Nathaniel Carl Goodwin
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Carl Goodwin was an American actor
and vaudevillian
born in Boston
. While clerk in a large shop he studied for the stage and made his first appearance in 1874 at the Howard Athenaeum in Boston in Stuart Robson
's company as the newsboy in Joseph Bradford
's Law in New York. The next year he appeared at Tony Pastor
's Opera House in New York City
where he began his career as a vaudevillian.
In 1876, he appeared at the New York Lyceum in Off the Stage where he imitated a number of popular actors of the period.
In 1878, he co-founded the Boston Elks Lodge, and his association with the lodge, and that of his manager in the 1880s, George W. Floyd, would change baseball history, giving us arguably the first role of an agent in baseball history. Floyd, in particular, would serve as a go-between, starting in 1887, between the management of the Boston National League club, the Beaneaters, and its newly signed star, Mike "King" Kelly
. In 1889, Goodwin became a member of the governing committee of the newly created Actors' Amateur Athletic Association of America.
When Kelly and his Chicago teammates won the pennant in 1885, Goodwin and Floyd treated the Chicago team to a performance of "The Skating Rink" at Hooley’s Theater in Chicago. "After the overture the orchestra struck up 'See, the Conquering Hero Comes,' and Mr. Floyd conducted the eleven Chicago players to their boxes," [Chicago captain-manager Cap] Anson
in the lead." After the first act, Goodwin presented Anson with a "solid silver facsimile of a League ball."
A hit in the burlesque
Black-eyed Susan led to Goodwin's taking part in Rice and Goodwin's Evangeline company. It was at this time that he married Eliza Weathersby (d. 1887), an English actress with whom he played in B. E. Woollf's Hobbies. It was not until 1889, however, that Nat Goodwin's talent as a comedian of the legitimate type began to be recognized. From that time he appeared in a number of plays designed to display his drily humorous method, such as Brander Matthew's and George H. Jessop's A Gold Mine, Henry Guy Carleton's A Gilded Fool and Ambition, H. V. Esmond's When We Were Twenty-one, and others. He also found success in more serious works such as Augustus Thomas
's In Mizzoura and Clyde Fitch
's Nathan Hale. Until 1903 he was associated in his performances with his third wife, the actress Maxine Elliott
(born 1868), whom he married in 1898; this marriage was dissolved in 1908. From 1905 to 1910, he partnered with Edna Goodrich
in a string of comedy hits- they were married from 1908 to 1911.
A chance trip to Goldfield, Nevada
to witness a prize fight led to Goodwin's involvement in promoting mining stocks in association with George Graham Rice. Goodwin quit his partnership with Rice shortly before the latter was arrested for mail fraud.
He acted in a handful of films between 1912 and 1916, including the first feature-length version of Oliver Twist
, in which he played Fagin
.
He died in New York City from shock two weeks after having his right eye removed and was buried at Milton Cemetery
in Milton, Massachusetts
. At the time of his death, he was deeply in debt, with his estate listing assets of $6,895 and debts of $15,000.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and vaudevillian
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...
born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. While clerk in a large shop he studied for the stage and made his first appearance in 1874 at the Howard Athenaeum in Boston in Stuart Robson
Stuart Robson
Stuart Robson was a famous comedic stage actor around the turn of the 19th to 20th century. He was born Henry Robson Stuart in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. His parents were Charles Stuart and the former Alicia Ann Thompson....
's company as the newsboy in Joseph Bradford
Joseph Bradford
White Bostonian Joseph Bradford was an American playwright who most famously helped write a landmark production, Out of Bondage, the first African American musical comedy, with Pauline Hopkins and the Hyers Sisters, debuting in 1876. The production featured Sam Lucas, a famous minstrel performer of...
's Law in New York. The next year he appeared at Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor was an American impresario, variety performer and theatre owner who became one of the founding forces behind American vaudeville in the mid-to-late nineteenth century...
's Opera House in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he began his career as a vaudevillian.
In 1876, he appeared at the New York Lyceum in Off the Stage where he imitated a number of popular actors of the period.
In 1878, he co-founded the Boston Elks Lodge, and his association with the lodge, and that of his manager in the 1880s, George W. Floyd, would change baseball history, giving us arguably the first role of an agent in baseball history. Floyd, in particular, would serve as a go-between, starting in 1887, between the management of the Boston National League club, the Beaneaters, and its newly signed star, Mike "King" Kelly
King Kelly
Michael Joseph "King" Kelly was an American right fielder, catcher, and manager in various professional American baseball leagues including the National League, International Association, Players' League, and the American Association. He spent the majority of his 16-season playing career with the...
