Lester Wallack (left) and James W. Wallack. The boy is Charles E. Wallack, Lester's son and James's grandson. Photo by Rockwood.
Wallack's father was named William Wallack and his sister was named Elizabeth.[1] His parents were comedians, who performed at the London minor playhouses and in the British provinces. His first appearance on the stage was as a child at the Surrey Theatre in London. Soon afterward he performed in juvenile characters at Drury Lane, and at the age of eighteen entered on a permanent career at the same house as Laertes in Hamlet. He also acted in the British provinces and in Ireland, gradually winning his way to popularity as a useful representative of drama and comedy. In 1823 he played Victor Frankenstein in Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein at the English Opera House. In 1824, Wallack became stage manager at Drury Lane, and rose to the performance of secondary roles in tragedy. Later he played at the Haymarket Theatre, and officiated as stage manager at the Princess's Theatre.[2][3]
On the occasion of his first visit to the United States, in 1818, he played Macbeth at the Park Theatre, New York. He also played Romeo, Shylock, Coriolanus, Hamlet, and Richard III, all without making any favorable impression. But in the principal roles in The Stranger, Pizarro and The Gamester he closely copied the manner of Kemble and attracted favorable consideration. From 1818 until 1845 Wallack performed at intervals in all the principal cities of the United States. Among his roles were the chief characters in The Brigand, The Rent-Day, The Wonder, Don Cassar de Bazan, Wild Oats and the refined comedy parts of Mercutio, Jaques, and Benedick. Love's Ritornello, as sung by him in The Brigand, was hummed from one end of the country to the other.[2][3]
In 1822 Wallack met with an accident, in which his leg was fractured by the overturning of a stagecoach between New York and Philadelphia. This mishap retired him from active life for about eighteen months, and from its effect he never entirely recovered. From 1837 until its destruction by fire, Wallack conducted the New York National Theatre.[4] There he presented a repertory of the best plays in the English language, rendered by a company such as never before had been seen in this country.[2][3]
Wallack was an actor of the old school. Thackeray praised his performance as Shylock, and Joseph Jefferson his Don Caesar de Bazan.[5] As a performer he was endowed with a fine personality; his voice was highly melodious, set off by flexibility and careful elocution, and his knowledge of stage-effect was unexcelled. In refined and eccentric comedy Wallack had few superiors. Some of his roles in the romantic dramas of his own creation were entirely unequalled, and have died with him.[2]
^ ab"Wigan, Leonora [known as Mrs Alfred Wigan] (1805–1884)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29366. Retrieved 17 August 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ab"Portrait of Mrs. James W. Wallack [catalog entry]". LACMA Collections. LACMA. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
References
Brown, Thomas Allston (1902). A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901. Vol. i. Dodd, Mead. pp. 23–24, 36, 47 (on the Park Theatre) and 243f (on the National Theatre).
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Wallack, James William" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 279.
"Opening of the Lyceum Theatre—J. W. Wallack, Esq". The New York Herald. 2 September 1852. Column 4.
Further reading
Ireland, Joseph N. Records of the New York Stage from 1750 to 1860, volume i. (T. H. Morrell, New York, 1867), pp. 341f and 396f.
"James W. Wallack," Gleason’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion, Vol. 3 No. 22 (27 November 1852) p. 344
Knight, John Joseph "Wallack, James William" in Lee, Sidney (ed.) Dictionary of National Biography volume lix (London: Smith, Elder, & Co.; 1899) p. 117f. Also online at Internet Archive.
