In 1840, he appeared at the City Theatre, London, as Hamlet, giving a performance which attracted some critical attention. He toured extensively, to improve his reputation. Becoming actor-manager of the Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton in 1848, in partnership with comedian Henry Widdicombe. In 1856, at age 37, he returned to London, acting at Sadler's Wells, his success was decisive. From "the Wells" he went to the Lyceum, where he became manager on 29 September 1856, becoming manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1857.
In 1860–61, he left England with his wife, Clara, for a tour around the world. Their first stop was America, and on 18 April 1861 he appeared at the Winter Garden, as Belphégor.[a] The American Civil War was underway at that time, affecting trade in the theatres. In California he was well received, performing for 100 consecutive nights at the Metropolitan Theatre, San Francisco. Their next stop was Australia, and Mr and Mrs Dillon and child arrived in Melbourne, by the ship Torrent, in October 1862.[2] Mrs Dillon's first appearance on the Australian stage was at the Royal Haymarket in February 1863.[3] Later that month she played Ophelia to Dillon's Prince Hamlet at the Lyceum.[4] They spent two years touring Australia, Tasmania being their last engagement. In December 1864 Mr and Mrs Dillon and daughter left for New Zealand,[5] then returned to America and filled engagements throughout the country, reaching New York City in the spring of 1866. On 16 May he appeared at Niblo's Garden, as Belphégor. His subsequent tours of American cities were managed by George Wood, but they were not successful, and the family returned to England, where they continuing to tour until his death.[6]
Personal lifeedit
Dillon had two sons and a daughter – with a woman named Silver – they also entered the theatre. Charles Silver, who adopted the name Dillon, constructed and owned the Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1884.
The elder Dillon married Clara Conquest (1826–4 July 1888), daughter of Benjamin Oliver Conquest, manager of the Garrick and Grecian Theatres, where her mother was ballet master. Her own stage career began at the Garrick, and she assumed leading juvenile roles at the Grecian. Together, they had one daughter, Clara, who married the actor Henry George.[7]
Dillon suddenly dropped dead 27 June 1881 in the main street of Hawick, having played Othello the previous night. His remains are buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. Mrs Dillon died 4 July 1888, in Portsmouth.
A son, W. C. Dillon, also known for playing Belphégor, "trod the boards" in Australia 1877–1881 before returning to England,[8] where he failed to live up to expectations.[9]
^"Commercial". The Sydney Mail. Vol. VI, no. 267. New South Wales, Australia. 12 August 1865. p. 11. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Shipping Intelligence". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 5, 119. Victoria, Australia. 31 October 1862. p. 4. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 5, 197. Victoria, Australia. 31 January 1863. p. 8. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Lyceum Theatre". Bendigo Advertiser. Vol. X, no. 2422. Victoria, Australia. 27 February 1863. p. 3. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Shipping". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. IX, no. 2169. Tasmania, Australia. 14 December 1864. p. 2. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^Death of Mrs Charles DillonThe New York Times pp. 8 (Obituary) 20 July 1888
^"Entertainments". The Australasian. Vol. XXIII, no. 593. Victoria, Australia. 11 August 1877. p. 19. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Mummer Memoirs". Truth (Perth newspaper). No. 174. Western Australia. 13 October 1906. p. 3. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
charles, dillon, actor, manager, charles, dillon, 1819, june, 1881, english, actor, manager, tragedian, 1840, appeared, city, theatre, london, hamlet, giving, performance, which, attracted, some, critical, attention, toured, extensively, improve, reputation, b. Charles J Dillon 1819 27 June 1881 was an English actor manager and tragedian In 1840 he appeared at the City Theatre London as Hamlet giving a performance which attracted some critical attention He toured extensively to improve his reputation Becoming actor manager of the Theatre Royal Wolverhampton in 1848 in partnership with comedian Henry Widdicombe In 1856 at age 37 he returned to London acting at Sadler s Wells his success was decisive From the Wells he went to the Lyceum where he became manager on 29 September 1856 becoming manager of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1857 In 1860 61 he left England with his wife Clara for a tour around the world Their first stop was America and on 18 April 1861 he appeared at the Winter Garden as Belphegor a The American Civil War was underway at that time affecting trade in the theatres In California he was well received performing for 100 consecutive nights at the Metropolitan Theatre San Francisco Their next stop was Australia and Mr and Mrs Dillon and child arrived in Melbourne by the ship Torrent in October 1862 2 Mrs Dillon s first appearance on the Australian stage was at the Royal Haymarket in February 1863 3 Later that month she played Ophelia to Dillon s Prince Hamlet at the Lyceum 4 They spent two years touring Australia Tasmania being their last engagement In December 1864 Mr and Mrs Dillon and daughter left for New Zealand 5 then returned to America and filled engagements throughout the country reaching New York City in the spring of 1866 On 16 May he appeared at Niblo s Garden as Belphegor His subsequent tours of American cities were managed by George Wood but they were not successful and the family returned to England where they continuing to tour until his death 6 Personal life editDillon had two sons and a daughter with a woman named Silver they also entered the theatre Charles Silver who adopted the name Dillon constructed and owned the Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1884 The elder Dillon married Clara Conquest 1826 4 July 1888 daughter of Benjamin Oliver Conquest manager of the Garrick and Grecian Theatres where her mother was ballet master Her own stage career began at the Garrick and she assumed leading juvenile roles at the Grecian Together they had one daughter Clara who married the actor Henry George 7 Dillon suddenly dropped dead 27 June 1881 in the main street of Hawick having played Othello the previous night His remains are buried in Brompton Cemetery London Mrs Dillon died 4 July 1888 in Portsmouth A son W C Dillon also known for playing Belphegor trod the boards in Australia 1877 1881 before returning to England 8 where he failed to live up to expectations 9 Notes edit The play Belphegor the Mountebank was written for Frederick Lemaitre by Adolphe d Ennery and the English version by Charles Webb made famous by Dillon 1 became a 1921 silent filmReferences edit Commercial The Sydney Mail Vol VI no 267 New South Wales Australia 12 August 1865 p 11 Retrieved 12 August 2021 via National Library of Australia Shipping Intelligence The Argus Melbourne No 5 119 Victoria Australia 31 October 1862 p 4 Retrieved 12 August 2021 via National Library of Australia Advertising The Argus Melbourne No 5 197 Victoria Australia 31 January 1863 p 8 Retrieved 12 August 2021 via National Library of Australia Lyceum Theatre Bendigo Advertiser Vol X no 2422 Victoria Australia 27 February 1863 p 3 Retrieved 12 August 2021 via National Library of Australia Shipping The Mercury Hobart Vol IX no 2169 Tasmania Australia 14 December 1864 p 2 Retrieved 12 August 2021 via National Library of Australia Kathleen Barker Collection Archived 22 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Theatre Collection University of Bristol Retrieved 29 May 2008 Death of Mrs Charles Dillon The New York Times pp 8 Obituary 20 July 1888 Entertainments The Australasian Vol XXIII no 593 Victoria Australia 11 August 1877 p 19 Retrieved 12 August 2021 via National Library of Australia Mummer Memoirs Truth Perth newspaper No 174 Western Australia 13 October 1906 p 3 Retrieved 12 August 2021 via National Library of Australia Winter The Wallet of Time New York 1913 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Dillon actor manager amp oldid 1038367920, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
