Daniel Howard Harkins (April 27, 1836 – December 7, 1902) was an American stage actor. His career spanned almost 50 years and included performances around the world. He also served as a Union officer during the American Civil War.
Harkins began his acting career in 1853 in Chicago, appearing at the theater of John Blake Rice. In 1854 he moved to Philadelphia, where he performed in the stock company at the Walnut Street Theatre. In 1855 he went to New York, joining the company of actress Laura Keene. He was still in New York, performing at the Niblo's Garden theater, when the American Civil War began in 1861.[1]
Harkins joined the Union war effort, enlisting in the army on July 16, 1861. He was made captain of Company D of the 1st Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry. In December 1862 he was promoted to the rank of major. He was discharged from military service on October 6, 1864.[2][3]
After the war, Harkins returned to the stage. In 1866 he began working with James H. Hackett and became stage manager of the New York Theatre. In August 1868, Harkins got into a business dispute involving the theatrical adaptation of the novel Foul Play. Producer Harry Palmer had obtained rights to adapt the story. Harkins had arranged with Palmer to produce the play at the New York Theatre, with financing from businessman J. T. Lloyd. Harkins would also star in the production. The arrangement went well at first, but a disagreement arose over royalty payments, which led Harkins to relocate the show to the Broadway Theatre. Lloyd, thinking he was cheated, got a local judge to issue a warrant for Harkins, which the county sheriff attempted to execute on August 24. Six armed men barged into the Broadway Theatre during a performance, failing at first to identify themselves as sheriff's officers. A confrontation ensued in which two bystanders were shot, although Harkins had fled the scene before the gunfire. The production was subsequently closed down through a court injunction.[4][5][6]
In 1869 he became an actor and stage manager for Augustin Daly's Fifth Avenue Theatre.[7] Albert M. Palmer briefly lured Harkins away to manage his new Union Square Theatre in 1872, but Harkins soon returned to Daly after a dispute with Palmer.[8] He later formed his own company, touring the world before settling in San Francisco, where he performed at the California Theatre. In 1887, he returned to the road with the company of Richard Mansfield.[1]
On April 14, 1902, Harkins appeared in the opening night of The Last Appeal at Wallack's Theatre in New York. He had trouble remembering his lines, which threw the entire show into disarray since he had a major role. Eventually he was unable to continue. He was led off the stage and the evening's performance was rushed to an early close. It was his last appearance on the stage.[9]
Personal lifeedit
Harkins in his uniform as a Union Army major
Harkins was born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 27, 1836.[1] While serving in the cavalry, he married Isabella Scofield, who remained his wife until her death on August 29, 1878.[10]
^ abc"Harkins, Daniel H.". Appletons' Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1902. Third Series, Volume 7. New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1903. p. 450.
^Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York for the Year 1893(PDF). Vol. 2. Albany, New York: James B. Lyon, State Printer. 1894. p. 106.
^Brown, Thomas Allston (1903). A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901. Vol. 1. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company. pp. 521–522.
^Frank, Michael B.; Smith, Harriet Elinor, eds. (2002). Mark Twain's Letters, Volume 6: 1874-1875. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 459. ISBN0-520-23772-2.
^Grossman, Barbara Wallace (2009). A Spectacle of Suffering: Clara Morris on the American Stage. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press. p. 106. ISBN978-0-8093-2882-6.
^"The Amusement Schedule: In New York". The Inter Ocean. Vol. 31, no. 27. April 20, 1902. p. Drama-7 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Mrs. D. H. Harkins". The New York Times. Vol. 27, no. 8414. August 30, 1878. p. 5.
