Hilda Mary Hooke (after marriage, Smith; 3 October 1898 – 1978) was an English-born Canadian writer of dramas, poetry, and prose. Her 1938 play, Here Will I Nest was adapted into Canada's first colour feature-length motion picture, Talbot of Canada,[1] for which she wrote the screenplay.[2] Hooke died in 1978.
Biography
Hilda Mary Hooke was born at Odcombe, Somerset, England, 3 October 1898. Her parents were Oswald Edgar Smith and Louisa Elizth (Tapscott) Smith.[3] She came to Canada in 1902.[4]
For some years after her arrival, she was engaged in musical and dramatic work.[4] Hooke was affiliated with the Little Theatre in London, Ontario, since the 1920s as producer, director, and playwright. Here Will I Nest, first performed in 1938, became the first Canadian play to be adapted into a motion picture.[5] She wrote three plays around the central figure of Lord Talbot and another three centered on Dr. John Troyer.[6]
Later in her writing career, she became a poet.[4] She also wrote a book about folklore (Thunder in the Mountains: Legends of Canada).[7]
While serving as secretary to the Chief Inspector of Public Schools, London, Ontario, she published less.[4] In 1946, she also served as secretary to Canon Quintin Warner.[8]
^ abcdef"Hilda Mary Hooke". dhil.lib.sfu.ca. Database of Canadian Early Women Writers. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
^"MRT STUDIO PRESENTS". The Gazette. Montreal. 18 April 1949. p. 10. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
