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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

Personalities of Egyptian Stage and Screen History: Index to Resources

 

 

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Introduction

This page provides links to resources on Shira.net that offer information about important figures in Egyptian history of stage and screen. These links include not only dancers, but also choreographers, musicians, nightclub owners, comedians, actors, and more.

The overwhelming majority of Egypt-related resources on this page were collected and translated by Priscilla Adum. The small number that were contributed by others are identified as such on the individual listing.

This index includes the following resources:

  • Advertisements for nightclub shows that list who the individual performers were.
  • Articles from magazines and newspapers that provided gossip, interviews, and personality profiles.
  • Transcripts from broadcast media that provided gossip, interviews, and personality profiles.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: This mural was on the wall of the beautiful historic Shahrazad nightclub on Alfi Bek Street in Cairo as of April 2019. Photo copyright 2019 by Shira, all rights reserved.

 

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Index to Personalities Included

This list is alphabetized by the person's first name.

Note about names in the ads: Many of the ads use honoric titles for some of the artists such as Effendi, El Mousecar, and El Oustez. For purposes of this index, the honorifics are generally omitted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Index

Abdallah

 

Abdel Aziz

 

Abdel Halim el-Kalawi

It's possible this actor could have been the same person referenced by surname only as "the famous actor El Qalaawi" in an ad for a show by the Rushdie Sisters in Asyut.

 

Abdel Latif Gamgoun

 

Abdel Nabi Mohamed

 

Abdel Rahman Rushdie

 

Abdel Wahab Karam

 

Abdou el-Mansi

 

Abdul Salam el-Naboulsi

 

Abou el-3la

 

Abou El Seoud El Ebiary

 

Adel Levy

 

Adina Glory

 

Afifa Eskander

 

Afranza Hanem

Afranza Hanem was a well-known Turkish dancer who relocated to Egypt in the 1920's in order to seek employment there. She was the first dancer Badia Masabni hired, in 1927. She acted in one movie, Al-Masah al-Hayat (The Tragedy of Life) directed by Wadad Orfi, which premiered in 1929.

 

Ahmed Abdallah

 

Ahmed Abdel Halim

 

Ahmed Abdel Kadir

 

Ahmed Bek Abou Shadi

 

Ahmed Bey

 

Ahmed el-Haddad

 

Ahmed el-Sebemi

 

Ahmed Farid

 

Ahmed Ramy

 

Ahmed Sabra

  • 1936 Advertisement for Houriya Mohamed Troupe. At the summer club Casino Monte Carlo in Alexandria, starting July 2, 1936. Identifies Ahmed Sabra as the music composer for the sketch The Modern Marriage.
  • 1939 Ad for Teatro Beba. Appeared October 4, 1939 in Al Ahram. Credits Ahmed Sabra as the music composer for the plays Al Andalous and The Absent Lover.

 

Ahmed Sherif

 

Ahmed Shoukry

 

Aida

 

Akila Rateb

 

Ali el-Kassar

 

Ali Farag

 

 

Amin Sadek

 

Amina Mohamed

 

Amina Noshi

 

Amira

This references Amira, a monologuist (stand-up comic) from Lebanon.

 

Anissa Moufeda Ahmed

 

Anissa el-Masreya

 

Antoine Issa

Antoine was Badia Masabni's nephew (the son of her sister), and he was married to her adopted daughter, Juliet Masabni. In 1937, when Badia was distracted by her efforts to launch a new career as a movie star, she delegated power of attorney to Antoine. He became involved with Beba Ezz el-Din as his mistress, and succumbed to Beba's wiles, selling Sala Badia to her.

 

Antoine Mefesto

 

Anui Muri

 

Assia Dagher

 

Atallah Mikhail

 

Awatef

 

Aymen Bosry

 

Aziz Eid

As of 1932-1933, Aziz Eid was the artistic director and producer in the theater company of his wife, Fatma Rushdie. He was known as the Pioneer of Arab Theater, because he studied French theatrical techniques and then applied what he learned to Egyptian theater. He died in 1942 at age 58.