daniel, harkins, daniel, howard, harkins, april, 1836, december, 1902, american, stage, actor, career, spanned, almost, years, included, performances, around, world, also, served, union, officer, during, american, civil, harkins, 1875born, 1836, april, 1836bos. Daniel Howard Harkins April 27 1836 December 7 1902 was an American stage actor His career spanned almost 50 years and included performances around the world He also served as a Union officer during the American Civil War Daniel HarkinsHarkins in 1875Born 1836 04 27 April 27 1836Boston Massachusetts United StatesDiedDecember 7 1902 1902 12 07 aged 66 San Francisco California United StatesOccupationActorYears active1853 1902 Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Broadway credits 4 References 5 External linksCareer editHarkins began his acting career in 1853 in Chicago appearing at the theater of John Blake Rice In 1854 he moved to Philadelphia where he performed in the stock company at the Walnut Street Theatre In 1855 he went to New York joining the company of actress Laura Keene He was still in New York performing at the Niblo s Garden theater when the American Civil War began in 1861 1 Harkins joined the Union war effort enlisting in the army on July 16 1861 He was made captain of Company D of the 1st Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry In December 1862 he was promoted to the rank of major He was discharged from military service on October 6 1864 2 3 After the war Harkins returned to the stage In 1866 he began working with James H Hackett and became stage manager of the New York Theatre In August 1868 Harkins got into a business dispute involving the theatrical adaptation of the novel Foul Play Producer Harry Palmer had obtained rights to adapt the story Harkins had arranged with Palmer to produce the play at the New York Theatre with financing from businessman J T Lloyd Harkins would also star in the production The arrangement went well at first but a disagreement arose over royalty payments which led Harkins to relocate the show to the Broadway Theatre Lloyd thinking he was cheated got a local judge to issue a warrant for Harkins which the county sheriff attempted to execute on August 24 Six armed men barged into the Broadway Theatre during a performance failing at first to identify themselves as sheriff s officers A confrontation ensued in which two bystanders were shot although Harkins had fled the scene before the gunfire The production was subsequently closed down through a court injunction 4 5 6 In 1869 he became an actor and stage manager for Augustin Daly s Fifth Avenue Theatre 7 Albert M Palmer briefly lured Harkins away to manage his new Union Square Theatre in 1872 but Harkins soon returned to Daly after a dispute with Palmer 8 He later formed his own company touring the world before settling in San Francisco where he performed at the California Theatre In 1887 he returned to the road with the company of Richard Mansfield 1 On April 14 1902 Harkins appeared in the opening night of The Last Appeal at Wallack s Theatre in New York He had trouble remembering his lines which threw the entire show into disarray since he had a major role Eventually he was unable to continue He was led off the stage and the evening s performance was rushed to an early close It was his last appearance on the stage 9 Personal life edit nbsp Harkins in his uniform as a Union Army major Harkins was born in Boston Massachusetts on April 27 1836 1 While serving in the cavalry he married Isabella Scofield who remained his wife until her death on August 29 1878 10 He died of a brain hemorrhage on December 7 1902 at the home of his brother in law in San Francisco He was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio 2 Broadway credits editAppearances on Broadway were only a portion of Harkins s stage career but his credits there include 11 Much Ado About Nothing 1869 Man and Wife 1870 Saratoga 1870 Jezebel 1871 King Richard II 1875 Pique 1875 Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1887 Rosemary 1896 The Only Way 1899 Sweet Nell of Old Drury 1900 The Last Appeal 1902 References edit a b c Harkins Daniel H Appletons Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1902 Third Series Volume 7 New York D Appleton and Company 1903 p 450 a b Major Daniel Howard Harkins Citizen of the World Summoned by Death San Francisco Chronicle December 8 1902 p 7 via Newspapers com nbsp Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York for the Year 1893 PDF Vol 2 Albany New York James B Lyon State Printer 1894 p 106 Brown Thomas Allston 1903 A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 Vol 1 New York Dodd Mead and Company pp 521 522 Foul Play in Earnest Brooklyn Daily Eagle Vol 28 no 198 August 25 1868 p 2 via Newspapers com nbsp Tragic Affair at the Broadway Theatre Daily Alta California Vol 20 no 6753 September 11 1868 p 2 via California Digital Newspaper Collection Frank Michael B Smith Harriet Elinor eds 2002 Mark Twain s Letters Volume 6 1874 1875 Berkeley California University of California Press p 459 ISBN 0 520 23772 2 Grossman Barbara Wallace 2009 A Spectacle of Suffering Clara Morris on the American Stage Carbondale Illinois Southern Illinois University Press p 106 ISBN 978 0 8093 2882 6 The Amusement Schedule In New York The Inter Ocean Vol 31 no 27 April 20 1902 p Drama 7 via Newspapers com nbsp Mrs D H Harkins The New York Times Vol 27 no 8414 August 30 1878 p 5 Daniel H Harkins Internet Broadway Database Retrieved February 15 2015 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Daniel Harkins Daniel H Harkins at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Daniel Howard Harkins at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Daniel Harkins amp oldid 1057451483, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
