fbpx
Wikipedia

Lester Wallack

January 01, 1970

John Johnstone Wallack (January 1, 1820, New York City – September 6, 1888, Stamford, Connecticut), was an American actor-manager and son of James William Wallack and Susan Johnstone.[1] He used the stage name John Lester until October 5, 1858, when he first acted under the name Lester Wallack, which he retained the rest of his career.[2]

Lester Wallack
Born(1820-01-01)January 1, 1820
New York, New York
DiedSeptember 6, 1888(1888-09-06) (aged 68)
Stamford, Connecticut
OccupationActor
Signature

Biography edit

He was born in New York but at an early age he was taken to his parents' home in London where he was reared and educated.[3] His mother was also an actress Susan Johnstone and his father was James William Wallack a theatre producer.[4] He had chosen a military career but became discouraged and went to Dublin where he went upon the stage. He remained for two seasons and then went to Edinburgh. Then in 1846, he appeared in London at the Haymarket Theatre under Benjamin Webster's management. There he was seen by George H. Barrett, who had come to London to engage actors for the Broadway Theatre, in New York.[1]

He made his American debut there in 1847, under the name of John Lester, appearing as Sir Charles Coldstream in Boucicault's adaptation of Used Up.[3] His father's brother, Henry Wallack, the father of James William Wallack Jr. (1818–1873),[5] was also in the Broadway Theatre's company. His second appearance was as Viscount de Ligny in Captain of the Guard by James Planché.[3][1]

Subsequently, he performed at the Bowery Theatre, Burton's Theatre, Niblo's Garden and the first Wallack's Theatre. His first appearance at the Bowery Theatre was in 1849 as Don Caesar de Bazan by Adolphe d'Ennery and Philippe Dumanoir.[1]

He was manager of the second Wallack's Theatre from 1861 (demolished in 1901), and in 1882 he opened the third at 30th Street and Broadway (demolished in 1915).[3] Among the productions staged at the latter was Margaret Mather's ill-fated production of Cymbeline in 1897. Another Wallack's Theatre, at 254 West 42nd Street in New York, was named for him in 1924. Wallack joined The Lambs in 1875, which frequently met at Wallack's Theater. He served as its Shepherd (president): 1878-1879, 1880-1882. 1884-1888,[6] and was one of the founders of the Actors' Fund of America.

His greatest successes were as Charles Surface, as Benedick, and especially as Elliot Grey in his own play Rosedale, and similar light comedy and romantic parts, for which his fascinating manners and handsome person well fitted him. He married a sister (d. 1909) of Sir John Millais. He wrote his own Memories of Fifty Years.[3]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d Matthews & Hutton 1900, pp. 283–300.
  2. ^ See:
    • "Wallack's Theater". New-York Daily Tribune. June 14, 1858. p. 1, column 6, advertisement. Benefit of Mr. Lester
    • "Wallack's Theater". New-York Daily Tribune. September 27, 1858. p. 2, column 1, advertisement. John Lester Wallack, Stage Manager
    • "Wallack's Theater". New-York Daily Tribune. October 4, 1858. p. 2, column 1, advertisement (for tomorrow). Stage Manager, Mr. Lester Wallack. The company will consist of…Mr. Lester Wallack.…
  3. ^ a b c d e Chisholm 1911, p. 279.
  4. ^ Middleton, Louisa M., "Johnstone John Henry", Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 30, retrieved 2020-04-14
  5. ^ Strang, Lewis C. (1903). Players and Plays of the Last Quarter Century. Vol. I. Boston: L. C. Page & Company. p. 131.
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2015-10-13.

References edit

  • Matthews, Brander; Hutton, Laurence, eds. (1900). Actors and Actresses of Great Britain and the United States. Vol. 5: Edwin Booth and His Contemporaries (New Illustrated ed.). Boston: L.C. Page & Co. pp. 283–300.

Attribution:

Further reading edit

  • Burnham, Charles (1915). "The Passing of Wallack's". The Theatre. 21 (168): 72.
  •   Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Wallack, John Lester". New International Encyclopedia. Vol. 20 (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  • Florence, W. J. (1888-10). “Lester Wallack”. The North American Review, Vol. 147 No. 383, pp. 453–459. Online at JSTOR.
  • Moses, Montrose J. (1906). Famous Actor-Families in America. Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, pp. 195–224. Online at Internet Archive.
  • Wallack, Lester and Hutton, Laurence (1889). Memories of Fifty Years. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York
  • Winter, William (1889). Brief Chronicles, Part I. Publications of the Dunlap Society, No. 7, New York, pp. 313–23

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lester Wallack.

