[5] Palmer began her career as an actress while a teenage; making her first appearances in Baltimore, Maryland in smaller parts at the Ford's Grand Opera House and the Abbey Theater.

[2] Her first larger role was in Le Pavillon Rouge at the Park Theatre, Brooklyn on June 8, 1874; a performance sometimes credited as her stage debut.

[7] Palmer achieved international fame as Tina in William Gill's musical My Sweetheart; a work which she initially performed in its world premiere at Shattuck’s Opera House in Hornellsville, New York on 27 August 1881.

[2] In its initial form, the musical featured songs by Robert Emmett Graham and Theo Bendix and a story and dialogue by Gill.

[2] Likewise, musical material underwent several iterations, with songs both old and new being swapped in and out throughout the play's run to best suit both audience taste and Palmer's gifts.

[2] The work achieved its greatest popularity in Europe and Australia, but was not as successful in the United States and never reached Broadway.