[[File:Esther Walker 01.JPG|thumb|175px|'''Esther Walker'''<br>Green Book Magazine, 1919]]
'''Esther Walker''' (October 18, 1894 -– July 26, 1943) was an American musical comedy performer. She was born '''Esther Thomas''' in [[Pewee Valley, Kentucky]].<ref>"Noted Actress Has Lead Role in 'Biography.'" ''The Dallas Morning News,'' 24 February 1934. Retrieved 2010-06-26.</ref> Adopting the stage name of Esther Walker, she appeared on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in a 1919 production of ''Monte Cristo, Jr.'', and later that year performed at the 44th Street Theatre in ''Hello, Alexander''. Walker recorded over 32 songs for [[Victor Records|Victor]] and [[Brunswick Records|Brunswick]] record labels, from 1919 to 1920 and 1925 to 1927, including "Sahara (We'll Soon Be Dry Like You)" from ''Monte Cristo, Jr.'' Walker wed Texas businessman [[Karl Hoblitzelle]], a successful manager of movie and vaudeville theatres. The two founded the [[Hoblitzelle Foundation]] in 1942, which still exists today. She died of cancer in [[Dallas, Texas]], on July 26, 1943, at the age of 48.