. In 1889, Goodwin became a member of the governing committee of the newly created Actors' Amateur Athletic Association of America.
When Kelly and his Chicago teammates won the pennant in 1885, Goodwin and Floyd treated the Chicago team to a performance of "The Skating Rink" at Hooley’s Theater in Chicago. "After the overture the orchestra struck up 'See, the Conquering Hero Comes,' and Mr. Floyd conducted the eleven Chicago players to their boxes," [Chicago captain-manager Cap] Anson
Cap Anson
Adrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
in the lead." After the first act, Goodwin presented Anson with a "solid silver facsimile of a League ball."
A hit in the burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
Black-eyed Susan led to Goodwin's taking part in Rice and Goodwin's Evangeline company. It was at this time that he married Eliza Weathersby (d. 1887), an English actress with whom he played in B. E. Woollf's Hobbies. It was not until 1889, however, that Nat Goodwin's talent as a comedian of the legitimate type began to be recognized. From that time he appeared in a number of plays designed to display his drily humorous method, such as Brander Matthew's and George H. Jessop's A Gold Mine, Henry Guy Carleton's A Gilded Fool and Ambition, H. V. Esmond's When We Were Twenty-one, and others. He also found success in more serious works such as Augustus Thomas
Augustus 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 In Mizzoura and Clyde Fitch
Clyde Fitch
Clyde Fitch was an American dramatist.-Biography:Born William Clyde Fitch at Elmira, New York, he wrote over 60 plays, 36 of them original, which varied from social comedies and farces to melodrama and historical dramas.As the only child to live to adulthood, his father, Captain William G...
's Nathan Hale. Until 1903 he was associated in his performances with his third wife, the actress Maxine Elliott
Maxine Elliott
Maxine Elliott was an American stage actress.It is said that reviewers disagreed "over whether it was her beauty or her acting ability that attracted attention" In addition to her stage skills, Elliott was also a savvy businesswoman.Born Jessie Dermott in 1868...
(born 1868), whom he married in 1898; this marriage was dissolved in 1908. From 1905 to 1910, he partnered with Edna Goodrich
Edna Goodrich
Edna Goodrich was an American Broadway actress, Florodora girl, author, and media sensation during the early 1900s. At one point, she was known as one of America's wealthiest and best dressed performers. She was married to Edwin Stacey of Cincinnati, Ohio, and later Nat C...
in a string of comedy hits- they were married from 1908 to 1911.
A chance trip to Goldfield, Nevada
Goldfield, Nevada
Goldfield is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States, with a resident population of 440 at the 2000 census. It is located about southeast of Carson City, along U.S...
to witness a prize fight led to Goodwin's involvement in promoting mining stocks in association with George Graham Rice. Goodwin quit his partnership with Rice shortly before the latter was arrested for mail fraud.
He acted in a handful of films between 1912 and 1916, including the first feature-length version of Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
, in which he played Fagin
Fagin
Fagin is a fictional character who appears as an antagonist of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, referred to in the preface of the novel as a "receiver of stolen goods", but referred to more frequently within the actual story as the "merry old gentleman" or simply the "Jew".-Character:Born...
.
He died in New York City from shock two weeks after having his right eye removed and was buried at Milton Cemetery
Milton Cemetery
Milton Cemetery is a historic cemetery at 211 Centre Street in Milton, Massachusetts.It was founded in 1672 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Among those interred in the cemetery are:...
in Milton, Massachusetts
Milton, Massachusetts
Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...
. At the time of his death, he was deeply in debt, with his estate listing assets of $6,895 and debts of $15,000.
Publications
- WinterWilliam Winter (author)William Winter was an American dramatic critic and author.-Biography:Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Winter graduated from Harvard Law School in 1857...
, The Wallet of TimeThe Wallet of TimeProduced in 1913, The Wallet of Time is a publication by William Winter, in two volumes. Its title is taken from the words of William Shakespeare: "Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back, Wherein he puts alms for oblivion,..." American stage actors and actresses, most of whom had been born in...
, (New York, 1913) - Strang, Famous Actors of the Day in America, (Boston, 1900)
- McKay and Wingate, Famous American Actors of To-Day, (New York, 1896)
- Nat Goodwin's Book, (Boston, 1914), (autobiographical)
External links
- Portrait photographs from NYPL
- Nat C. Goodwin