Actors

Thomas Collier Platt and Chauncey M. Depew appear in 16th century theatrical costumes in a scene from a Shakespearean play. Caption: Falstaff Depew (to Prince Hal Platt) — I would to God thou and I knew where a commodity of good names were to be bought.–King Henry IV.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Week by week in his magazine Puck at this time, cartoonist Udo J. Keppler was proving himself to be America’s foremost political caricaturist, perhaps the superior of his father who founded Puck; yet he is relatively obscure to history. This example is not a mere excuse to festoon two ugly faces on the weekly’s cover, but Keppler made a salient point, as per usual, about his political targets.

At center, mannequin models are being constructed as stand-ins for actors. They are surrounded by scenes of price gouging, poorly attended performances, the use of wooden actors, indifference to customers, and haughty attitudes by theater staff, and the resulting failure of business. Above the main scene are the ghosts of past actors labeled “Booth, Gilbert, Forrest, Cushman, [and] Wallack.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Helen Hambidge asks Theodore Roosevelt for his New Year’s resolution to be included in an article for New Idea Woman’s Magazine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-09

Profile of Theodore Roosevelt reenactor James Foote that describes how he made portraying Roosevelt a full-time job. The article highlights some of the many venues where he has appeared, and it features two photographs of Foote as Roosevelt. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1999

Crane, a renowned stage actor, thanks President Roosevelt for “the fine likeness” sent to him. Crane is pleased to know that Edith Roosevelt will be attending an upcoming production.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-18

Matthew S. Quay and Thomas Collier Platt hold papers labeled “Great Republican Farce Comedy – Presidential Aspirations – Star Part.” Around them stand Thomas B. Reed, William B. Allison, William McKinley, and Levi P. Morton as actors in costume. On the far left, Benjamin Harrison is exiting the building. Caption: The Stock Company (in chorus)–“I want that part – it requires whiskers, and I’ve got ’em!”, “Give that character to me, and I’ll keep the house in order with it!”,”Let me have it – I’m a regular Napoleon in that kind of role!”, “Don’t mind those young fellows, – a man of mature age is needed to play it right!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-02-26

In a theatrical production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, heavyweight champion boxer Jack Johnson stands over Simon Legree, whom he has knocked to the stage with one punch. Caption: Uncle Tom (to Simon Legree) — Did ah heah yo’ say, White Man, dat yo’ done own Me, body an’ soul? Huh?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-06-22

Eight stagecoaches stand in a procession, each jammed with passengers. Riding in the first coach, labeled “Republican Harmony Coach,” are Chester Alan Arthur, Roscoe Conkling, James Gillespie Blaine, John Alexander Logan, Ulysses S. Grant, J. D. Cameron, George William Curtis, John Sherman, John F. Miller(?) and an unidentified man. Riding in the second coach, labeled “Dem. Love Feast Coach” and “One Republican thrown in to please Mr. Dana,” are Charles A. Dana, Benjamin F. Butler, Edward Cooper, Rutherford B. Hayes, Franklin Edson, Samuel J. Tilden, John Kelly, and Hubert O. Thompson. Riding in the third coach, labeled “Heavy Hack,” are Cardinal John McCloskey, Robert Green Ingersoll, “Jacobs, Potter, Storrs,” Howard Crosby, Henry Ward Beecher, and Theodore Tilton. Riding in the fourth coach, labeled “Monopoly,” are William H. Vanderbilt, Russell Sage, Cyrus W. Field, Jay Gould, and a box labeled Henry Clay. Riding in the fifth coach, labeled “Thespis,” are Lester Wallack, Rose Coghlan, Marie Geistinger, “T.P., J.E. Pearson, Levy,” Dion Boucicault, Edward Harrigan, and Tony Hart. The sixth coach is labeled “Homeopathy”; the seventh coach is labeled “Allopathy”; and the eighth coach is labeled “The Bruiser.” The horses pulling this last coach wear boxing gloves. Caption: [If this takes, we will have another one next year.]

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-06-13

On a stage with a large table, many actors and actresses are engaged in various activities. On the far left is a Christmas tree with decorations based on the characters from the Harriet Beecher Stowe novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin: an angel labeled “Haley,” a playing card spade labeled “Marks,” a black doll labeled “Simon Legree,” a champagne bottle labeled “Mrs. Ophelia,” a bottle of “face powder” labeled “Topsey,” a dog labeled “Eliza,” and a whip labeled “Uncle Tom.” On the floor next to the tree is a jug labeled “Eagle Hotel Main Street.” The rest of the scene is comprised of blacks and whites playing dice games, drinking, and one woman feeding four dogs. An angel can be seen in the background. Caption: The Uncle Tommers’ Christmas dinner on the road.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This is a remarkable drawing, one that comes to us through the years speaking in way unconsciously and unintended. As a Christmas / seasonal cartoon, not designed for commentary or political statements, cartoonist L. M. Glackens has conjured a fantasy — what do road actors of those innumerable theatrical troupes that criss-crossed America, do on their rare nights off, for instance at Christmastime?