 

Aziza

This ad mentions an "Aziza" without a surname. It is unclear whether she could be one of the same "Azizas" who was promoted elsewhere with a surname.

 

Aziza Hassan

 

Aziza Rayad

 

Badi Khairy

Other ways people sometimes transliterate his name have included Badea, Bade3, or Badeaa.

 

Badia

Because the ad doesn't mention a surname, it's unclear which Badia this might have been. Badia Fawzy and Badia Sadek were two entertainers who were active at this time, but it also possibly could have been someone else.

 

Badia Fawzy

 

Badia Masabni

Biographical
Badia the Club Owner

 

Interviews

 

Ads for Badia's Shows at Her Clubs

 

Badia Sadek

 

Bahega Hafez

 

Bahiya Amer

 

Bahiya Simeka

 

Bamba Kashar

Bamba Kashar was a well-known dancer who worked with the Awalim before the age of cinema.

 

Bayoumi el-Kirdisi

 

Beba Ezz El-Din

Beba Ezz el-Din was a Lebanese dancer who came to Cairo to work for Badia Masabni. In 1937, she enticed Badia's nephew, who had power of attorney on Badia's behalf, to give her Badia's nightclub. Later, she and Badia reconciled and she rejoined Badia's troupe at the Casino Opera. In 1950, she bought Casino Opera from Badia.

Articles and Interviews
In Advertisements

 

Beba Ibrahim

Beba Ibrahim was an Egyptian dancer who worked at Badia Masabni's club for a time.

 

Beshara Wakim

 

Biancha

 

Bibi

 

Blanche Hanem

 

Corps d'Or

 

Dalal

 

Danti

 

Dawlath Soliman

Dawlath Soliman was an Egyptian-German dancer whose career primarily thrived in Germany.

 

 

Edward Fares

 

Egy

 

Ehsan

 

El Farid Haddad

 

El Qalaawi

The advertisement which mentioned El Qalaawi did not identify his first name. Although there two famous Egyptian actors with the surname el-Qalaawi (Mahmoud and Ehsan), both were born in the 1930's and therefore the timing would not have been right for either of them to be the El Qalaawi mentioned in this advertisement.

This ad might have been a reference to Abdel Halim el-Kalawi, who performed in some of Badia Masabni's shows in the 1930's.

 

Ensaf Mohamed

  • 1939 Ad for Teatro Beba. Appeared October 4, 1939 in Al Ahram. Promotes Ensaf Mohamed as a monologuist in the show.

 

Ensaf Mounir Ahmed

 

Ensaf Rushdie

 

Ezat el-Gahli

 

Fahmy Aman

 

 

Faizeh Rushdie

 

Fardous

 

Fardous Shalaby

 

Farid al-Atrache

 

Farid el-Sunbati

 

Farid Ghosn

 

Faten Hamama

 

Fathya

It is unclear which Fathya was intended by the ad, since a last name was not given, and there were several Fathya's who worked for Badia Masabni in the 1930's.

 

Fathya Ahmed

Fathya Ahmed was a popular Egyptian singer who was already established before Badia Masabni came to Cairo. She worked for Badia for a time, then later opened her own club.

 

Fathya el-Meligy

 

Fathya Fahmy

 

Fathya Fouad

 

Fathya Ismail

 

Fathya Mahmoud

 

Fathya Mohamed

 

Fathya Moustafa

 

Fathya Sherif

Fathya Sherif was married to actor Emad Hamdi.

 

Fatma Ali

 

Fatma Rushdie

 

 

Fawazi El Bahr

 

Fifi

 

 

Fouad al-Gazayrley

 

Gamal Gomaa

 

Gamalat

Since the ad does not contain a surname, it's unclear whether this is the same person as Gamalat Hassan.

 

Gamalat Hassan

 

Gamil Azit

 

Gamila

 

Gawaher

 

Gina Markisian

Note from Priscilla Adum: Gina appears in some of Badia Masabni's ads as just "Gina", and sometimes as "Gina Markisian". She was also a member of Isaac Dickson's dance troupe, and was billed as such in at least one film. Her name can also be sounded out from the Arabic as Jena or Jenna. Gina was an Armenian, born in Alexandria.

