Effie Atherton (born Euphemia Walker Anderson; 3 July 1907 – 11 February 2005), was a British singer, dancer, film actress,[1][2][3] and musical comedy performer,[4] known initially for her stage appearances in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York, before moving into prime musical shows on British radio in the 1930s, where she captivated her audiences with her sophisticated songs and monologues, many of which were her own compositions.

[10][11] Effie Atherton made many radio broadcasts and a total of three films, however, her foundation was as a stage performer and she was particularly associated with the works of Noël Coward.

Atherton was a clever comedienne who later broadcast on the British radio with Ambrose and his Band; and The Three Rhythm Aces, a successful cabaret trio.

[13] Atherton first travelled to the United States in 1924 to take to the Broadway stage as a chorus girl, along with Gertrude Lawrence, Jessie Matthews and Constance Carpenter in André Charlot Revue,[14] which commenced its run on 23 September 1924, with a total of 513 performances.

[20] Aged only 19, Atherton's social circle included Gertrude Lawrence, Charlie Chaplin, Merna Kennedy, Amy Reeves and Wyn Clare.

[22] With the Great Depression, theatre attendance dropped dramatically, and Charlot was forced into temporary bankruptcy after the failure of Wonder Bar in 1930.

On 29 September 1930 she starred alongside Edward Cooper and Queenie Leonard[23] in the play 'We Three', at the Cafe Anglais, London, which was located on Leicester Square, which was the show place for dance orchestras of the 1920s and the 1930s such as Lew Stone and Roy Fox.

[30] Produced for Cochran and also featuring Ivy St. Helier, Moya Nugent, Joyce Barbour, Romney Brent, Doris Hare, John Mills and Graham Payn.

[11] In 1938 she performed on Rudy Vallee's Royal Variety Hour on NBC alongside Cyril Smith as an “English Comedy Act” called “On the Rolly Coaster”.

Her period of residence in the United States coincided with that of a theatrical entrepreneur, Bertie Alexander Meyer, and the man that launched her career on stage, André Charlot.

During World War II, Atherton was on the airwaves staring at morale-boosting radio programmes, aimed at British and Commonwealth troops.

The Radio Times evening schedule of 8 October 1940 included the show “Invitation to Romance”, songs by Eric Maschwitz, set to music from various composers, with Atherton, Anne Ziegler, Horace Percival and Ivor John.

[51] Atherton continued to regularly visit the United States; now traveling in greater style on the RMS Queen Elizabeth, than during her early years and appears on the ship's passenger list of 9 June 1950.