William C. F. Postance (June 4, 1874 – April 14, 1953) was an American and British theatre actor, playwright, producer, director and silent film actor.
William Postance | |
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.png) June Walker and William Postance in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1927) | |
| Born | William Charles Frederick Postance June 4, 1874 Great Britain |
| Died | April 14, 1953 (aged 78) Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S. |
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Early life and career edit
William C. F. Postance[1] was born on June 4, 1874, in Great Britain.[2] He worked as a theatre actor, playwright, producer, director and film actor. He started as a 13-year-old call boy at the Garrick Theatre. At the age of 15, Postance worked as a prompter in the production of Diplomacy to Queen Victoria.[3] He joined Olga Nethersole in Sandou's La Tosca.[4]
He worked as William Gillette's personal director for 13 years and worked with him for over 40 years. He helped Gillette prepare the stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes and directed its London production.[1][5] He performed before Queen Victoria, Edward VIII, William Ewart Gladstone and Woodrow Wilson.[1] Throughout his career, he was involved in 167 plays.[1] His last stage appearance was The Man Who Came to Dinner in 1940.[4]
Plays edit
- Diplomacy, as prompter[3]
- The Governor and the Boss (1909), as writer[6]
- Remember the Day[3]
- Criminal At Large[3]
- The Morals of Marcus, as director[3]
- The Richest Girl, as director[3]
- Captain Kid, as director[3]
- Robin Goodfellow, as director[3]
- Carmen, as director[3]
- Camille, as director[3]
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1927), as Sir Francis Beekman[7]
- Sherlock Holmes (1930), as director and as Sidney Prince[3][8]
- The Admirable Crichton (1931), as director[3][9]
- Tea for Three (1936), as director[10]
Films edit
- The Iron Woman (1916)[11]
- Sherlock Holmes (1916), as Sidney Prince[12]
Personal life edit
Postance died, at the age of 78, on April 14, 1953, at St. Mary's Hospital in Hoboken, New Jersey.[1][5]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Postance, Veteran of Show Business". Transcript-Telegram. 1953-04-16. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "William Charles Frederick Postance, "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918"". FamilySearch.org.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Promptness Paid Youthful Prompter". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1936-05-01. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Obituaries: Wm. C. F. Postance, Variety". lantern.mediahist.org. 1953-04-15. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ a b "Veteran actor-producer dies". Evening Despatch. 1953-04-15. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "With The Mummers". Star Tribune. 1909-05-30. p. 21. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lorelei Lee Makes Bow at the Adelphi". The Courier-Post. 1927-09-24. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mr. William Gillette, Gentleman and Actor of the Old School, Shows Just How a Polite Melodrama Should Be Handled". The Pittsburgh Press. 1930-05-06. p. 40. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Delightful Play Revived". The Evening Sun. 1931-03-01. p. 62. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tea for Three Moves to Freeport". Brooklyn Times Union. 1936-11-05. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Grand". The Pittsburgh Daily Sunday Post. 1916-10-15. p. 36. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sherlock Holmes at New V.L.S.E." Chicago Tribune. 1916-06-19. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-01-21 – via Newspapers.com.
External links edit
Media related to William Postance at Wikimedia Commons- William Postance at IMDb
