Christian Science rites will be followed at the funeral services of Nora Bayes, famous American entertainer and singer, who died Monday at the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, following an operation. She was forty-seven years old and had been ill for several years, although this was known only to her husband Benjamin L. Friedland.
Miss Bayes, who was considered one of the first American comediennes, for twenty-three years delighted two continents with her songs and humor. It was Miss Bayes whom George M. Cohan entrusted with the first public rendition of the American World War song, “Over There.”
The famous comedienne was born in Joliet, Ill., the daughter of a Jewish family, as Dora Goldberg. At the beginning of her career, she chose the name of Nora Bayes. A curious story about the origin of this stage name is current in theatrical circles.
When told that Dora Goldberg was no name with which to make a success on the stage, she consulted her first manager, who was Jewish. The change from Dora to Nora was easily arrived at. As to the surname, the manager suggested choosing a name by going through the alphabet. As he started to recite the alphabet in Hebrew with the Ashkenazic pronounciation, uttering: Aleph, Bays (Beth), she interrupted, exclaiming: “That’s it, Bayes.”
Miss Bayes’ affiliation with the Christian Science church is said to date back to 1914 when she was so ill that her life was despaired of. She later attributed her restoration to health to her having practiced Christian Science methods. She is survived by her husband and three adopted children, Norman. Lea Nora and Peter Bayes.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
