Toma Hanlon

Toma Hanlon Kershaw (c. 1867 – November 11, 1929) was an American actress, singer, songwriter, and male impersonator who worked in both vaudeville and Broadway productions primarily during the 1890s and 1900s.

Hanlon was the daughter and namesake of Thomas Hanlon, an English-born member of the Hanlon Brothers, a troupe known for acrobatic and comedy performance. She began her stage career in childhood, taking children's roles at Booth's Theatre in New York. Her early professional work included the musical revue He, She, Him, and Her, which ran in 1888 and 1889, and the original 1890 production of Hendrik Hudson, which starred Fay Templeton in the title role. She continued performing in musical revues throughout the decade, appearing in Her Fidelity in 1893, Nadjy in 1894, and At Gay Coney Island in 1898.

Her Broadway career spanned 1904 to 1907. In 1904 she appeared in both the revue Paris By Night and The Consul. She later starred in the musical The Maid and the Millionaire in 1907. The following year she appeared in The Belle of Avenue A. In addition to performing, Hanlon was also a songwriter; her lyrics for "The Bird's Reply," with music by J. Clarence West, were published in 1889.

Hanlon was also known as a male impersonator, performing what were described as "chappie" songs in character. In 1909 and 1910 she toured nationally in vaudeville with her impersonation act, continuing to perform even while recovering from a bout of ptomaine poisoning.

In 1904, Hanlon was called to testify at an inquest following the death by gunshot of a Brooklyn saloon keeper named Frank McNally. She acknowledged a personal involvement with McNally but denied possessing a key to his apartment or being present at the time of his death.

Hanlon was married at least twice, first to an actor named Charles H. Clarke and later to Arthur Kershaw. She died on November 11, 1929, at Bellevue Hospital at the age of 62, from the effects of alcoholism, and was a widow at the time of her death.