Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Tallulah Bankhead
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I. Schiffman Building
Photographed by Tim Carr, May 24, 2008
1. Tallulah Bankhead side of the marker
Tallulah Bankhead 1902 - 1968. Alabama's Best-Known Actress. Tallulah Bankhead was the toast of the London theatre in the 1920's, and nationally renowned for her dramatic roles in “The Little Foxes” (1939), “The Skin of Our Teeth” (1942), the movie “Lifeboat” (1944), and as emcee of the “The Big Show“ (NBC Radio, 1950-52). She was born in Huntsville on January 31, 1902, in an apartment of the I. Schiffman Building (see other side). Her father, then Huntsville City Attorney, was later Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. A ravishing beauty in her youth, Tallulah was known for her uninhibited exuberance, deep sultry voice, and for calling everyone “Dahling” She appeared in 56 plays, 19 movies, and scores of radio and television productions during her 50-year career. She is buried in the churchyard of St. Paul’s, Kent County, Maryland.
I. Schiffman Building. Birthplace of Tallulah Bankhead. This was the original site for a building erected by John Brahan before 1817 and known as No. 1 & No. 2 Cheapside. Erected circa 1845, the present structure is the surviving south third of a Federal-style building. In 1895, the Southern Savings and Loan Association acquired the property, and commissioned Architect George W. Thompson of Nashville, Tennessee to transform the building
this page online
Erected 1999 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Government & Politics • Women. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 31, 1902.
Location. 34° 43.813′ N, 86° 35.059′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. It is at the intersection of Eastside Square and Eustis Avenue Southeast, on the right on Eastside Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 231 Eastside Square, Huntsville AL 35801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Madison County, Alabama (within shouting distance of this marker); Harrison Brothers Hardware / Daniel Brandon (within shouting distance of this marker); Site The Huntsville Inn (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Harrison Brothers Hardware (within shouting distance
Photographed by Tim Carr, May 24, 2008
2. I. Schiffman Building side of the marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Harrison Brothers Hardware (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Tim Carr, May 24, 2008
3. Tallulah Bankhead / I. Schiffman Building Marker
Photographed by Tim Carr, May 24, 2008
4. Tallulah Bankhead / I. Schiffman Building Marker Side B
Photographed by Tim Carr, May 24, 2008
5. I. Schiffman Building
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, July 22, 2017
6. Tallulah Bankhead
This 1930 portrait of Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968) by Augustus John hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.
“Renowned for her sultry voice and languorous sophistication, Tallulah Bankhead exuded magnetism ‘a remarkable personality with a remarkable name,’ to one enchanted critic. She performed not only in America but on the London stage, where she was painted by Augustus John: ‘At the time, I was the toast of London and that was some toast, dahling.’ She twice won the New York Drama Critics Award, as Regina in The Little Foxes in 1939, and as Sabina in The Skin of Our Teeth, in 1942. In the late 1940s, Time magazine called her ‘the theater's first personality.’ But her career spanned the media as well: in Hollywood, she notably starred in Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944); on radio billed as ‘the glamorous, unpredictable Tallulah Bankhead’ she emceed NBC's Sunday-night The Big Show (195051). On television, she co-hosted All Star Review and was a popular guest on I Love Lucy and The Jack Benny Show.” — National Portrait Gallery
“Renowned for her sultry voice and languorous sophistication, Tallulah Bankhead exuded magnetism ‘a remarkable personality with a remarkable name,’ to one enchanted critic. She performed not only in America but on the London stage, where she was painted by Augustus John: ‘At the time, I was the toast of London and that was some toast, dahling.’ She twice won the New York Drama Critics Award, as Regina in The Little Foxes in 1939, and as Sabina in The Skin of Our Teeth, in 1942. In the late 1940s, Time magazine called her ‘the theater's first personality.’ But her career spanned the media as well: in Hollywood, she notably starred in Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944); on radio billed as ‘the glamorous, unpredictable Tallulah Bankhead’ she emceed NBC's Sunday-night The Big Show (195051). On television, she co-hosted All Star Review and was a popular guest on I Love Lucy and The Jack Benny Show.” — National Portrait Gallery
Credits. This page was last revised on November 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 4,452 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 22, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 6. submitted on July 24, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
