Henrietta Crosman
Encyclopedia
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
.
at Daly's
theater. During the course of the early 1890s she was managed by Daniel Frohman
and appeared in his stock company
. From 1892-94 her career was managed by Daniel's brother, Charles Frohman
. For a short period during 1891, and in between Frohman brothers, she was under the aegis of A. M. Palmer
.
The types of roles Crosman excelled in were adventure romances or the popular drawing farces then prevalent in the late Victorian era. By 1900 Crosman was a star and appeared for the first time as such in Mistress Nell keeping in line with the sort of costume adventures that were becoming her forte. In 1902 she appeared in the productions of "Joan of the Shoals", "As You Like It" and "The Sword of the King". In 1903 she premiered another exceptional play "Sweet Kitty Bellairs". Several of these plays would turn up as films in the silent era played by younger actresses. Crosman now in her forties started to slow down on the strenouous sword carrying, heavy costume adventures that she was popular in. Much of the remainder of her theatrical career would consist of drawing room comedies and farces, a type of playing that was less hectic for an aging actress. However she would return to revivals of Shakespeare i.e. The Merry Wives of Windsor
in 1915 with Viola Allen
or in the 20s Sheridan's
The Rivals.
's Famous Players
. The film was a movie version of The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch, which as a play had been a winning success for Mrs Fiske in 1901 on Broadway. The Supreme Test followed in 1915 for Universal
but afterwards her silent film appearances were sporadic. By 1930 silent film
s had given way to talking pictures and as in 1914 the motion picture business courted stage trained actors. Crosman a veteran and now approaching seventy had a career resurgence endearing herself to a new younger generation who never had the chance to see her in her youth on stage. One of her first talking movies was The Royal Family, a Paramount
version of the play by Edna Ferber
, loosely based on the Barrymore family
. By the mid 1890s she was married to Maurice Campbell and bore him a son, Maurice Jr. in 1896. The marriage to Campbell, eight years her junior, was a long and happy one and ended with his death in 1942. Crosman survived her husband by two years passing away in October 1944.
Wheeling
-Places in the United States of America:*Wheeling, Illinois*Wheeling, Carroll County, Indiana*Wheeling, Delaware County, Indiana*Wheeling, Gibson County, Indiana*Wheeling, Missouri*Wheeling, West Virginia...
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
to George Crosman, a Civil War Major and Mary B. Wick, who was a niece of Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster
Stephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
.
Theatrical career
Crosman moved all over the US from post to post with her army father, and so was educated in many places. On leaving school she decided to become an actress. She got her start in 1883 in local New York theater first being managed by John W. Ellsler. Then she toured the country with Robert L. Downing in classic parts. In 1889 she appeared in her first Shakespeare play As You Like ItAs You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
at Daly's
Augustin Daly
John Augustin Daly was an American theatrical manager and playwright active in both the US and UK.-Biography:Daly was born in Plymouth, North Carolina and educated at Norfolk, Va...
theater. During the course of the early 1890s she was managed by Daniel Frohman
Daniel Frohman
Daniel Frohman was a Jewish American theatrical producer and manager, and an early film producer.Frohman was born in Sandusky, Ohio...
and appeared in his stock company
Stock company
Stock company can refer to:*Joint stock company *Stock company - referring to a group of actors...
. From 1892-94 her career was managed by Daniel's brother, 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....
. For a short period during 1891, and in between Frohman brothers, she was under the aegis of A. M. Palmer
Albert Marshman Palmer
Albert Marshman Palmer was an American theatrical manager, born at North Stonington, Connecticut.He graduated from the law school of the University of New York in 1860, served as librarian at the Mercantile Library, New York, in 1869-72, and then for ten years managed the Union Square Theatre...
.
The types of roles Crosman excelled in were adventure romances or the popular drawing farces then prevalent in the late Victorian era. By 1900 Crosman was a star and appeared for the first time as such in Mistress Nell keeping in line with the sort of costume adventures that were becoming her forte. In 1902 she appeared in the productions of "Joan of the Shoals", "As You Like It" and "The Sword of the King". In 1903 she premiered another exceptional play "Sweet Kitty Bellairs". Several of these plays would turn up as films in the silent era played by younger actresses. Crosman now in her forties started to slow down on the strenouous sword carrying, heavy costume adventures that she was popular in. Much of the remainder of her theatrical career would consist of drawing room comedies and farces, a type of playing that was less hectic for an aging actress. However she would return to revivals of Shakespeare i.e. The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. It features the fat knight Sir John Falstaff, and is Shakespeare's only play to deal exclusively with contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life...
in 1915 with Viola Allen
Viola Allen
Viola Emily Allen was an American stage actress who played leading roles in Shakespere and other plays, including many original plays. She starred in over two dozen Broadway productions from 1885 to 1916...
or in the 20s Sheridan's
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan was an Irish-born playwright and poet and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For thirty-two years he was also a Whig Member of the British House of Commons for Stafford , Westminster and Ilchester...