Gina played an important role in the 1950 film Asmar Gamil: a greedy gold digger named Amouna. There's also a scene in one of Samia Gamal's films where Gina plays the part of a French dance teacher in which she teaches Samia Gamal how to Lindy Hop.

 

Hagran Hanem

 

Hassan el-Meligy

 

Hassan Ibrahim

 

Hassan Rashid

 

Hassan Saleh

 

Hayat Mohamed

 

Hayim Abdel Aziz

 

Hekmet Fahmy

 

Hekmet Kamel

 

Hilda

 

Hind

 

Hind Rostum

 

Hoda Shams el-Din

1940's Ad for New Show Featuring Badia Masabni's and Beba Ezz El-Din's Dance Company. Promotes "the beautiful dancer" Hoda Shams el-Din.

 

Hosni Ali el-Hosseiny

 

Houriya Abdou

 

Houriya Hassan

 

Houriya Mohamed

 

Houriya Moustafa

 

Hussein el-Meligy

 

Hussein Ibrahim

 

Hussein Saleh

 

Ibrahim 3aryian

 

Ibrahim Hamouda

 

Imtithal Fawzy

 

Isaac Dickson

 

Ismail Yassin

 

Iza

 

Jack

 

Jeannette

 

Jouly

 

Kahraman

 

Kamel Ibrahim

 

Kameal Chamber

 

Karim Mahmoud

 

Karima Ahmed

 

Katie

 

Kawsar Farid

 

Khayria

 

Khayria Sadki

 

Khristo Kladakis

 

 

Kuchuk Hanem

 

 

Layla

 

Layla el-3amrya

Layla el-3amrya was the adopted daughter of Badia Masabni. Also known as Layla el-Chakraa, the Blonde Layla, and Juliet Masabni. Sometimes spelled as Leila al-Amriya.

 

Layla Mourad

 

Lina

 

Loula Salem

 

 

Lys and Lyn Gamal

 

Mahfouz Azouz el-3ashi

 

Mahmoud Aakl

 

 

Mahmoud el-Menoufi

 

Mahmoud El Sherif

 

Mahmoud el-Touni

 

Mahmoud Fahmy Ibrahim

 

Mahmoud Kamel

 

Mahmoud Sadek Saif

 

Margaret Sagher

 

Mario Volpe

 

Marton

 

Mary

It is unclear whether the same "Mary" performed in each of these shows, or whether there were multiple dancers named Mary who were advertised without a surname.

 

Mary Ezz el-Din

Mary Ezz el-Din co-owned Casino Ezz el-Din with Youssef Ezz el-Din. It's unclear what their relationship (if any) was beyond that of business partners. She is not related to Beba Ezz el-Din — the surname is a common one in Lebanon. Mary was both a singer and an actress, as well as a business owner.

 

Mary George

 

Mary Mansour

 

Mary Queeny

 

Mimi

Since the ad doesn't provide a surname, there's not enough information available to determine whether this might be the same person as one of the other Mimi's listed below. It might have been Mimi el-Saghiera, because Badia Masabni's show with 60 people took place just 2 weeks after Badia's show at the Alhambra, and both shows featured a "Mimi".

 

Mimi el-Gamila

 

Mimi el-Saghiera

 

Mimi Martins

 

Mimi Zaki

 

Mohamed 3awad

 

Mohamed Abdel Moutaleb

 

Mohamed Ali

 

Mohamed el-Dibs

 

Mohamed Eldrees

 

Mohamed el-Genady

 

Mohamed el-Khalawi

 

Mohamed el-Saghayer

 

Mohamed Fawzy

 

Mohamed Ga3far

 

Mohamed Ismail

 

Mohamed Kamel el-Masri

 

Mohamed Salama

 

Mohamed Suleiman

 

Mokhtar Osman

 

Moukhles Sabah el-Din

 

Mounira al-Mahdiya

Mounira al-Mahdiya was known as the "Star of the East" before that label was applied to Oum Kalthoum.

