Arthur C. Sidman
Encyclopedia
Arthur C. Sidman was the son of a blacksmith
who became a popular American vaudeville
performer and playwright
.
in upstate New York
. Sidman began at an early age working as a typesetter, handyman
and eventually reporter for a small newspaper in his home town before moving to the nearby town of Tully to work on the local paper there. In Tully he became involved with an amateur theater that soon found success with their production of the play Foiled which the group later performed in a number of towns across the region. At this point Sidman decided to abandon his newspaper career in favor of the theater.
with his character sketch A Bit of True Life. In time he would gain fame as a vaudeville comedian and character actor for his dead-on portrayals of the stereotypical Yankee
farmer. Of the plays and skits he wrote, Summer Showers (ca. 1895) and York State Folks (ca.1900), were his most successful. The latter, one of several comedies he wrote about pastoral life in upstate New York, would go on after his untimely death to be produced on Broadway
and have successful runs across the country. A film version of York State Folks starring veteran actor James Lackaye was released in 1915.
. After his death, both Ella and later their daughter, Marjorie, would tour for a number of years in productions of “York State Folks”.
, Maine, a small community some 100 miles north of Boston,Massachusetts. He had gone there with his family to rest and to put some finale touches on York State Folks before the fall touring season began.
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
who became a popular American vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performer and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
Early life
Sidman was born on August 3, 1863 to Peter and Elvira Sidman at the small town of HomerHomer (town), New York
Homer is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 6,363 at the 2000 census. The name is from the Greek poet Homer.The Town of Homer contains a village called Homer...
in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. Sidman began at an early age working as a typesetter, handyman
Handyman
A handyman is a person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home. These tasks include trade skills, repair work, maintenance work, both interior and exterior, and are sometimes described as "odd jobs", "fix-up tasks", and include light plumbing jobs such as fixing a leaky toilet...
and eventually reporter for a small newspaper in his home town before moving to the nearby town of Tully to work on the local paper there. In Tully he became involved with an amateur theater that soon found success with their production of the play Foiled which the group later performed in a number of towns across the region. At this point Sidman decided to abandon his newspaper career in favor of the theater.
Career
In 1891 Sidman entered vaudevilleVaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
with his character sketch A Bit of True Life. In time he would gain fame as a vaudeville comedian and character actor for his dead-on portrayals of the stereotypical Yankee
Yankee
The term Yankee has several interrelated and often pejorative meanings, usually referring to people originating in the northeastern United States, or still more narrowly New England, where application of the term is largely restricted to descendants of the English settlers of the region.The...
farmer. Of the plays and skits he wrote, Summer Showers (ca. 1895) and York State Folks (ca.1900), were his most successful. The latter, one of several comedies he wrote about pastoral life in upstate New York, would go on after his untimely death to be produced on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and have successful runs across the country. A film version of York State Folks starring veteran actor James Lackaye was released in 1915.
Marriage
In 1887 Sidman married Bertha Gardner, the daughter of a Tully area farmer. Tragically she died some months shy of her twentieth birthday on May 31, 1888, ten days after giving birth to their son Ralph. On April 20, 1891 he married actress Ella (Eleanor) M. Brooks at Hornellsville, New YorkHornellsville, New York
Hornellsville is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 4,042 at the 2000 census. The name is taken from a prominent pioneer family....
. After his death, both Ella and later their daughter, Marjorie, would tour for a number of years in productions of “York State Folks”.
Death
Arthur Sidman died suddenly on August 12, 1901 at Higgins BeachHiggins Beach
Higgins Beach is a small beach located in the state of Maine in the United States. It is located in the town of Scarborough in Cumberland County. The beach is north of Prouts Neck and Old Orchard Beach and south of Crescent Beach State Park....
, Maine, a small community some 100 miles north of Boston,Massachusetts. He had gone there with his family to rest and to put some finale touches on York State Folks before the fall touring season began.