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[[File:Walter Hampden 1951.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Walter Hampden in 1951]] | [[File:Walter Hampden 1951.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Walter Hampden in 1951]] | ||
'''Walter Hampden''' was the stage name of Walter Hampden Dougherty (June 30, 1879 – June 11, 1955), an American actor and theater manager. He was a major star on Broadway stages, on television, and in films. He was a member of the [[American Theosophical Society]] and acted in a theatrical production of [[The Light of Asia (book)|'''''The Light of Asia''''']] at [[Krotona in Hollywood|Krotona]] in Hollywood. | '''Walter Hampden''' was the stage name of Walter Hampden Dougherty (June 30, 1879 – June 11, 1955), an American actor and theater manager. He was a major star on London and Broadway stages, on television, and in films. He was a member of the [[American Theosophical Society]] and acted in a theatrical production of [[The Light of Asia (book)|'''''The Light of Asia''''']] at [[Krotona in Hollywood|Krotona]] in Hollywood. | ||
== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
Walter Hampden Dougherty was born on [[June 30]], 1879 in Brooklyn, New York. He married Mabel Moore in 1905. He died in Los Angeles, California, on [[June 11]], 1955. | Walter Hampden Dougherty was born on [[June 30]], 1879 in Brooklyn, New York. His education began at Harvard University, and he completed a degree at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He then went to Francce for a year's study of singing, dancing, and speech. He also played the cello. | ||
He married Mabel Moore, an actress in Sir Frank Benson's theatrical company, in 1905. He died in Los Angeles, California, on [[June 11]], 1955. | |||
== Theatrical career == | == Theatrical career == | ||
After his study in France, Hampden joined Sir Frank Benson’s company in England, where he played more than 70 classical roles in three years.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Walter-Hampden Walter Hampden] in Britannica.com.</ref> His performance as Hamlet drew critical acclaim in England, and he reprised the role after returning to the United States in 1907. Newspapers called him "America's best Hamlet," and that play became the foundation for his own repertory company. | |||
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In 1923 Hampden revived Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, a play still associated with his name. He opened his own theatre (1925) with Ethel Barrymore as his leading lady, and in the ensuing years he gave outstanding performances in Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice (1925–26), and An Enemy of the People (1927–28). Hampden appeared in his first motion picture, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1929), and later played the part of an aging actor in All About Eve (1950). He made his television debut as Macbeth in 1949. Hampden was the fourth president of the Players’ Club.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Walter-Hampden Walter Hampden] in Britannica.com.</ref> | |||
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== Theosophical Society involvement == | == Theosophical Society involvement == | ||
Revision as of 15:12, 21 March 2025
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Walter Hampden was the stage name of Walter Hampden Dougherty (June 30, 1879 – June 11, 1955), an American actor and theater manager. He was a major star on London and Broadway stages, on television, and in films. He was a member of the American Theosophical Society and acted in a theatrical production of The Light of Asia at Krotona in Hollywood.
Personal life
Walter Hampden Dougherty was born on June 30, 1879 in Brooklyn, New York. His education began at Harvard University, and he completed a degree at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He then went to Francce for a year's study of singing, dancing, and speech. He also played the cello.
He married Mabel Moore, an actress in Sir Frank Benson's theatrical company, in 1905. He died in Los Angeles, California, on June 11, 1955.
Theatrical career
After his study in France, Hampden joined Sir Frank Benson’s company in England, where he played more than 70 classical roles in three years.[1] His performance as Hamlet drew critical acclaim in England, and he reprised the role after returning to the United States in 1907. Newspapers called him "America's best Hamlet," and that play became the foundation for his own repertory company.
In 1923 Hampden revived Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, a play still associated with his name. He opened his own theatre (1925) with Ethel Barrymore as his leading lady, and in the ensuing years he gave outstanding performances in Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice (1925–26), and An Enemy of the People (1927–28). Hampden appeared in his first motion picture, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1929), and later played the part of an aging actor in All About Eve (1950). He made his television debut as Macbeth in 1949. Hampden was the fourth president of the Players’ Club.[2]
Theosophical Society involvement
Hampden was admitted to the American Theosophical Society on June 6, 1911 in New York City. He was sponsored by architect Claude Bragdon and ATS president Weller Van Hook.[3] His membership lapsed in 1915. The Genesee Lodge of Rochester, New York reported in 1911 on a meeting held jointly with the Rochester Lodge:
In the spring Mr. Walter Hampden of"The Servant in the House" fame gave a delightful informal talk to both branches at the residence of Mr. Bragdon. He related many interesting mystical experiences that had occurred in connection with his portraal of "Manson". During his stay in Rochester he became sufficiently interested in Theosophy to join the emovment and we now number him among our members.[4]
LIght in Asia
In 1918 Hampden gave up lucrative engagements in New York to play the title role of Siddhartha in a theatrical version of Edwin Arnold's poem The Light of Asia at Krotona, the Theosophical colony in Hollywoood, California. The production ran for 35 performances in the Krotona Stadium that could seat 800 people, and also in Beachwood Canyon.[5] Music was provided by Charles Wakefield Cadman and Camille Zekwer; dancers included Ruth St. Denis and her Denishawn company; with Louis Horst as musical director. The production was sponsored by a Philadelphia Theosophist, Christine Wetherill Stevenson.[6]
The play attracted great attention in Los Angeles and surrounding communities; among the distinguished spectators were the Mayor of Los Angeles, John Masefield of England, the Japanese consul, and a number of prominent motion picture producers and stars."[7]
Helen Keller attended a performance. Walter Hampden must have been pleased with the Krotona production, because in October 1928 he produced, staged, and starred as Siddhartha in another production at his own Hampden's Theatre in New York City. Ruth St. Denis was again the choreographer. It was described as an original play by Theosophist Georgina Jones Walton (who was married to Robert Kelsey Walton), and ran for 23 performances.[8]
Additional resources
SEE ALSO The Light of Asia.
Articles
- Walter Hampden in Britannica.com.
- Hampden, Walter in Theosophy World.
Archival collections
- New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts has several relevant collections.
- Wesleyan University Special Collections and Archives has some correspondence.
Notes
- ↑ Walter Hampden in Britannica.com.
- ↑ Walter Hampden in Britannica.com.
- ↑ Membership Ledger Cards roll 3, number 03547. Theosophical Society in America Archives.
- ↑ "In the Field" The Theosophic Messenger 13 no.1 (October, 1911): 60.
- ