Louis Aldrich
Encyclopedia
Louis Aldrich, né Salma Lyon, (October 1, 1843 – June 17, 1901) was a stage actor who later became president of the Actors' Fund of America.
through 1857.
, Macbeth
, and Shylock, Claude Melnotte
, Young Norval
and other heroes of the classic drama before 1857, being billed under various titles, such as " The Ohio Roscius " and " The Boy Prodigy." His name was Salma Lyon, but he finally took Louis Aldrich as his legal and professional designation.
He joined the juvenile March Players of St. Louis, Missouri
, from 1858 through 1863, being billed as " Master Louis"; went with them in 1860 to California; and thence to Australia and New Zealand, where they remained two years and a half. In 1863 the troupe returned to California, and disbanded after playing in San Francisco for four weeks.
He then joined Maguire's Opera House Company in San Francisco, California
. He remained there from 1863 through 1866.
had been cast for the part, and his name appeared on the posters, but at the last moment Aldrich took his place. He remained at the Boston Theatre for eight seasons, playing in the many old plays revived at that house, and supporting Forrest, Booth, Cushman, and others in leading roles. In 1870 he appeared in Armadale. He then played in Leah the Forsaken.
's company, the Arch Street Players, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, where he stayed through the following year; as a stock star at Wood's Museum in New York; with John T. Ford's company in Baltimore; at Booth's Theatre in New York, and for the seasons of 1877-78 and 1878-79 with McKee Rankin as Parson in The Danites. On August 22, 1879, he brought out Bartley Campbell
's My Partner at the Union Square Theatre in New York, playing Joe Saunders; and, in connection with Charles T. Parsloe, continued to present that melodrama for season after season in almost every city and town in the United States through 1885. On September 11, 1888, he produced The Kaffir Diamond (based on She by Rider Haggard) at the new Broadway Theatre in New York, and two years later starred in The Editor.
's war drama Surrender, under the management of Charles Frohman
, the cast including Rose Eytinge
, Maude Banks, W. H. Crompton, Burr Mcintosh
, and Harry Woodruff.Eytinge tells an amusing tale about Aldrich,
In 1893 he appeared in "The Senator" at the Grand Opera House in New Bedford, Massachsettes.
, a position he remained in until the year of his death, 1901, in Kennebunkport, Maine
.
Biography
Aldrich was born at sea while his mother was on her way from Germany to the United States. He was later adopted by a family living in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Whitewater College in Wayne County, IndianaWayne County, Indiana
Wayne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,917. The county seat is Richmond.-History:...
through 1857.
Career as child actor
He went on tour as a child actor playing Richard IIIRichard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
, Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
, and Shylock, Claude Melnotte
The Lady of Lyons
The Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride, commonly known as The Lady of Lyons, is a five act romantic melodrama written in 1838 by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton...
, Young Norval
Douglas (play)
Douglas is a blank verse tragedy by John Home. It was first performed in 1756 in EdinburghThe play was a big success in both Scotland and England for decades, attacting many notable actors of the period, such as Edmund Kean who made his debut in it. Peg Woffington played Lady Randolph, a part which...
and other heroes of the classic drama before 1857, being billed under various titles, such as " The Ohio Roscius " and " The Boy Prodigy." His name was Salma Lyon, but he finally took Louis Aldrich as his legal and professional designation.
He joined the juvenile March Players of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, from 1858 through 1863, being billed as " Master Louis"; went with them in 1860 to California; and thence to Australia and New Zealand, where they remained two years and a half. In 1863 the troupe returned to California, and disbanded after playing in San Francisco for four weeks.
He then joined Maguire's Opera House Company in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He remained there from 1863 through 1866.
Boston Theatre
He became a member of the stock company at the Boston Theatre in March, 1866, opening as Nathan to the Leah of Ellen Bateman. Frank MayoFrank Mayo
Frank Mayo was an American actor and comedian, born in Boston, Massachusetts.He moved to San Francisco where at seventeen years of age he began his career and within a few years was appearing with the young Edwin Booth...
had been cast for the part, and his name appeared on the posters, but at the last moment Aldrich took his place. He remained at the Boston Theatre for eight seasons, playing in the many old plays revived at that house, and supporting Forrest, Booth, Cushman, and others in leading roles. In 1870 he appeared in Armadale. He then played in Leah the Forsaken.
