Found 7 collections related to Theater -- History -- 19th century

Squire Bancroft (1841-1926), English actor-manager, played hundreds of roles in a theatrical career which spanned over fifty years, and brought him into contact with most of the leading English theatrical figures of his day. Born May 14, 1861, of well-to-do means, Squire Bancroft was educated privately in England and France. He made his stage debut in 1861 at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham, toured the provinces, then made his London debut in 1865 at the Prince of Wales Theatre as Jack Crawley in A WINNING HAZARD, under the management of H. J. Byron and prominent actress Marie Wilton (1839-1921). He married Miss Wilton in 1867, and joined her in theatrical management. Over the next eighteen years, in addition to his management duties, Squire Bancroft played many leading roles in contemporary plays as well as works by Shakespeare and Sheridan. He retired from management in 1885, but continued acting until 1918; he also wrote three books, one in collaboration with his wife. Sir Squire Bancroft died on April 19, 1926, at the age of 84. Squire Bancroft's letter book consists of autograph documents (notes and brief letters) and clipped autographs, written by prominent 19th century theatrical figures, including William C. Macready, Charlotte Cushman, Lester Wallack, Junius Brutus Booth, Tommaso Salvini, Laura Keane, Sir Henry Irving, Ellen Terry, and others. Some notes are addressed to Marie Bancroft. less

James Young (1872?-1948) was active on stage and in motion pictures as an actor, director, and writer. Born on New Year's Day 1872 (some sources say 1878), in Baltimore, Md., James Young was appearing onstage by the 1890s. Eventually, his theatrical career would encompass playwriting, producing, directing, and management, as well as nationwide lecturing on Shakespeare. Mr. Young began acting in motion pictures in 1909 and writing and directing them three years later; he had appeared in some 35 films by 1917, including Maurice Tourneur's TRILBY (1915) opposite his then-wife Clara Kimball Young, when he gave up acting to focus on directing his own scripts. With F. Richard Jones he co-directed MICKEY (1918) starring Mabel Normand. He directed a number of literary adaptations, including BEAU BRUMMELL (1913), OLIVER TWIST (1916), and a remake of TRILBY (1923). Among his last films was THE BELLS (1926) starring Lionel Barrymore and Boris Karloff. James Young's film career ended with the coming of talking pictures. After several years of poor health he died in New York City on June 9, 1948. The James Young papers consist of nine folders of material and includes personal correspondence, financial documents, newspaper clippings, and ephemera, most of it from the last three years of Mr. Young's life. The early period of James Young's career is represented by a booklet of testimonials praising his lectures on Hamlet and Shylock, and by clippings from the New York Times and the Baltimore American, both dated July 1896, which describe James Young's collection of theatrical portraits, especially of the Booth family, which he donated to the Players Club in New York. Much of the material from Mr. Young's last years details the deterioration of his health. less

Frederick G. Ross was an actor and business manager. His collection includes scrapbooks documenting the theater and actors and actresses of the 19th century. Also included is a portfolio of letters from the actor and stage manager William Gorman Seymour. less

Richard Montgomery Field (1834-1902) was manager of the Boston Museum from 1864 to 1898. The Boston Museum began staging musical performances in 1841, then added dramatic performances in 1843 and continued presenting shows for sixty years. Located at the corner of Tremont and Bromfield Streets, the museum was founded in 1841 and was known as the Boston Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts until 1847. The final season at the museum was 1902-3. Consists of letters written by members of the theatrical profession to R. M. Field, manager of the Boston Museum, between 1864 and 1884. less

Tunis Ferdinand Dean was a theatrical manager, long associated with David Belasco. Born In Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1870, Tunis Dean moved to Baltimore, Md., as an adult, and managed Baltimore's Academy of Music for several years. Affiliated for decades with the David Belasco organization, Tunis Dean acted as personal representative of Mr. Belasco, and served as tour manager for a number of prominent actors, including Mrs. Leslie Carter, David Warfield, Frances Starr and James O'Neill. Mr. Dean was also involved in professional athletics, as secretary of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. The Tunis Dean correspondence spans 1906-1922, and consists of personal and business related letters written to Tunis Dean during that period. less