Lottie Grady

Lottie Grady, born Charlotte Grady on September 8, 1887, in Chicago, Illinois, was a singer, dancer, and comedian whose career spanned Broadway, vaudeville, and early film. She died in 1970. Her father, Wesley Grady, was white, and her mother was Susan Kelly Grady.

Grady built an early reputation in Chicago as a featured member of the stock company at the Pekin Theatre. Her work there established her as a recognized performer before she transitioned to broader theatrical and entertainment circuits. A photograph of her appeared in a 1909 edition of the New York Age, reflecting her growing public profile during that period, and she was noted in reviews for her performances.

Her Broadway career extended from 1907 to 1917 and included both musical and dramatic productions. Among her credits were the musical Mr. Lode of Koal, the play The Happy Husband, the musical Captain Rufus, and Simon the Cyrenian. She also appeared in The Merry Widower, a musical production from 1908, and in Broadway Rastus.

In addition to her stage work, Grady appeared in early motion pictures. In 1912 she starred in William Foster's The Railroad Porter, also known as The Pullman Porter, which is recognized as the first Black motion picture production. The following year she appeared in The Grafter and the Girl.

In 1919, Grady married Charles Roxborough, an attorney who later served in the Michigan Senate. The couple had two children, John and Charles Jr., before divorcing in 1939. She subsequently operated a saloon in Idlewild, Michigan.