenary.^{[7][8][9][10]}

In Los Angeles she was an officer of the Ebell Club, the founder and first president of the Philanthropy and Civics Club (beginning in 1919),^[11] and the president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women (from 1924 to 1930).^[12] She developed a successful career of buying and improving property in the growing city,^[13] and funded the building of clubhouses for several of philanthropic organizations.^[1] She established the first Girl Scout Council in Los Angeles, and was its first commissioner.^[14] She began and funded the Lillian Burkhart Fund, which supported college scholarships for disadvantaged students.^[15]

Lillian Burkhart Goldsmith lectured against prohibition.^[16] She was monitored and questioned by the U. S. Justice Department during World War I, because her mother was German and because she gave a lecture, "What the World is Thinking and Feeling", which was perceived as possibly influencing clubwomen against the American war effort.^[17]

Personal life

Lillian Burkhart was married to a fellow vaudeville performer, Charles Dickson, in 1891; the couple appeared in shows together.^[18][19] She married George Goldsmith in 1903. They had a daughter, Rosalie Faith Goldsmith, born in 1904. Lillian was widowed in 1928,^[14] and died in 1958, aged 87 years.^[20]