Bidwell, Edwin C.

Edwin C. Bidwell
June 27, 1897-Oct. 27, 1986


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 28, 1986, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Edwin C. Bidwell, 89, 251 Cass St., Niles, former Broadway performer and vaudevillian, died at 2:05 a.m. Monday at Pawating Hospital.

He was born June 27, 189 in Connecticut and lived in Niles since 1962. Bidwell appeared in three Broadway shows: The Vagabond King, Treasure Girl and Funny Face with Fred Astaire. He spent five years touring the United States and Canada in a male quartet and was on the vaudeville circuit for one year in an octet. He was also a member of the Chicago Opera Company.

A retired furniture salesman, he was a Navy veteran of World War I and an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Executive Board of Retail Clerks Local 291 in Chicago and was its first vice president and treasurer, the Eleventh Church of Christ in Chicago, the secretarial staff of the Chicago Y.M.C.A. and the First Church of Christ Scientist in Niles.

Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to the services.  Memorials may be made to the Tribute Fund of the Christian Science Church.