A Sketch of the Life of James William Wallack: (senior,) Late Actor and Manager [compiled by the publisher] (T. H. Morrell, New York, 1865) described in Bibliotheca dramatica et curiosa, p. 362
Media related to James William Wallack at Wikimedia Commons
Theater Arts Manuscripts: An Inventory of the Collection at the Harry Ransom Center
March 29, 2023
james, william, wallack, 1794, 1864, commonly, referred, wallack, anglo, american, actor, manager, born, london, brother, henry, john, wallack, 1852, contents, life, family, notes, references, further, reading, external, linkslife, edit, lester, wallack, left,. James William Wallack c 1794 1864 commonly referred to as J W Wallack was an Anglo American actor and manager born in London and brother of Henry John Wallack James William Wallack 1852 Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksLife Edit Lester Wallack left and James W Wallack The boy is Charles E Wallack Lester s son and James s grandson Photo by Rockwood Wallack s father was named William Wallack and his sister was named Elizabeth 1 His parents were comedians who performed at the London minor playhouses and in the British provinces His first appearance on the stage was as a child at the Surrey Theatre in London Soon afterward he performed in juvenile characters at Drury Lane and at the age of eighteen entered on a permanent career at the same house as Laertes in Hamlet He also acted in the British provinces and in Ireland gradually winning his way to popularity as a useful representative of drama and comedy In 1823 he played Victor Frankenstein in Presumption or the Fate of Frankenstein at the English Opera House In 1824 Wallack became stage manager at Drury Lane and rose to the performance of secondary roles in tragedy Later he played at the Haymarket Theatre and officiated as stage manager at the Princess s Theatre 2 3 On the occasion of his first visit to the United States in 1818 he played Macbeth at the Park Theatre New York He also played Romeo Shylock Coriolanus Hamlet and Richard III all without making any favorable impression But in the principal roles in The Stranger Pizarro and The Gamester he closely copied the manner of Kemble and attracted favorable consideration From 1818 until 1845 Wallack performed at intervals in all the principal cities of the United States Among his roles were the chief characters in The Brigand The Rent Day The Wonder Don Cassar de Bazan Wild Oats and the refined comedy parts of Mercutio Jaques and Benedick Love s Ritornello as sung by him in The Brigand was hummed from one end of the country to the other 2 3 In 1822 Wallack met with an accident in which his leg was fractured by the overturning of a stagecoach between New York and Philadelphia This mishap retired him from active life for about eighteen months and from its effect he never entirely recovered From 1837 until its destruction by fire Wallack conducted the New York National Theatre 4 There he presented a repertory of the best plays in the English language rendered by a company such as never before had been seen in this country 2 3 He settled permanently in New York City in 1852 5 In that year he assumed management of an 1850 theatre two doors south of Broome Street on the west side of Broadway called Brougham s Lyceum renaming it Wallack s Lyceum 2 3 In 1861 he built a new Wallack s Theatre at 13th Street and Broadway 2 5 His son opened the third Wallack s Theatre in 1882 5 Wallack was an actor of the old school Thackeray praised his performance as Shylock and Joseph Jefferson his Don Caesar de Bazan 5 As a performer he was endowed with a fine personality his voice was highly melodious set off by flexibility and careful elocution and his knowledge of stage effect was unexcelled In refined and eccentric comedy Wallack had few superiors Some of his roles in the romantic dramas of his own creation were entirely unequalled and have died with him 2 Family Edit Mrs James W Wallack by Henry Inman circa 1828 Poster of Wallack playing the part of Gloster c 1850 Wallack married Susan Johnstone a comic actress and the daughter of John Henry Johnstone in 1817 she died in 1851 6 Together the Wallacks had four sons 6 The eldest Lester Wallack was also a famous actor and theater manager 5 Wallack s sister Elizabeth had a daughter Leonora Pincott who married Alfred Wigan was a noted actor 1 Notes Edit a b Wigan Leonora known as Mrs Alfred Wigan 1805 1884 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press 2004 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 29366 Retrieved 17 August 2020 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b c d e f Weidemeyer 1900 pp 336 337 a b c d New York Herald amp 1852 09 02 Brown 1902 pp 23 24 36 47 on the Park Theatre and 243f on the National Theatre a b c d e Chisholm 1911 p 279 a b Portrait of Mrs James W Wallack catalog entry LACMA Collections LACMA Retrieved 1 August 2018 References EditBrown Thomas Allston 1902 A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 Vol i Dodd Mead pp 23 24 36 47 on the Park Theatre and 243f on the National Theatre Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Wallack James William Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 28 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 279 Weidemeyer John William 1900 Wallack James William In Wilson J G Fiske J eds Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography Vol 6 New York D Appleton pp 336 337 Opening of the Lyceum Theatre J W Wallack Esq The New York Herald 2 September 1852 Column 4 Further reading EditIreland Joseph N Records of the New York Stage from 1750 to 1860 volume i T H Morrell New York 1867 pp 341f and 396f James W Wallack Gleason s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion Vol 3 No 22 27 November 1852 p 344 Knight John Joseph Wallack James William in Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography volume lix London Smith Elder amp Co 1899 p 117f Also online at Internet Archive A Sketch of the Life of James William Wallack senior Late Actor and Manager compiled by the publisher T H Morrell New York 1865 described in Bibliotheca dramatica et curiosa p 362 Wallack Lester and Hutton Laurence Memories of Fifty Years Charles Scribner s Sons New York 1889 Winter William The Wallet of Time volume i Moffat Yard and Company New York 1913 External links Edit Media related to James William Wallack at Wikimedia Commons Theater Arts Manuscripts An Inventory of the Collection at the Harry Ransom Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James William Wallack amp oldid 1143501458, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
