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ENTERTAINMENT - THEATRE
This category contains the autographs of entertainers who are most associated with the theatre. Actors and actresses who are best known for their work for the screen are more likely to be found in our film and television category. For the purposes of classification, we have included music-hall, variety, burlesque and circus within the definition of theatre. Consequently, this section will include empressarios such as P.T. Barnum and variety acts such as stage magicians, as well as classical stage actors such as Sir Henry Irving. Needless to say, the autographs of actors and actresses have always been popular and this was as true in the 19th century as it is today. Then, as now, actors received large numbers of requests for autographs and sometimes used secretaries to sign these on their behalf. The collector therefore needs to be wary of secretarial signatures and forgeries. As with all Owen & Barlow's autographs, our theatre autographs are guaranteed to be genuine and of good provenance.
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CHARLES BERTRAM (1853-1907) Autograph Letter Signed
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CHARLES BERTRAM Autograph Letter Signed. British (English) stage magician and conjuror. ALS. 2pp. 1 St. Stephen's Villas, Coverdale Road, Uxbridge Road. April 13th 1885. To [William] Woodall. Together with a fine contemporary photograph portrait. "Very many thanks for the very handsome and unexpected present. My wife is delighted with it. We shall indeed prize it very much. I am sure I thank you very much for your past kindness, and for your very kind wishes for my welfare. I sincerely hope that although now before the public, that I shall still have the pleasure of seeing you among.....
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ADA CAVENDISH (1839-1895) Autograph Letter Signed
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ADA CAVENDISH Autograph Letter Signed. British (English) Shakespearian actress and theatrical producer. Known for her roles in the plays of Wilkie Collins, which she did much to popularize. ALS. 4pp. March 26th 1873. Gold embossed letterhead of Olympic Theatre. To Miss Lisle. "I quite intended calling on you, on Tuesday - but I was detained here so late on business that it was quite impossible. Will you please pardon my not doing so. I have enclosed you two "stalls" for Friday evening, if you are unable to make use of them yourselves, give them to some of your.....
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MARY ANNE KEELEY (1805-1899) Autograph Letter Signed
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MARY ANNE KEELEY Autograph Letter Signed. British (English) actress. Best known for the 'breeches' role of the jail-breaker, Jack Sheppard - the play that was banned by the Lord Chamberlain. ALS. (Signed with initials). 1p. No place, no date. To Mr Spence [?]. "A thousand apologies. Yes, most certainly I will help to devour the Turkey on Friday. Wishing you a merry Xmas, ever yours to all eternity, M.A.K.". 12mo. Approx 6 x 4 inches. Remains of old mounting hinge to verso, else near fine. Mary Anne Keeley, the daughter of an Ipswich tinker, made her.....
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ROBERT KEELEY (1793-1869) Autograph Letter Signed
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ROBERT KEELEY autograph letter Signed. British (English) actor manager. ALS. 1p. North End Lodge. July 27th 1861. To D.R. Raw, Esq., Secretary of the Maybury Club. "I shall leave Town on Tuesday next, and as I do not know when I shall return, I beg you to accept this notice of my absence as applying to all future meetings until you hear from me. I shall have much pleasure in writing to you immediately on my return as I assure my absence from your dinners has occasioned me extreme regret". 8vo. Approx 7.5 x 4.5 inches. Mounting.....
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WILLIAM HUNTER KENDAL (1843-1917) Autograph Letter Signed
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WILLIAM HUNTER KENDAL Autograph letter Signed. British (English) actor. ALS. 2pp. Star & Garter Hall, Wolverhampton. February 21st 1903. To "My Dear Collette". "I enclose you a line of introduction to Charles Frohman - I don't know his whereabouts - you will have to find that out - the Carlton Hotal most likely. I only know Charles Frohman very slightly. Our friend is Daniel Frohman - his brother". 12mo. Approx 6.25 x 4 inches. Lacking integral blank leaf, else fine. William Hunter Kendal was a leading actor-manager of the 19th century. With his wife, Madge Kendal,.....
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EDWARD TERRY (1844-1912) Autograph Letter Signed
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EDWARD TERRY autograph letter Signed. British (English) actor manager. ALS. 1p. Terry's Theatre, Strand, London, W.C. February 1st 1897. To Mr Matthews. "I have much pleasure in accepting the invite to the Drury Lane Lodge, Fraternally yours. . . [etc]". 8vo. Approx 8 x 5 inches. Small filing hole in top left corner, one short edge tear at top edge just touching the top of the 'T' in 'Terry' in the printed address. Slight creasing. Very good. Edward Terry was the illegitimate son of the Irish Chartist leader, Feargus O'Connor. With the young Henry Irving he.....
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GENEVIEVE WARD (1837-1922) Autograph Letter Signed
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DAME GENEVIEVE WARD Autograph Letter Signed. American born British soprano singer and actress. ALS. 3pp. 22 Avenue Road, Regent's Park, N.W. August 29th 1895. To [William] Woodall. Together with a fine contemporary portrait photograph. "Will you kindly nominate Frank Cooper for the position of Boatman - outdoor Branch - he is an excellent young fellow in whom brother and I are much interested. His mother, a most worthy woman, takes charge of our house in Shanklin. I know you are always ready to do a kind action, & that is my excuse for troubling you. With many thanks.....
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