At home and on tour
From 1873, He played successively in several companies; he became the leading man of Mrs. John DrewLouisa Lane Drew
Louisa Lane Drew was a British actress and theater owner.She and her third husband John Drew were the parents of Louisa Drew , John Drew, Jr. and Georgie Drew . She had no children from her first two marriages...
's company, the Arch Street Players, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, where he stayed through the following year; as a stock star at Wood's Museum in New York; with John T. Ford's company in Baltimore; at Booth's Theatre in New York, and for the seasons of 1877-78 and 1878-79 with McKee Rankin as Parson in The Danites. On August 22, 1879, he brought out Bartley Campbell
Bartley Campbell
Bartley Theodore Campbell was an American playwright of the latter 19th century.-Early years:Campbell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 12, 1843 to parents who had emigrated from Ireland. His writing career began at the age of fifteen in 1858, when he took a job as a reporter for the...
's My Partner at the Union Square Theatre in New York, playing Joe Saunders; and, in connection with Charles T. Parsloe, continued to present that melodrama for season after season in almost every city and town in the United States through 1885. On September 11, 1888, he produced The Kaffir Diamond (based on She by Rider Haggard) at the new Broadway Theatre in New York, and two years later starred in The Editor.
With Rose Eytinge
In the season of 1892-93 he played General Colgate in Augustus ThomasAugustus Thomas
Augustus Thomas was an American playwright, born in St. Louis, Missouri. The son of a doctor, he worked a number of jobs including a page in the 41st Congress, studying law and gaining some practical railway work experience before he turned to journalism and became editor of the Kansas City Mirror...
's war drama Surrender, under the management of 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....
, the cast including Rose Eytinge
Rose Eytinge
Rose Eytinge was an American actress and author, born in Philadelphia. From 1862 to 1869 she played in various theatres in New York City and then went abroad with her second husband, Col. George H. Butler, Consul General to Egypt....
, Maude Banks, W. H. Crompton, Burr Mcintosh
Burr McIntosh
William Burr McIntosh had an eclectic career. He was known, at different points in his life, to be a lecturer, photographer, movie studio owner, silent film actor, author, publisher of Burr McIntosh Monthly, reporter and a pioneer in the early movie and radio business.-Life and career:He was born...
, and Harry Woodruff.Eytinge tells an amusing tale about Aldrich,
"Though Louis Aldrich was in the fullest and freest sense of the term a legitimate actor, there is no denying that he was also an inveterate "guyer," and he could "guy" so artistically, with so serious a face and so dignified a port, with so much poise and self-possession, that while those in the scene with him would be convulsed with laughter, and would have much ado to hold themselves together, the audience would never for a moment suspect him. An example of this occurs to me. I was in the cast with him in a war-piece written by Augustus Thomas, called "Surrender." In this piece there was a court-martial, at which Mr. Aldrich enacted the part of the judge-advocate. There was an amusing interchange between the president of the court and the comedian. Now this comedian was a bit of a "guyer" himself, so they had several tilts. On this particular night, when the comedy man came up for examination, Mr. Aldrich straightened himself up, looked at the witness with severe, judicial dignity, and in a deep, portentous voice went on to say: "I know what you are about to tell me, sir. You would tell me," — and then proceeded to give the unfortunate wight's entire scene, gags and all. That comedian's face was a study." (Rose Eytinge (1905) The Memories of Rose Eytinge)He subsequently appeared in Her Atonement and other plays, with occasional returns to his popular success My Partner.
In 1893 he appeared in "The Senator" at the Grand Opera House in New Bedford, Massachsettes.
Actors' Fund of America
In 1897, he became the president of the Actors' Fund of AmericaActors' Fund
The Actors Fund of America is a nonprofit umbrella charitable organization that assists American entertainment and performing arts professionals through a broad spectrum of programs, including comprehensive social services, health services, supportive and affordable housing, employment and training...
, a position he remained in until the year of his death, 1901, in Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,720 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford metropolitan statistical area....
.