Dame Margaret “Madge” Kendal

(1848-1935) Margaret Robertson (Mrs. W. H. Kendal) married William Hunter Kendal while they were both in John Buckstone’s troupe at the Haymarket Theatre, London. The two from that time on always performed together, for a time in a company that included a young Ellen Terry in 1861. She and Terry became lifetime friends. Married in 1869, both were excellent managers, but Mrs. Kendal was always praised as the better performer. Both were especially praised for their parts in comedies. Madge,Read more

Henry B. Irving

(1870-1919) Henry Brodribb Irving was the first son of Sir Henry Irving; he used the stage name “H. B.” to distinguish himself from his illustrious father. In 1894, the same year he was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, he chose the theater as a profession and was continuously employed from then on as an actor. He acted in his father’s company, and served several times as an actor-manager in the London theaters. For a short period, he took overRead more

Halliwell Hobbes

(1877-1962) Herbert Halliwell Hobbes made his stage debut in 1898 with Sir Frank Benson, and this was the start of his career in Shakespeare as he toured with the Benson Company. His real career and the one he is most noted for did not begin until 1929 in Hollywood when he played a part in his first film. Between 1929 and 1956 he appeared in 109 films—one of those character actors one remembers seeing many times in the movies.Read more

Harry R. Hignett

(1870-1959) Harry Reginald Hignett was born in Cheshire, England, and made his stage debut in Manchester in 1893 with Frank Benson‘s troupe. He played a minor role—one of the citizens of Rome. He worked with Benson until 1901, playing in those eight years with the Bensonians in at least twenty-two Shakespeare plays. He left Benson to go on tour with Mrs. Patrick Campbell in 1901. In 1907, he joined Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton at the Adelphi Theatre, London, whereRead more