 

Mounira Mohamed

 

Mountaha el-Amrikaniya

 

Mouries Kaasary

 

Moussa Helmi

 

Mustafa Ga3far

 

Mustafa Ibrahim

 

Na3mat el-Meligy

 

Na3ema

 

 

Na3ema el-Masreya

 

Nabaweya el-Masreya

 

Nabaweya Moustafa

 

Nadia el-Aares

 

Nadia Salama

 

Nadra

 

Naemet Mokhtar

Naemet Mokhtar performed dance scenes in several Egyptian movies in the 1950's.

 

Naguib el-Rehani

Naguib el-Rehani ran a theater company in Cairo in the early 20th century. He was Badia Masabni's husband.

  • 1949 Eini Betref. Translation for a song Naguib el-Rehani performed as a duet with Leila Murad in the movie Ghazal al-Banat.

 

 

Naima

 

Naima Akef

 

Najma

 

 

Nazira el-Turkiye

 

 

Nina

 

Noussa Ahmed

 

Oum Kalthoum

 

Puck and Chick

 

Rafki

 

Ragaa Abdel Hamid

 

Ragaa Abdou

 

Ragaa Tawfik

 

Raqia Ibrahim

 

Ratiba Rushdie

 

Riyad el-Qasabgi

 

Rosaria

 

Rose

 

Rose el-Yousef

 

Safiya Helmi

 

 

Saleh Effendi Saudi

 

Salma

 

Salma Zaki

 

 

Samiha Baghdadi

 

Samira

 

Samira Mohamed

 

Samy el-Shawa

 

Saniya Sherif

1930s Advertisement for Fathya Ahmed's Summer Club in Alexandria. Mentions that Saniya Sherif was a member of the dance troupe.

 

Sara

All of these ads showed someone named "Sara" without a surname. It is unclear whether all referenced the same "Sara".

 

Sayed Fawzy

 

Sayed Mustafa

  • 1939 Ad for Teatro Beba. Appeared October 4, 1939 in Al Ahram. Credits Sayed Mustafa as the music composer for the plays Parcel Department and Love of Army.

 

Sayed Suleiman

 

Shafiqa Ahmed

 

 

Shahata

 

Shoushou Ezz el-Din

 

Simon Alex

 

Soad

It's unclear whether the Soad mentioned without a surname in this ad is one of the same Soads that was mentioned with a surname in other ads.

 

Soad Abdo

 

Soad Ahmed

 

Soad Fahmy

 

Soad Mahasen

 

Soad Mekawy

 

Soad Osman

 

Soad Zaki

 

 

Sonia

 

Soraya

 

Soraya al-Turkiye

1930s Advertisement for Fathya Ahmed's Summer Club in Alexandria. Mentions that Soraya al-Turkiye is a member of the dance troupe.

 

Soraya Helmi

 

Taheya Carioca

Articles and Interviews
Mentioned in Advertisements

 

Tawheda

 

Tawheda Mohamed

 

Titi

 

Togo Mizrahi

1936 Newspaper Ad for Khafir el-Darak. The first movie in which Taheya Carioca danced raqs sharqi. Credits Togo Mizrahi as the director.

 

Victoria Mousa

 

William Basila

 

Yolanda

 

Youbi

 

Youssef Ezz el-Din

Youssef Ezz el-Din co-owned Casino Ezz el-Din with Mary Ezz el-Din. It's unclear what their relationship was beyond that of buisness partners. He is not related to Beba Ezz el-Din — the surname is a common one in Lebanon.

 

Youssef Hassan

 

Youssef Wahbe

 

Zainab el-Sudaniya

 

Zaki Ezat

 

Zaki Ibrahim

 

Zaki Rostum

 

Zeinab

 

Zeinat

 

Zeinat Olwi

 

Zeinat Sedki

 

Zizi Sa3ed

 

 

Zozo

Since the ads did not mention a surname, it is unclear whether this Zozo is the same person as one of the Zozo's mentioned below.

 

Zozo Ahmed

 

Zozo Labeb

Other ways to spell her name include Zouzou Labib or Zuzu Labib. Her biography on the El Cinema web site describes her as a singer and an actress.

 

 

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