Courageous woman who defied social norms

Margaret Chute was part of a famous Bristol stage dynasty, but she developed a fascination for the silver screen. In Hollywood, she didn't act, but turned to journalism and photography, leaving us a priceless heritage of pictures of 1930s and 40s screen legends. She was also started the movie industry's first #MeToo movement, as Jonathan Rowe explains.

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MARGARET Chute was an actress, journalist and photographer, born in London in 1886, who visited Bristol frequently in her childhood, as both her parents were on the stage.

She was a member of the family dynasty which had dominated the theatrical world in Bristol for over 80 years, and would become Hollywood's first freelance film journalist. She eventually emigrated to the USA.

Her parents were Charles Kean Chute (1858-1905), who was born in the Assembly Rooms, Bath, and Sybil Claridge Andrews (1860-1930), who used the stage name Sybil Claridge.

The Chute family claimed lineage from two of the greatest 19th-century actors: the famous tragedian William Macready (1793-1873) and Edmund Kean (1787-1833), who both appeared many times at the Theatre Royal, King Street, Bristol. Kean first appeared there in 1815 and was last seen in 1831. Macready was also co-manager of the theatre from 1829 to 1831.

Margaret's grandfather, James Henry Macready Chute (1810-1878), was manager of the Theatre Royal from 1852 to 1881 and opened the New Theatre Royal (later The Prince's) in Park Row in 1867. The Chute family ran both theatres for nearly thirty years, and J.H. Chute was also sometime manager of the Theatre Royal, Bath, and the Bath Assembly Rooms.

The Chutes ran The Prince's from 1867 to 1931. Blitzed in 1940, the last traces were demolished in 1964. Irving and Terry House flats now stand on the site. Margaret's uncle was James Macready Chute (1856-1912), who ran The Prince's from 1878 until his death, with Margaret's father as co-manager for a period.

Margaret's parents appeared on stage in Bristol many times in the 1880s and 90s. Sybil first appeared at The Prince's in 1882 in a stage version of Uncle Tom's Cabin.