January 01, 1970
lester, wallack, john, johnstone, wallack, january, 1820, york, city, september, 1888, stamford, connecticut, american, actor, manager, james, william, wallack, susan, johnstone, used, stage, name, john, lester, until, october, 1858, when, first, acted, under,. John Johnstone Wallack January 1 1820 New York City September 6 1888 Stamford Connecticut was an American actor manager and son of James William Wallack and Susan Johnstone 1 He used the stage name John Lester until October 5 1858 when he first acted under the name Lester Wallack which he retained the rest of his career 2 Lester WallackBorn 1820 01 01 January 1 1820New York New YorkDiedSeptember 6 1888 1888 09 06 aged 68 Stamford ConnecticutOccupationActorSignature Contents 1 Biography 2 Notes 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography editHe was born in New York but at an early age he was taken to his parents home in London where he was reared and educated 3 His mother was also an actress Susan Johnstone and his father was James William Wallack a theatre producer 4 He had chosen a military career but became discouraged and went to Dublin where he went upon the stage He remained for two seasons and then went to Edinburgh Then in 1846 he appeared in London at the Haymarket Theatre under Benjamin Webster s management There he was seen by George H Barrett who had come to London to engage actors for the Broadway Theatre in New York 1 He made his American debut there in 1847 under the name of John Lester appearing as Sir Charles Coldstream in Boucicault s adaptation of Used Up 3 His father s brother Henry Wallack the father of James William Wallack Jr 1818 1873 5 was also in the Broadway Theatre s company His second appearance was as Viscount de Ligny in Captain of the Guard by James Planche 3 1 Subsequently he performed at the Bowery Theatre Burton s Theatre Niblo s Garden and the first Wallack s Theatre His first appearance at the Bowery Theatre was in 1849 as Don Caesar de Bazan by Adolphe d Ennery and Philippe Dumanoir 1 He was manager of the second Wallack s Theatre from 1861 demolished in 1901 and in 1882 he opened the third at 30th Street and Broadway demolished in 1915 3 Among the productions staged at the latter was Margaret Mather s ill fated production of Cymbeline in 1897 Another Wallack s Theatre at 254 West 42nd Street in New York was named for him in 1924 Wallack joined The Lambs in 1875 which frequently met at Wallack s Theater He served as its Shepherd president 1878 1879 1880 1882 1884 1888 6 and was one of the founders of the Actors Fund of America His greatest successes were as Charles Surface as Benedick and especially as Elliot Grey in his own play Rosedale and similar light comedy and romantic parts for which his fascinating manners and handsome person well fitted him He married a sister d 1909 of Sir John Millais He wrote his own Memories of Fifty Years 3 Notes edit a b c d Matthews amp Hutton 1900 pp 283 300 See Wallack s Theater New York Daily Tribune June 14 1858 p 1 column 6 advertisement Benefit of Mr Lester Wallack s Theater New York Daily Tribune September 27 1858 p 2 column 1 advertisement John Lester Wallack Stage Manager Wallack s Theater New York Daily Tribune October 4 1858 p 2 column 1 advertisement for tomorrow Stage Manager Mr Lester Wallack The company will consist of Mr Lester Wallack a b c d e Chisholm 1911 p 279 Middleton Louisa M Johnstone John Henry Dictionary of National Biography 1885 1900 vol 30 retrieved 2020 04 14 Strang Lewis C 1903 Players and Plays of the Last Quarter Century Vol I Boston L C Page amp Company p 131 Governance of the Lambs Archived from the original on 2015 01 31 Retrieved 2015 10 13 References editMatthews Brander Hutton Laurence eds 1900 Actors and Actresses of Great Britain and the United States Vol 5 Edwin Booth and His Contemporaries New Illustrated ed Boston L C Page amp Co pp 283 300 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Wallack James William Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 28 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 279 Further reading editBurnham Charles 1915 The Passing of Wallack s The Theatre 21 168 72 nbsp Gilman D C Peck H T Colby F M eds 1905 Wallack John Lester New International Encyclopedia Vol 20 1st ed New York Dodd Mead Florence W J 1888 10 Lester Wallack The North American Review Vol 147 No 383 pp 453 459 Online at JSTOR Moses Montrose J 1906 Famous Actor Families in America Thomas Y Crowell amp Company New York pp 195 224 Online at Internet Archive Wallack Lester and Hutton Laurence 1889 Memories of Fifty Years Charles Scribner s Sons New York Winter William 1889 Brief Chronicles Part I Publications of the Dunlap Society No 7 New York pp 313 23External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lester Wallack Works by or about Lester Wallack at Internet Archive Theater Arts Manuscripts An Inventory of the Collection at the Harry Ransom Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lester Wallack amp oldid 1138164384, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.