Celebrate Marie Dressler Nov. 9

By Cecilia Nasmith

There may be no public celebration due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Cobourg council nonetheless declared Nov. 9 Marie Dressler Celebration Day.

The declaration was made at Monday's meeting following a request from Rick Miller, president and chair of the Marie Dressler Foundation.

Miller's letter contained the reasons why the Oscar-winning actress – born Nov. 9, 1868 at 212 King St. W. - deserves to be celebrated, including the fact that she was the world's highest-grossing movie actress in 1932 and 1933.

He also shared the beloved story of the star's 62nd birthday, where the biggest party Hollywood had ever seen at that time was held in her honour and hosted by MGM Studios head Louis B. Mayer. And her Cobourg roots were part of the celebration, he said, with a radio link from Hollywood broadcasting the festivities to Cobourg's Capitol Theatre in an event hosted by Mayor J.P. Delanty.

And even though no big celebration of her 152nd birthday is possible, Miller said, everyone is encouraged to visit www.mariedressler.ca to learn more about this remarkable woman.