Cherry Sisters

The Cherry Sisters
Born	1854–1871 Marion, Iowa, United States (except Ella, born in Massachusetts)
Died	1903–1944 (Jessie died 1903; others lived until 1934–1944)
Occupation(s)	Vaudeville performers, entertainers
Years active	Early 1890s–1903 (with some continuing until late 1930s)
Known for	Vaudeville act "Something Good, Something Sad"; Cherry v. Des Moines Leader libel case

The Cherry Sisters – Addie (1859–1942), Effie (1867–1944), Ella (1854–1934), Lizzie (1857–1936), and Jessie Cherry (1871–1903) – were a group of five siblings from Marion, Iowa who gained notoriety as a vaudeville touring troupe during the late 1800s. They were central figures in the pivotal 1901 Iowa Supreme Court decision, Cherry v. Des Moines Leader, which played a significant role in affirming the press's entitlement to fair comment.

Their vaudeville production, titled Something Good, Something Sad, became infamous for its low quality and consistently negative audience reactions, including being pelted with vegetables. Over a decade of touring, with a brief stint on Broadway, the sisters filed a libel lawsuit against two Iowa newspapers in 1898 following harsh critical reviews. The Iowa Supreme Court ultimately sided with the newspapers, establishing an important legal precedent regarding fair critique.

The troupe disbanded after Jessie's unexpected passing in 1903. The surviving sisters later engaged in other business pursuits such as operating a bakery and lived out their remaining years in modest conditions.

Early life

Daughters of Thomas Cherry and Laura Rawson, the Cherry family consisted of eight children: Ella, Elizabeth, Addie, Effie, Jessie, their brother Nathan, and two siblings who died in infancy. Ella was born in Massachusetts in 1854; the rest were born and raised on a farm located in Linn County.

Vaudeville career

Following the deaths of their parents and the disappearance of their brother Nathan, the five sisters formed their act in the early 1890s. Initially all performed together; however, Ella retired prior to 1896, leaving four sisters to continue.

Addie characterized their performances as "concerts,--literary entertainments." Their repertoire included songs, dances, sketches, morality plays, and essays that they wrote and presented themselves. Some songs featured new lyrics set to traditional melodies while others were original compositions. Elizabeth and Jessie contributed musical accompaniment with piano and bass drum. Their content often highlighted patriotic and religious themes; notably, Jessie once recreated the crucifixion by being suspended from a cross.

While local audiences in Marion received their act with politeness, audiences on tour frequently responded with ridicule—laughing, heckling, booing—and even throwing vegetables. Hostile incidents escalated to physical confrontations; for example, during a performance in Dubuque a fire extinguisher was sprayed into one sister’s face, forcing a halt until law enforcement intervened. To protect themselves from thrown objects, they eventually performed behind wire mesh curtains but later denied that such measures were necessary.

In 1896, impresario Willie Hammerstein invited them to perform on Broadway at his struggling Olympia Music Hall. Hammerstein explained his decision: "I've been putting on the best talent, and it hasn't gone over...I'm going to try the worst." The troupe’s debut on November 16 rescued Hammerstein from bankruptcy within twelve days and continued for six weeks. The curious crowds were drawn by what the New York Times labeled "Four Freaks from Iowa".

The Times portrayed them as "more pitiable than amusing," highlighting their evident poverty, ignorance, and isolation with "pathetic frankness."

Known for strict moral principles both onstage and offstage, during their Olympia engagement they refused invitations to social gatherings and avoided visiting Coney Island so as not to witness women wearing bathing suits.

Cherry v. Des Moines Leader

The Cherry Sisters' performances were met with severe disapproval from both local audiences and the press. In 1930, Time magazine observed that editors in every town where the sisters appeared consistently responded with humor, satire, and sharp sarcasm. In January 1893, Fred P. Davis of the Cedar Rapids Gazette disparaged their theatrical skills as "worse than none at all." The sisters demanded a correction, which the newspaper permitted them to draft themselves. Dissatisfied with this outcome, they accused Davis of libel, culminating in a staged mock trial during one of their shows in March 1893.

In 1898, the Odebolt Chronicle published a scathing review entitled "The Cherries Were Here," harshly criticizing the sisters. This piece was subsequently reprinted by other newspapers, including the Des Moines Leader. The sisters filed lawsuits against both publications seeking $15,000 in damages, alleging "false and malicious" libel concerning their appearance. The Odebolt Chronicle followed the case closely, reporting on an in-court performance by the sisters and noting on April 27, 1899, that they "had lots of fun out of the case."

The Polk County Court ruled in favor of the newspapers in 1899. The sisters appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court’s decision on May 28, 1901. The Supreme Court affirmed that newspapers possess both the right and responsibility to publish honest and reasonable critiques of public performances without being liable unless actual malice is demonstrated. The ruling emphasized that individuals who expose themselves to public ridicule through their acts may be subject to similar treatment by the press.

The case Cherry v. Des Moines Leader stands as a significant legal precedent endorsing journalists’ rights to fair comment and critical evaluation, frequently cited in media law jurisprudence.

Retirement and later life

Following Jessie’s death from typhoid in 1903, the sisters briefly stepped away from performing. Nevertheless, Addie and Effie resumed their careers and continued until the late 1930s, concluding with their final appearances in Cedar Rapids in April 1938. Effie also pursued political office as mayor of Cedar Rapids on a reform agenda during elections in 1924 and 1926 but was unsuccessful on both occasions.

References in contemporary culture

The Cherry Sisters have inspired theatrical works such as Cherry Bomb, a comedic musical produced by 1812 Productions in Philadelphia, as well as Cherry Sisters Revisited, a 2006 play penned by Dan O'Brien.

They are acknowledged as pioneers within the outsider music genre in Irwin Chusid’s book Songs in the Key of Z.

Their narrative was featured in Season 4, Episode 11 of Comedy Central’s Drunk History, with roles played by Jessie Ennis, Ashley Johnson, Andrea Savage, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Allison Tolman.

An advertisement for the Cherry Sisters was also showcased in Season 7, Episode 22 of Mysteries at the Museum.

External links

• Cherry Bomb: The Story of the Awful Cherry Sisters by Irwin Chusid
• Billy Hamilton and the Cherry Sisters from the Odebolt History Pages