Thomas Hallam (died 1735) was a British stage actor.
Biographyedit
Hallam was the first in a dynasty of actors, including his sons Lewis Hallam and William Hallam who led a pioneering theatre company to the United States[1] and his granddaughter Isabella Mattocks. His family also included the brothers George, William and Lewis Hallam.[2] After appearing at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin for many years, he joined the Drury Lane company in 1725. He remained there for the next decade, taking part in the Actor Rebellion of 1733. An actor named Hallam appeared in several early Henry Fielding plays including The Author's Farce and Tom Thumb at the Haymarket but this was likely to be Adam Hallam, one of his sons. By 1731 Adam was also appearing on Drury Lane playbills along with his father.
While Hallam was ambitious to play leading roles, he was generally consigned to supporting parts. On 10 May 1735 during a performance of the farce Trick for Trick he got into a dispute with fellow actor Charles Macklin over a wig they used during the play.[3] During the trial, Macklin narrated that, having been provoked, he pointed his cane towards Hallam but his face "turned about unluckily" so that the stick pierced his eye and brain.[3] The wound proved fatal and Macklin was tried for murder, but after conducting his own defence had this reduced to a conviction of manslaughter.[4] Accounts cited that Macklin was later freed, went back to the theater but suffered an unfavorable reputation among the public.[2][5]
^ abSeilhamer, George Oberkirsh (1888). History of the American Theatre: Before the revolution [1749-1774. Philadelphia, PA: Globe Printing House. p. 22.
^ abMacDonagh, Michael (1888). Irish Graves in England: A Series of Articles. Dublin: Evening Telegraph Office. p. 107.
^Howse, Geoffrey (2006). Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths in London's West End. Casemate Publishers. ISBN978-1-78159-661-6.
Bibliographyedit
Gilman, Todd. The Theatre Career of Thomas Arne. Rowman & Littlefield, 2013.
Highfill, Philip H, Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans, Edward A. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800: Garrick to Gyngell. SIU Press, 1978.
Kelly, Ian. Mr Foote's Other Leg: Comedy, tragedy and murder in Georgian London. Pan Macmillan, 2012.
Straub, Kristina, G. Anderson, Misty and O'Quinn, Daniel . The Routledge Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama. Taylor & Francis, 2017.
This article about an English stage actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
thomas, hallam, actor, thomas, hallam, died, 1735, british, stage, actor, biography, edithallam, first, dynasty, actors, including, sons, lewis, hallam, william, hallam, pioneering, theatre, company, united, states, granddaughter, isabella, mattocks, family, a. Thomas Hallam died 1735 was a British stage actor Biography editHallam was the first in a dynasty of actors including his sons Lewis Hallam and William Hallam who led a pioneering theatre company to the United States 1 and his granddaughter Isabella Mattocks His family also included the brothers George William and Lewis Hallam 2 After appearing at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin for many years he joined the Drury Lane company in 1725 He remained there for the next decade taking part in the Actor Rebellion of 1733 An actor named Hallam appeared in several early Henry Fielding plays including The Author s Farce and Tom Thumb at the Haymarket but this was likely to be Adam Hallam one of his sons By 1731 Adam was also appearing on Drury Lane playbills along with his father While Hallam was ambitious to play leading roles he was generally consigned to supporting parts On 10 May 1735 during a performance of the farce Trick for Trick he got into a dispute with fellow actor Charles Macklin over a wig they used during the play 3 During the trial Macklin narrated that having been provoked he pointed his cane towards Hallam but his face turned about unluckily so that the stick pierced his eye and brain 3 The wound proved fatal and Macklin was tried for murder but after conducting his own defence had this reduced to a conviction of manslaughter 4 Accounts cited that Macklin was later freed went back to the theater but suffered an unfavorable reputation among the public 2 5 References edit Highfill Burnim amp Langhans p 42 a b Seilhamer George Oberkirsh 1888 History of the American Theatre Before the revolution 1749 1774 Philadelphia PA Globe Printing House p 22 a b MacDonagh Michael 1888 Irish Graves in England A Series of Articles Dublin Evening Telegraph Office p 107 Gilman p 61 Howse Geoffrey 2006 Foul Deeds amp Suspicious Deaths in London s West End Casemate Publishers ISBN 978 1 78159 661 6 Bibliography editGilman Todd The Theatre Career of Thomas Arne Rowman amp Littlefield 2013 Highfill Philip H Burnim Kalman A amp Langhans Edward A A Biographical Dictionary of Actors Actresses Musicians Dancers Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London 1660 1800 Garrick to Gyngell SIU Press 1978 Kelly Ian Mr Foote s Other Leg Comedy tragedy and murder in Georgian London Pan Macmillan 2012 Straub Kristina G Anderson Misty and O Quinn Daniel The Routledge Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth Century Drama Taylor amp Francis 2017 nbsp nbsp This article about an English stage actor is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Hallam actor amp oldid 1215253104, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
