Harry, born and raised in Chariton, made the family home on West Braden Avenue headquarters throughout his career, returning during the off-season and at other times to visit his mother and to refine his act, design and commission props, confer with other talent --- and to sew the elaborate dresses that helped earn him the title, "the male Melba," after Dame Nellie Melba, one of the most famous (and elaborately costumed) singers of the early 20th century.
Harry, who performed as Huntress, quite often previewed his act on various stages in Chariton before taking it on the road and was known for his extraordinary generosity when it came to aiding worthy causes. So he agreed to perform and the event was scheduled for Thursday evening, March 13, in the I.O.O.F. Hall, located on the third floor of the Union Block at the northwest corner of the square. National Bank was the principal tenant of that building's ground floor. The Masonic Lodge had equally grand meeting rooms on the third floor, too.
Here's how The Chariton Herald described the program a week later in its edition of Thursday, March 20:
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On last Thursday evening, the Odd Fellows' hall was crowded to its utmost, the occasion being an entertainment for the benefit of the Royal Neighbor piano fund. The entertainment was "Charles Huntress, the Male Melba," as he is known to the amusement public. At home where he has grown from babyhood to young manhood he is best known as Harry Hemphill, whose acquaintance is pleasing because of his genial, happy and kindly manner.
He has been touring the country for the past seven years as a female impersonator and has scored great success along this line. His costumes are beautiful, the work of his own hands, since he is an adept in art needle work. The entertainment throughout was especially good and Harry established himself with his home people as a most clever impersonator, whose imitations and mimicry so pleased his audience that he was heartily encored.
His was ably assisted by local talent, who gave the following program: The initial number was by the Imperial Orchestra, composed of George Press and Albert Pickerell, violins; Lester Carter, clarinet; Elmer Hasselquist, slide trombone, with Lillian Wood at the piano. Mrs. Throckmorton and Miss Martha Crips, piano duet; Huntress in impersonation; piano solo, Mrs. Mayhew; recitation, Margaret Combs; Imperial Orchestra; Huntress in impersonations of several different characters, followed by posings with beautiful electrical effects; illustrated songs, Mrs. Mayhew and Huntress; Imperial Orchestra. Huntress impersonating the "Old Maid from Russell" on a shopping tour in Chariton and her hair-raising adventure put a finishing touch to the program which was good from beginning to end and was almost doubled by reason of the enthusiastic encores.
If Harry Hemphill should again consent to appear before a Chariton audience, it will take something larger than the I.O.O.F. hall to accommodate the people.
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Harry performed many times in Chariton after that --- on all of its theater stages as well as the Armory on South Main Street --- during breaks between tours from coast to coast in the United States, into Canada and to Australia.
He retired from the stage at age 40 after the 1915-1916 season --- as vaudeville faded and he aged --- and opened a performance venue and dance school in Rockford, Ill., where he lived and worked until moving to southern California during 1927.
Following his mother's death, Harry had married Anna Wenquist and, in California, they operated Hemphill's Dance Studio in San Diego until the late 1940s. Anna died in San Diego in 1948 and Harry, on Sept. 23, 1954.
I've written about Harry several times. If you'd like to read more, here are the links to an earlier series: "Huntress: Chariton's Gender-bending Superstar"; "Huntress 2: Bright Lights and Baseball, Too"; "Huntress 3: Harry Goes Coastal; Creates a Bungalow"; "Huntress 4: A Murder in the Family"; "Huntress 5: Harry and George Down Under"; "Huntress 6: Harry's Swan Song".
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