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Barbara Cason

Father: Charles Carroll Cason
Mother: Helen Louise Phebus

Family 1: George Touliatos
Family 2: Dennis Patrick 
                                                   ___________________________
                          ________________________|
                         |                        |___________________________
 _Charles Carroll Cason _|
|                        |                         ___________________________
|                        |________________________|
|                                                 |___________________________
|
|--Barbara Cason 
|
|                                                  _George Washington Phebus _
|                         _Walter Lavelle Phebus _|
|                        |                        |_Harriette Delphia Walker _
|_Helen Louise Phebus ___|
                         |                         ___________________________
                         |_Love Estelle Odom _____|
                                                  |___________________________
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Notes

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL, Memphis, June 21, 1990 Thespians here recall Barbara Cason fondly by Donald La Badie Actress Barbara Cason was fondly remembered by Memphis friends and colleagues Wednesday. The 61-year-old co-founder of the old Front St. Theatre, who later acted in New York and Hollywood, died Monday in Hollywood of apparent heart failure. "She was a marvelous, wonderful, outgoing person and an actress with an extraordinary range," said Anastasia Herren, chairman of the Shelby State Community College fine arts and speech department. "We were like sisters," said Ms. Herren, who received news of the death from Ms. Cason's husband, Dennis Patrick. "I talked to her Friday," said Ms. Herren. "I was with her and her husband last month in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, I first met her at Front Street in 1957, the year after it opened. Her husband at that time (George Touliatos) was artistic director. She was the equivalent of a producer. She ran the box office, paid the checks and acted. "They put a lot of money into it. She would do an early morning show as Kitty Kelly on WREC-TV and spend the rest of the day at Front Street. She could do just about anything. She played Big Mama in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with Carrie Nye. She was kind of a singing actress in 'Call Me Madam' and 'Little Mary Sunshine'. Her voice wasn't that big, but she knew how to put over a song." She said Ms. Cason had returned to Memphis frequently, had directed "I Remember Mama" at Theatre Memphis in 1980, presented the first Memphis Theatre Awards in 1984, and performed in a Memphis Symphony Orchestra benefit in 1987. Barry Fuller, a well-known Memphis director and actor, recalled: "I met her and George at the University of Iowa in 1954. They invited me to come down to Front Street, which is why I'm in Memphis today. Actually, we first acted together at Theater 12, a forerunner of Front Street. She was Olivia, and I was Malvolio . . . in 'Twelfth Night'. "She was tall and blond and somewhat large-breasted. When we did the Charleston together in 'The Boy Friend' at Front Street, she had to wear a bust-binder. She was blue in the face when she came of stage. She was a super, wonderful woman who will be remembered by many Memphians. It's a devastating loss for her friends."

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