Elida Morris

Elida Mary Morris (November 12, 1886 – December 25, 1977), later Elida Morris Cooper, was an American vaudeville singer, comedian and actress.

She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She started her career in minstrel shows, and first recorded for Victor Records in 1910. A soprano, she also recorded for Columbia. Her successful solo recordings included "Kiss Me, My Honey, Kiss Me" (1910) and "If I Had Someone at Home Like You" (1914). One of her successes in 1910 was "Stop, Stop, Stop (Come Over and Love Me Some More)", written by Irving Berlin, which she sang with "considerable rhythmic and melodic freedom... speaking the key words "Stop, stop, stop" in an obviously provocative way".

She sang in the new "syncopated" style, and was sometimes described as a "coon shouter". In a 1912 Victor catalog, she was described as "The Girl Who Chases Away All Gloom". She recorded "Play Me a Good Old-Fashioned Melody" in 1912; the sheet music cover showed her as a male impersonator, but it is unclear whether this was a regular part of her vaudeville performances. She also recorded in duos with Billy Murray ("Angel Eyes", 1910), Walter Van Brunt ("I've Got Your Number", 1911), and Sam Ash ("Hello, Frisco!", from Ziegfeld Follies of 1915).

She appeared in The Passing Show of 1916, a novelty vaudeville show starring Ed Wynn. The programme notes report her as saying: "I would love a husband... if I could find one that suited. I would just love to be the boss, you understand, if I launched into matrimony, because it is the age of equal rights and I just love the suffrage idea." She also sang in opera. She made at least four trips to perform in England between 1912 and 1920, and also performed in France and South Africa.

In 1923 she married Norwood R. Cooper, and retired from the stage. She became one of the founder members of the Women's Aeronautical Association, an organisation to which Amelia Earhart also belonged. In 1932 she launched a vocal training studio in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, and in World War II she became Director of Volunteer Camp Shows, booking stars to entertain US troops. She was reportedly still active in her church choir in 1973.

She died in Santa Barbara, California in 1977 at the age of 91.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 19, 1874 (Philadelphia), Died December 25, 1977 (Santa Barbara)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1910 - 1915

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

Notes: Also sings in the contralto range.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-8570 10-in. 1/21/1910 The sting of a bumble bee Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-8572 10-in. 1/21/1910 You'll come back Elida Morris ; Billy Murray Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-8958 10-in. 5/16/1910 Angel eyes Elida Morris ; Billy Murray Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-9445 10-in. 9/13/1910 Kiss me Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-9446 10-in. 9/13/1910 Stop, stop, stop Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-11479 10-in. 1/23/1912 If every star was a little pickaninny Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-11490 10-in. 1/23/1912 Play me a good old-fashioned melody Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-11491 10-in. 1/23/1912 The trolley car swing Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-13385 10-in. 6/5/1913 They've got me doin' it now Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-13386 10-in. 6/5/1913 I was aviating around Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-13387 10-in. 6/5/1913 Happy little country girl Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 4394 10-in. ca. 3/28/1910 You'll come back Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 4593 10-in. ca. Jan.-Oct. 1910 Kiss me, my honey, kiss me Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 4941 10-in. approximately 1910 Stop, stop, stop Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 19782 10-in. 3/4/1912 Movin' man, don't take my baby grand Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 39269 10-in. 3/9/1914 If I had someone at home like you Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 39421 10-in. 5/28/1914 The little things that count Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 39422 10-in. 5/28/1914 Some day you'll know who loves you Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 39496 10-in. 7/17/1914 I want to go back to the farm Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 39497 10-in. 7/17/1914 The high cost of loving Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 45831 10-in. 6/30/1915 Hello, Frisco Samuel Ash ; Elida Morris Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 45963 10-in. 8/24/1915 We're going to celebrate the end of war in ragtime Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Morris, Elida," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113292.

Morris, Elida. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113292.

"Morris, Elida." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113292

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