The Rivals.
Movies
Crosman, like many a heralded stage star, held off from motion pictures. But by 1914 and possibly out of curiosity she 'signed up', as the popular motto went at the time, for a one picture deal with Adolph ZukorAdolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor , born Adolph Cukor, was a film mogul and founder of Paramount Pictures.-Early life:...
's Famous Players
Famous Players-Lasky
Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture and distribution company created on July 19, 1916 from the merger of Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company -- originally formed by Zukor as Famous Players in Famous Plays -- and Jesse L...
. The film was a movie version of The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch, which as a play had been a winning success for Mrs Fiske in 1901 on Broadway. The Supreme Test followed in 1915 for Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
but afterwards her silent film appearances were sporadic. By 1930 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 had given way to talking pictures and as in 1914 the motion picture business courted stage trained actors. Crosman a veteran and now approaching seventy had a career resurgence endearing herself to a new younger generation who never had the chance to see her in her youth on stage. One of her first talking movies was The Royal Family, a Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
version of the play by Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big , Show Boat , and Giant .-Early years:Ferber was born August 15, 1885, in Kalamazoo, Michigan,...
, loosely based on the Barrymore family
Barrymore family
The Barrymore family is an American acting family.The Barrymores are also the inspiration of a Broadway and West End play called The Royal Family....
Personal life
Despite her very busy theater career Crosman found time to marry and gave birth to two sons. George was born in 1887 with her first husband J. Sedley Brown. Brown later married actress Carrie Clark WardCarrie Clark Ward
Carrie Clark Ward was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 62 films between 1911 and 1925.She was born in Virginia City, Nevada and died in Hollywood, California. She was married to J...
. By the mid 1890s she was married to Maurice Campbell and bore him a son, Maurice Jr. in 1896. The marriage to Campbell, eight years her junior, was a long and happy one and ended with his death in 1942. Crosman survived her husband by two years passing away in October 1944.
Filmography
- The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch (1914)
- The Supreme Test (1915)
- How Molly Malone Made Good (1915 (*herself; cameo appearance)
- Broadway Broke (1923)
- Wandering Fires (1925)
- The Royal Family of BroadwayThe Royal Family of BroadwayThe Royal Family of Broadway is a comedy film, directed by George Cukor and Cyril Gardner, and released by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was adapted by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Gertrude Purcell from the play The Royal Family by Edna Ferber and George S...
(1930) - PilgrimagePilgrimage (1933 film)-Cast:* Henrietta Crosman - Mrs. Hannah Jessop* Heather Angel - Suzanne* Norman Foster - Jim 'Jimmy' Jessop * Lucille La Verne - Mrs. Kelly Hatfield* Maurice Murphy - Gary Worth* Marian Nixon - Mary Saunders...
(1933) - CarolinaCarolina (1934 film)Carolina is a 1934 American romantic comedy film directed by Henry King. The screenplay by Reginald Berkley is based on the play, The House of Connelly by Paul Green...
(1934) - Three on a Honeymoon (1934)
- Such Women Are Dangerous (1934)
- Among the Missing (1934)
- The Curtain Falls (1934)
- Elinor Norton (1934)
- Menace (1934)
- The Right to Live (1935)
- The Dark Angel (1935)
- Charlie Chan's SecretCharlie Chan's SecretCharlie Chan's Secret is the tenth Fox-produced film in the Charlie Chan series with Warner Oland as the detective.- Plot :Alan Colby, heir to a vast fortune, reappears after a seven year absence, only to be murdered before he can claim his inheritance. The Lowells have been living off the Colby...
(1936) - Hitch Hike to Heaven (1936)
- The Moon's Our HomeThe Moon's Our Home-Plot summary:A comedy about marriage and everything relating to it. A New York novelist Henry Fonda meets up with an actress, Margaret Sullavan, and the two date and later marry, though neither knows of the other's fame...
(1936) - Girl of the Ozarks (1936)
- Follow Your HeartFollow Your Heart (1936 film)- Cast :*Marion Talley as Marian Forrester*Michael Bartlett as Michael Williams*Nigel Bruce as Henri Forrester*Luis Alberni as Tony Masetti*Henrietta Crosman as Madame Bovard*Vivienne Osborne as Gloria Forrester*Walter Catlett as Joe Sheldon...
(1936) - Personal PropertyPersonal Property (film)Personal Property is a 1937 American romantic comedy film starring Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor and directed by W.S. Van Dyke. It is based on the play The Man In Possession by H.M. Harwood.-Synopsis:...
(1937)
External links
- Henrietta Crosman IMDb.com
- Henrietta Crosman IBDb.com
- Henrietta Crosman gravesite Findagrave.com
- Henrietta Crosman gallery at the NY Public Library
- Henrietta Crosman 1892 portrait Univ of Louisville Macauley Theater Collection
- Henrietta Crosman picture gallery Univ of Washington Sayre collection
- Henrietta Crosman; PeriodPaper.com c.1910