Difference between revisions of "Robert Bolder"

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(8 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[Robert Bolder]] (1859–1937) was an English stage and film actor  
 
[[Robert Bolder]] (1859–1937) was an English stage and film actor  
  
Also found as [[Bob Bolder]] in some sources.  
+
Also found as '''[[Bob Bolder]]''' in some sources.  
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
Line 7: Line 7:
 
Born  Robert Joseph Edney in London  on 20 July 1859, he began his career in London, becoming particularly well known for his comic performances.  
 
Born  Robert Joseph Edney in London  on 20 July 1859, he began his career in London, becoming particularly well known for his comic performances.  
  
Bolder was for a time a member of [[Mabel Hayes]]'s touring company on its visits to South Africa, and in August of 1888 even billed as co-manager of [[The Bob Bolder-Mabel Hayes Company]], when it appeared in Pretoria during August (''inter alia'' with a provocatively satirical presentation of ''[[Aladdin]]'').   
+
Bolder was spent some time in South Africa between 1882 and 1888, but in the early part of the 20th-century Bolder seems to have moved to the USA and become involved in several Broadway productions, before going to California and making a career in silent film. He ultimately appeared in 99 films between 1912 and 1936, and died in Los Angeles on 10 December 1937.
 
 
In the early part of the 20th-century Bolder seems to have moved to the USA and become involved in several Broadway productions, before moving into silent film. He ultimately appeared in 99 films between 1912 and 1936, and died in Los Angeles on 10 December 1937.
 
  
 
His daughter, [[Sylvia Edney]], also became an actress and visited South Africa as a six-year old in 1906 with a Comedy Company brought together by the [[Wheeler Company]].
 
His daughter, [[Sylvia Edney]], also became an actress and visited South Africa as a six-year old in 1906 with a Comedy Company brought together by the [[Wheeler Company]].
Line 15: Line 13:
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
Bolder arrived in Cape Town from England on 24 August, 1882 with '''[[The Mabel Hayes Company]]''', and performed there for them in a season at the [[Theatre Royal]] in Burg Street, Cape Town, for a season lasting till July 1883, before the core company left Cape Town for Port Elizabeth
+
Bolder arrived in Cape Town from England on 24 August, 1882 with [[The Mabel Hayes Company]], and performed there for them in a long season at the [[Theatre Royal]] in Burg Street, Cape Town, for a season lasting till July 1883, before the core company left Cape Town for Port Elizabeth.   
 
 
with the core of her company. . , managing it under the name of [[Mrs R.J. Hall]], though the company was known as '''[[The Mabel Hayes Company]]'''.  She brought together a large company that consisted of [[Dora French]], [[Augusta Stuart]], [[Georgie Leighford]], [[Rose Brandram]], [[Ellie Elliston]], [[Mrs Eburne]], [[Mr Veovide]], [[Walter J. Brooks]], [[Robert Bolder]], [[Brittain Booth]], [[H. Harries]], [[Gertrude Wynne]] and others. She leased the [[Theatre Royal]] in Burg Street, Cape Town, for a season, managing it under the name of [[Mrs R.J. Hall]], though the company was known as '''[[The Mabel Hayes Company]]'''.  The local musician and performer [[Henry Harper]] helped out with musical matters.
 
 
 
They opened there with a Christmas [[pantomime]] (''[[Cinderella]]'') in 1882, with a season lasting till July 1883. Their repertoire was diverse, including  both drama and opera. Among the operatic pieces mentioned by Boonzaier for example are ''[[Iolanthe]]'' (Gilbert and Sullivan), ''[[Manteaux Noirs]]'' (Scribe/Parke and Paulyon) and ''[[Olivette]]'' (Chivot & Durn)/Farnie). The dramas included ''[[The World]]'' (Meritt, Pettitt and Harris), ''[[Taken From Life]]'' (Pettitt), ''[[The Lights of London]]'' (Sims), ''[[The Squire]]'' (Pinero), ''[[Queen's Evidence]]'' (Conquest and Pettitt)), ''[[It's Never too Late to Mend]]'' (Reade), ''[[Little Nell]]'' (Dickens/Brougham or Halliday), ''[[Poor Little Jo]]'' (Dickens/), ''[[Little Emily]]'' (Dickens/), ''[[Guy Mannering]]'' (Scott/Terry), ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'' (Gilbert), ''[[Moths]]'' (Ouida/Hamilton) and ''[[Peep o' Day]]'' (Falconer).   
 
