Lulu Glaser As Dainty Dolly Varden At The Burtis Opera House 1903

 

Colorized image of Lulu Glaser
(from the Daily Times. October 24, 1903)

Comic opera star Lulu Glaser starred in Dainty Dolly Varden at the Burtis Opera House in Davenport on October 28, 1903. 

Contemporary reviews said Glaser’s strength wasn’t power—it was personality. She had a way of connecting with the audience through small gestures, expressive phrasing, and a gentle humor that suited the operetta style. The songs were delivered with clarity and elegance, not be show-stopping, but they lingerd pleasantly.

The production was typical of its time—colorful, sentimental, and a little thin in story—but Glaser’s performance lifted it. She turned what could feel slight into something genuinely enjoyable, making Dainty Dolly Varden less about spectacle and more about charm.

The Daily Times. October 24, 1903.