Robert Bolder

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, and 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).

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, who 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 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.

He seems to have become 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/== Biography ==

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.

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