Charles Klein
Encyclopedia
Charles Klein was an English-born playwright and actor who emigrated to America in 1883. Among his works was the libretto of John Philip Sousa
's operetta, El Capitan
. Klein's talented siblings included the composer Manuel
and the critic Herman Klein
. He drowned during the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
.
. Once in Norwich, Hermann became a professor of foreign languages at the King Edward VI Grammar School, and Adelaide taught dance. The younger Klein's five brothers included Max, a violinist; Manuel
, a composer; Herman
, a music critic and music teacher; Alfred, an actor; and Philip. They had a sister, Adelaide. He was educated at North London College.
Klein moved to New York City in 1883 and began his theatrical career by appearing in Little Lord Fauntleroy and other juvenile roles such as The Messenger from Jarvis Section and The Romany Rye. He married Lillian Gottlieb in Manhattan on July 10, 1888. They had two sons, Philip Klein, a screenwriter and producer (April 24, 1888 - June 8, 1935), and John V. Klein (born July 2, 1908).
Klein first wrote for the theater in 1890, when he was commissioned to revise The Schatchen, in which he was then appearing. This was followed by a collaboration with Charles Coote on A Mile a Minute (1890), written for actress Minnie Palmer. He came into prominence as a dramatist in 1897 with the Charles Frohman
production of Heartsease on which he was co-author with Joseph I. C. Clark, and which featured Henry Miller
.
For a time he was play censor for producer Charles Frohman
. Like many dramatists from the late 19th century and early 20th Century, Klein's plays are dated and few are still revived today. He wrote the libretto of John Philip Sousa
's best remembered operetta, El Capitan
, which continues to be revived occasionally.
Klein's melodrama
s were among the most successful of the first decade of the twentieth century, primarily because of their focus on themes of contemporary life in the United States. In The Auctioneer (1901) and The Music Master (1904), actor David Warfield
had great successes. Klein's best-regarded drama, The Lion and the Mouse (1905), was prompted by a visit to the U.S. Senate. The story concerns a young woman taking on a powerful business tycoon. One of the corporate figures in the play was made to look like one of John D. Rockefeller
's partner H. H. Rogers.
Klein died during the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
in 1915, at the age of 48, reportedly entering the Grand Staircase, and shutting the door behind him.
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
's operetta, El Capitan
El Capitan
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
. Klein's talented siblings included the composer Manuel
Manuel Klein
Manuel Joachim Klein was an English-born composer of musical theatre and incidental music who worked primarily in New York City.- Biography :...
and the critic Herman Klein
Herman Klein
Herman Klein was an English music critic, author and teacher of singing. Klein's famous brothers included Charles and Manuel Klein...
. He drowned during the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
.
Biography
Klein was born in London, England to Hermann Klein and his wife Adelaide (née Soman). Apparently, the elder Klein emigrated from Riga, LatviaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. Once in Norwich, Hermann became a professor of foreign languages at the King Edward VI Grammar School, and Adelaide taught dance. The younger Klein's five brothers included Max, a violinist; Manuel
Manuel Klein
Manuel Joachim Klein was an English-born composer of musical theatre and incidental music who worked primarily in New York City.- Biography :...
, a composer; Herman
Herman Klein
Herman Klein was an English music critic, author and teacher of singing. Klein's famous brothers included Charles and Manuel Klein...
, a music critic and music teacher; Alfred, an actor; and Philip. They had a sister, Adelaide. He was educated at North London College.
Klein moved to New York City in 1883 and began his theatrical career by appearing in Little Lord Fauntleroy and other juvenile roles such as The Messenger from Jarvis Section and The Romany Rye. He married Lillian Gottlieb in Manhattan on July 10, 1888. They had two sons, Philip Klein, a screenwriter and producer (April 24, 1888 - June 8, 1935), and John V. Klein (born July 2, 1908).
Klein first wrote for the theater in 1890, when he was commissioned to revise The Schatchen, in which he was then appearing. This was followed by a collaboration with Charles Coote on A Mile a Minute (1890), written for actress Minnie Palmer. He came into prominence as a dramatist in 1897 with the Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman was an American theatrical producer. Frohman was producing plays by 1889 and acquired his first Broadway theatre by 1892. He discovered and promoted many stars of the American theatre....
production of Heartsease on which he was co-author with Joseph I. C. Clark, and which featured Henry Miller
Henry Miller (actor)
Henry Miller was an English-born American actor, director, theatrical producer and manager.Born as John Pegge in London, Miller's parents immigrated to Canada where he started acting as a juvenile. He became the leading man in Charles Frohman's stock company in New York City's Empire Theatre in 1893...
.
For a time he was play censor for producer Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman was an American theatrical producer. Frohman was producing plays by 1889 and acquired his first Broadway theatre by 1892. He discovered and promoted many stars of the American theatre....
. Like many dramatists from the late 19th century and early 20th Century, Klein's plays are dated and few are still revived today. He wrote the libretto of John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
's best remembered operetta, El Capitan
El Capitan
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
, which continues to be revived occasionally.
Klein's melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
s were among the most successful of the first decade of the twentieth century, primarily because of their focus on themes of contemporary life in the United States. In The Auctioneer (1901) and The Music Master (1904), actor David Warfield
David Warfield
David Warfield was an American stage actor, born in San Francisco, California. His first connection with the theatre was as an usher. He made his first stage appearance in 1888 in The Ticket-of-Leave Man. Two years later he went to New York City, where he appeared at the Casino Theatre and at...
had great successes. Klein's best-regarded drama, The Lion and the Mouse (1905), was prompted by a visit to the U.S. Senate. The story concerns a young woman taking on a powerful business tycoon. One of the corporate figures in the play was made to look like one of John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
's partner H. H. Rogers.
Klein died during the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
in 1915, at the age of 48, reportedly entering the Grand Staircase, and shutting the door behind him.
Selected plays
- A Mile a Minute (1890)
- By Proxy (1892)
- The District Attorney (1895)
- El CapitanEl CapitanEl Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
(1896) - Two Little Vagrants (1896)
- Heartsease (1897)
- The Charlatan (1898)
- A Royal Rogue (1900)
- The AuctioneerThe Auctioneer"The Auctioneer" is a 1956 country song by Leroy Van Dyke. It was co-written with Buddy Black.- Origin :...
(1901) - The Hon. John Grigsby (1902)
- Mrs. Pickwick (1903)
- The Music MasterThe Music MasterThe Music Master was a theatrical play written by Charles Klein, and produced and directed by David Belasco. The three-act comedy-drama opened at the Belasco Theatre in New York on September 26, 1904. It ran for 288 performances before it was moved to the Bijou Theatre and ran for another 306...
(1904) - The Lion and the Mouse (1905)
- The Daughters of Men (1906)
- The Step-Sister (1907)
- The Third Degree (1908)
- The Next of Kin (1909)
- The Gamblers (1910)
- Maggie Pepper (1911)
- The Outsiders (1911)
- The Ne'er Do Well (1912)
- The MoneymakersThe MoneymakersThe Moneymakers was a late 1960s Canadian game show that was taped in Ottawa. Its bonus round featured a moving decimal point....
(1914)