Rare late 19th Century lithographic image of bust-length portraits of twenty-eight actors, including J.B. Booth, Edwin Forrest, John Drew, Julia Dean, and others, with facsimiles of their signatures below.
The following is a list of those shown:
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Thomas A. Cooper (1776–1849)
Born in London, Cooper was one of the first stars of the American stage. Despite an initial failed debut in London, he found success in America, debuting in Baltimore, performing at Philadelphia in 1796, and appearing in New York as Pierre in "Venice Preserved." Noted for his fine manly figure and noble bearing, he played both tragic and comedic roles, including Damon, Virginius, and William Tell. Cooper held several political appointments in later years and died in Bristol, Pennsylvania. -
John Drew (1853–1927)
John Drew was a prominent actor of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. -
J.B. Booth (?-1883)
Junius Brutus Booth was a veteran actor and manager. He passed away in Manchester, Massachusetts, in 1883. -
Charles Burke (1822–1854)
Burke was an American actor who delighted in melodramatic roles. He made his final appearance at Philadelphia's Chestnut Street Theater in "Murrell the Land Pirate." -
Thomas S. Hamblin (1800–1853)
Hamblin was a popular actor and manager. After achieving recognition in England, he debuted in the U.S. as Hamlet in 1825. He later managed the Old Bowery Theater, and had three wives, who all gained prominence on the stage. -
Laura Keene (1815–1873)
Born Mary Frances Moss in Winchester, England, Keene was an Anglo-American actress and manager. She managed her own theater and played Pauline in "The Lady of Lyons," but her career is marked by managing the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre on the night of Abraham Lincoln's assassination. -
James W. Wallack, Sr. (1794–1864)
Wallack debuted in the U.S. in 1818, alternating between the U.S. and England. He was adept at melodrama and light comedy. Wallack managed several theaters and was associated with dramatic productions in New York. He died in 1864. -
Gustavus V. Brooke (1819–1866)
Born in Dublin, Brooke debuted in 1833. In 1851, he made his U.S. debut in New York and toured American theaters. Brooke died in 1866 when the steamship London sank. -
Lucille Western (1844–1877)
Pauline Lucille Western was an actress buried in Boston's Mount Auburn Cemetery in 1877, along with her niece. -
James W. Wallack, Jr. (1818–?)
Wallack, Jr., first appeared in New York in 1839, playing Fag in "The Rivals." His exact date of death is unknown. -
Charlotte Cushman (1816–1876)
Cushman was born in Boston and started her career as a singer before transitioning to acting, where she made her debut in 1835. She became well-known for playing roles such as Lady Macbeth and Meg Merrilies. She amassed a fortune and retired to Rome before her death in 1876. -
Edwin Forrest (1806–1872)
Born in Philadelphia, Forrest was an American actor who gained fame for portraying blackface caricatures. He debuted in 1820 at the Walnut Street Theatre and had a successful acting career. -
Julia Dean (1838–1868)
Dean was an admired actress who debuted at the age of 16 in New York. She died in 1868 at the age of 30. -
Edwin Adams (1834–1877)
Adams was a U.S. stage actor known for his light comedy. He performed in several theaters and joined Edwin Booth's company, playing roles such as Romeo and Juliet. He died in Philadelphia in 1877. -
William Rufus Blake (1802–1863)
Blake was a Halifax-born actor and manager who became highly paid on the American stage. He wrote several plays and authored a "Cyclopaedia of Wit and Humour." -
Anna Cora Mowatt (1819–1870)
Ritchie was an American author, playwright, and actress. She became involved in preserving George Washington's home and wrote two novels, "Mimic Life" and "Twin Roses," based on her theatrical experiences. -
Edward Loomis Davenport (1816–1877)
Davenport was an American actor who made his stage debut in Providence and had a successful career both in the U.S. and England. He died in Pennsylvania. -
Matilda Heron (1830–1877)
Heron was an Irish-born American actress, known for her adaptation of "Camille." She had a direct acting style, which endeared her to audiences, and died in New York in 1877. -
Danford Marble (1807–1849)
Marble was a popular actor known for his comedic roles. He performed in several cities and in London, and married Anna Warren. He died in Louisville in 1849. -
Susan Denin (1835–1875)
Denin was a Philadelphia-born actress who became popular in both the U.S. and London. She died in Bluffton, Indiana, in 1875. -
William Evans Burton (1804–1860)
Burton was an actor and manager who established himself in both the U.S. and England. He edited several magazines and authored several books. He died in New York City in 1860. -
Tyrone Power (1797–1841)
Power was an Irish-born actor who performed in both Europe and America. He made his debut in Newport, appearing in several plays before dying at sea in 1841. -
Eliza Hamblin (Lizzie Blanchard) (?-1849)
Hamblin, the first wife of Thomas S. Hamblin, was born in London and debuted at the Haymarket Theater. She performed in New York before divorcing Hamblin and remarrying. She died in New Orleans in 1849. -
James H. Hackett (1800–1876)
Hackett was born in New York and debuted at the Park Theater. He played roles such as Falstaff and performed in both England and the U.S. He died in 1876. -
John Collins (1811–1876)
Collins, an Irish-born comedian, had a successful career performing in the U.S., England, and Australia, but made his home in Philadelphia, where he passed away. -
Ben DeBar (1812–1877)
DeBar was a comedian and manager in New Orleans and St. Louis theaters. He performed throughout the Mississippi River valley before dying in St. Louis in 1877. -
Barney Williams (1823–1875)
Williams, born in Cork, Ireland, began his career in New York, performing and managing theaters. He toured Europe and managed the Broadway Theater until 1869. His real name was Bernard Flaherty. -
John R. Scott (1808–1856)
Scott was born in Philadelphia and performed in both the U.S. and England. Despite comparisons to Forrest, he faced health issues and died of apoplexy in Philadelphia in 1856.