Alice Gentle

An American mezzo-soprano who rose from the chorus to leading roles. Born Alice Mae True in Chatsworth, Illinois, she joined the chorus of Oscar Hammerstein's Manhattan Opera in 1908 and was soon given parts such as Mercédès. After two Broadway musicals and Federico in Mignon at La Scala in 1916, she reached the Metropolitan Opera in 1918 and created Frugola in Il tabarro. Once, at the Boston Opera House, a stage bridge gave way beneath her; minutes later she carried on with her part. She toured as Carmen in 1923 and appeared in early sound films.