Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and raised in London, Celia Lipton (1923-2011) was the daughter of a famed orchestra leader and impresario who played at Buckingham Palace for many years. Celia Lipton’s mother was a world champion ballroom dancer.
Celia Lipton was destined for a show business career, but not because of her parent’s background. They had discouraged her from this life, encouraging her to get an education. However, her gift of talent as a singer and actress became apparent at a very early age. She starred in MGM radio productions on the BBC of “Babes In Arms,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Strike Up The Band,” and “Showboat” all to critical acclaim.
Her work on the BBC soon led to the stage with her own One-Woman Show at the world-famous London Palladium. This put her on the map as an all-around performer and her stage, television, and singing career were reaching great heights. The name Celia Lipton, was one heard in every household.
Through her years in London she sang with a number of orchestras including the famed Mantovani and Melachrino Orchestras. This led to recording contracts with the HMV, Decca, and Columbia record labels, where she would record at Abbey Road studios, where the Beatles also recorded. Celia Lipton had hit-after-hit on Columbia. There is no irony in the fact that today her recordings are played on the BBC throughout Europe and on radio stations throughout North America, and that her career is celebrated in the Jazz Archives of the United Kingdom.
A brilliant voice, a great stage presence, God-given talent, Celia Lipton starred in “Get A Load of This” at the Talk of the Town Theater at age 17. She charmed audiences beyond measure to the tune of more than 670 sold-out performances at the famed London Coliseum, playing the starring role in the “Quaker Girl. ” The performance was a historical stage success. No one blinked when she was cast in “Peter Pan. “She was one of the youngest stars to be cast in the role of Peter. Following “Peter Pan,” Celia Lipton studied with the renowned Maestro, Professor George Cunnelli for the lead role of Lilli in the light operetta “Lilac Time” at Her Majestyπs Theater, London.
While taking a vacation in the United States, she made it big starting with a one-woman show at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. On Broadway she was cast in the role as Lady Sybil in “Maggie” at the National Theater. Her next role on Broadway would be in John Murray Andersonπs musical comedy revue, “Almanac. ” Celia Lipton starred in NBC television’s critically acclaimed two-part production of the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” playing Esmeralda, and had leading roles in a number of the famed CBS television “Goodyear Playhouse” productions. She also appeared in a number of national television network daytime dramas.
Through some ordinary event that led to a rather “blind” introduction, Celia Lipton stumbled upon a chance encounter with the one of the most prosperous and brilliant inventors and industrialists, Victor Farris. The couple fell in love and decided to marry. Celia Lipton Farris set aside her stage, acting, and singing career, knowing there was constant traveling in show business and late nights at the theater, and dedicated her time to being a wife, mother, and community volunteer.
Celia Lipton Farris at the time began using her creative energy by studying painting at the Norton Museum of Art. She had several successful exhibitions at the famed Findlay Gallery, donating sales of her work to a number of charities.
After 29 years of marriage and her husband’s untimely passing, Celia Lipton Farris went on to use her incredible talent, business acumen, and selflessness to make a difference in the world. The passing of her beloved Victor Farris and her commitment to bettering the community at large, led to her erecting the Victor Farris Medical Building that sits in West Palm Beach on the campus of Good Samaritan Hospital.
Celia Lipton Farris was asked to return to show business and began working on a number of projects which included being invited to London, England, to perform in Hyde Park at the VE Day Celebrations. There she sang before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the entire British Royal Family and a crowd of approximately one million people gathered for the event. She would later receive the title “Dame of A Most Venerable Order,” which was bestowed upon her by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This is an honor that is in the Personal Gift of the Sovereign, reserved for those who have over the course of a lifetime made significant contributions of service to their country. She sang for tens of thousands of service men and women in hospitals, British ENSA, USO, and at the renowned Royal Albert Hall.
Dame Celia was invited to serve as Executive Producer of the American Cinema Awards in Hollywood. For ten consecutive years she served in that role producing award ceremonies that honored the likes of Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood, Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, Tom Cruise, Whoopi Goldberg, and many more. Her own stage, recording, film, television, and production career led to a permanent display at the Theatre Hall of Fame at the historical Gershwin Theatre in New York City.
Dame Celia Lipton Farris has long been recognized for being one of the first to donate to amfAR toward AIDS research, presenting $1 million at benefits she hosted for Elizabeth Taylor in Palm Beach and Miami in a single evening. She served as a chairwoman or benefactor for an astounding number of charities such as The Historical Society of Palm Beach County, The Salvation Army, Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, Childrenπs Home Society of Florida, United Way, Community Chest, International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach County School of the Arts, Boyπs and Girl’s Clubs, American Heart Association, The British Forces Foundation the Patron is HRH Prince Charles, The National Trust for Scotland, The Duke of Edinburghπs Award Foundation, The Royal College of Music, and many more.
Dame Celia Lipton Farris has been honored by the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce three times with their “Outstanding Citizen Award” and with the prestigious “One and Only” Award. She was presented with the Salvation Army “Others” Award and the “Clara Barton Award” by the American Red Cross, both of which are these organization’s most prestigious service honors. In 2008 the American Cancer Society established the Dame Celia Lipton Farris National Achievement Award. The award is presented nationally to an individual who exemplifies Dame Celia’s nearly three decades of service, leadership, and generosity in the battle against cancer.