  
In July of 1883 she left Cape Town for Port Elizabeth with the core of her company.  
+
Bolder appears to have remained in the South Africa for a while, or otherwise to have returned to the country from time to time. For example his name appears as "Henry Corkett" in [[Sutton Vane]]'s production of ''[[The Silver King]]'' (Jones and Herman) at the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, in 1885, and in 1886 he played "Pish-Tush" in the [[Wheeler Company]]'s production of ''[[The Mikado]]'' (Gilbert and Sullivan) in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town.  
  
He seems to have become a leading member of the company for [[Ludwig Binge|Binge]] (1969: p. 33) mentions performances by '''[[The Bob Bolder-Mabel Hayes Company]]''' in Johannesburg and Pretoria during August of 1888, drawing some attention with an ''[[Aladdin]]'' in which they satirized local issues such as  "Oom Paul" Kruger's chances in the election, speculation, gold shares, and the like. (Rather oddly Binge misspells Bolder's name as "Holder" in the text of his history, though he has it correct in his Index - but then proceeds to get the page reference wrong in the Index...)
+
He later rejoined [[Mabel Hayes]], becoming a leading member of the company, for [[Ludwig Binge|Binge]] (1969: p. 33) mentions performances by [[The Bob Bolder-Mabel Hayes Company]] in Johannesburg and Pretoria during August of 1888, drawing some attention with an ''[[Aladdin]]'' in which they satirized local issues such as  "Oom Paul" Kruger's chances in the election, speculation, gold shares, and the like. (Rather oddly Binge misspells Bolder's name as "Holder" in the text of his history, though he has it correct in his Index - but then proceeds to get the page reference wrong in the Index...)
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
Line 29: Line 23:
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bolder
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bolder
  
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0092780/== Biography ==
+
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0092780/
  
 
[[D.C. Boonzaier]], 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage",  in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.)
 
[[D.C. Boonzaier]], 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage",  in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.)

Latest revision as of 06:01, 28 September 2021

Robert Bolder (1859–1937) was an English stage and film actor

Also found as Bob Bolder in some sources.

Biography

Born Robert Joseph Edney in London on 20 July 1859, he began his career in London, becoming particularly well known for his comic performances.

Bolder was spent some time in South Africa between 1882 and 1888, but in the early part of the 20th-century Bolder seems to have moved to the USA and become involved in several Broadway productions, before going to California and making a career in silent film. He ultimately appeared in 99 films between 1912 and 1936, and died in Los Angeles on 10 December 1937.

His daughter, Sylvia Edney, also became an actress and visited South Africa as a six-year old in 1906 with a Comedy Company brought together by the Wheeler Company.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Bolder arrived in Cape Town from England on 24 August, 1882 with The Mabel Hayes Company, and performed there for them in a long season at the Theatre Royal in Burg Street, Cape Town, for a season lasting till July 1883, before the core company left Cape Town for Port Elizabeth.

Bolder appears to have remained in the South Africa for a while, or otherwise to have returned to the country from time to time. For example his name appears as "Henry Corkett" in Sutton Vane's production of The Silver King (Jones and Herman) at the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, in 1885, and in 1886 he played "Pish-Tush" in the Wheeler Company's production of The Mikado (Gilbert and Sullivan) in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town.

He later rejoined Mabel Hayes, becoming a leading member of the company, for Binge (1969: p. 33) mentions performances by The Bob Bolder-Mabel Hayes Company in Johannesburg and Pretoria during August of 1888, drawing some attention with an Aladdin in which they satirized local issues such as "Oom Paul" Kruger's chances in the election, speculation, gold shares, and the like. (Rather oddly Binge misspells Bolder's name as "Holder" in the text of his history, though he has it correct in his Index - but then proceeds to get the page reference wrong in the Index...)

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bolder

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0092780/

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 375, 379, 382, 426.

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities B

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page