Frank Gillmore
Encyclopedia
Frank Gillmore was an English American
playwright and a stage and early film actor. He was a founder and former President of Actor's Equity
.
He was born to the British
actors Frank Parker Gillmore and his wife Emily (neé
Thorne: died 5 March 1907), sister of the actress Sarah Thorne
and actors Thomas
and George Thorne
. At the time of his birth his parents were touring the United States, returning to Great Britain
three weeks after their son's birth. Frank Gillmore was educated at the Chiswick Collegiate School in London and made his stage debut in London in 1879, then toured the British
provinces for three years before returning to the London stage where he remained for a further five years. During this period he shared lodgings with George Arliss
. Gillmore then alternated between appearances in Britain and America for a further five years. Aged 17 he appeared with Lillie Langtry
. He married the American actress Laura Margaret MacGillivray whom he met when they both appeared in an American tour of Lady Windermere's Fan
. With her he had two daughters, the actors Ruth Gillmore
and Margalo Gillmore
. Frank Gillmore appeared as a leading man with the companies of Minnie Fiske, Henrietta Crosman
, Mary Mannering
, Bertha Kalich
and George Fawcett
, among others.
Gillmore's stage appearances included a single matinee performance of The Merchant of Venice
on October 17 1895 at the Gaiety Theatre
in London, when he played Bassanio, The Ghost of Jerry Bundler at the Haymarket Theatre
in London in September 1902, and A Japanese Nightingale which opened at Daly's Theater in New York in November 1903.
Gillmore returned to America semi-permanently sometime in the late 1890s, and took his family with him. He and his family were long time summer residents of the Actor's Colony at Siasconset, and he was a former president of the Siasconset Casino. Gillmore became a founder of the Actors' Equity Association
in 1913 after the Actors Society of America disbanded in 1912. He made two silent film
s, The Fairy and the Waif
(1915) and The Lifted Veil (1917).
From 1918 to 1929 he was the union's Executive Secretary and eventual President, a position he held from 1929 to 1937. He was also the international President of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America
from 1938 to 1943 and a Freemason
.
As President of Actor's Equity
Gillmore received The American Arbitration Association's annual gold Commercial Peace Medal in May 1931 "for distinguished service in the establishment of commercial peace through arbitration"
English American
English Americans are citizens or residents of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England....
playwright and a stage and early film actor. He was a founder and former President of Actor's Equity
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
.
He was born to the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actors Frank Parker Gillmore and his wife Emily (neé
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Thorne: died 5 March 1907), sister of the actress Sarah Thorne
Sarah Thorne
Sarah Thorne was a British actress and actor-manager of the nineteenth century who managed the Theatre Royal at Margate for many years and who ran a School for Acting there widely regarded as Britain's first formal drama school...
and actors Thomas
Thomas Thorne
Thomas Thorne was an English actor and theatre manager. Thomas Thorne was one the founding managers of London's Vaudeville Theatre, along with David James and Henry James Montague, and performed leading roles in many of the productions there. His father was Richard Samuel Thorne, who managed the...
and George Thorne
George Thorne
George Thorne, was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in the comic baritone roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, especially on tour and in the original New York City productions...
. At the time of his birth his parents were touring the United States, returning to Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
three weeks after their son's birth. Frank Gillmore was educated at the Chiswick Collegiate School in London and made his stage debut in London in 1879, then toured the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
provinces for three years before returning to the London stage where he remained for a further five years. During this period he shared lodgings with George Arliss
George Arliss
George Arliss was an English actor, author and filmmaker who found success in the United States. He was the first British actor to win an Academy Award.-Life and career:...
. Gillmore then alternated between appearances in Britain and America for a further five years. Aged 17 he appeared with Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry , usually spelled Lily Langtry when she was in the U.S., born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, was a British actress born on the island of Jersey...
. He married the American actress Laura Margaret MacGillivray whom he met when they both appeared in an American tour of Lady Windermere's Fan
Lady Windermere's Fan
Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman is a four act comedy by Oscar Wilde, first produced 22 February 1892 at the St James's Theatre in London. The play was first published in 1893...
. With her he had two daughters, the actors Ruth Gillmore
Ruth Gillmore
Ruth Emily Gillmore was an English American stage actress.Gillmore was the daughter of Frank Gillmore, former president of Actors' Equity, and the actress Laura MacGillivray, and the sister of actress Margalo Gillmore...
and Margalo Gillmore
Margalo Gillmore
Margaret Lorraine "Margalo" Gillmore was an English American film, stage and television actress....
. Frank Gillmore appeared as a leading man with the companies of Minnie Fiske, Henrietta Crosman
Henrietta Crosman
Henrietta Crosman was an American stage and film actress. She was born in Wheeling West Virginia to George Crosman, a Civil War Major and Mary B. Wick, who was a niece of Stephen Foster.-Theatrical career:...
, Mary Mannering
Mary Mannering
Mary Mannering was an Anglo-American actress, born in London. She studied for the stage under Hermann Vezin. She made her debut at Manchester in 1892 under her own name of Florence Friend....
, Bertha Kalich
Bertha Kalich
Bertha Kalich, was a Jewish actress, born in Lemberg, Galicia...
and George Fawcett
George Fawcett
George Fawcett was an American stage and film actor of the silent era. On stage he appeared in such plays as Ghosts with the controversial Mary Shaw, The Squaw Man with William Faversham, The Great John Ganton with an up-and-coming actress Laurette Taylor in the cast and Getting A Polish with...
, among others.
Gillmore's stage appearances included a single matinee performance of The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
on October 17 1895 at the Gaiety Theatre
Gaiety Theatre, London
The Gaiety Theatre, London was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was established as the Strand Musick Hall , in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. It was rebuilt several times, but closed from the beginning of World War II...
in London, when he played Bassanio, The Ghost of Jerry Bundler at the Haymarket Theatre
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
in London in September 1902, and A Japanese Nightingale which opened at Daly's Theater in New York in November 1903.
Gillmore returned to America semi-permanently sometime in the late 1890s, and took his family with him. He and his family were long time summer residents of the Actor's Colony at Siasconset, and he was a former president of the Siasconset Casino. Gillmore became a founder of the Actors' Equity Association
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
in 1913 after the Actors Society of America disbanded in 1912. He made two silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s, The Fairy and the Waif
The Fairy and the Waif
The Fairy and the Waif is a 1915 silent film directed by Marie Hubert Frohman and George Irving. The film was the debut of actress Mary Miles Minter, who was twelve years old by the time of the release.-Plot:...
(1915) and The Lifted Veil (1917).
From 1918 to 1929 he was the union's Executive Secretary and eventual President, a position he held from 1929 to 1937. He was also the international President of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America
Associated Actors and Artistes of America
The Associated Actors and Artistes of America is the federation of trade unions for performing artists in the United States. The following unions belong to the 4As:* The Actors' Equity Association * The American Guild of Musical Artists...
from 1938 to 1943 and a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
As President of Actor's Equity
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
Gillmore received The American Arbitration Association's annual gold Commercial Peace Medal in May 1931 "for distinguished service in the establishment of commercial peace through arbitration"
External links
- 'Thomas Rejects New Equity Vote; Proposes for Managers That Gilmore Be Given Power to Adjust Situation With Him. He and Gilmore to Draw Up New Conditions Under Which Actors and Managers Will Work' The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, August 16, 1922 - Photograph of Gillmore, National Portrait Gallery, London website
- "Founded May 26, 1913, Actors' Equity Celebrates 90th Anniversary With Special Timeline Edition of Equity News"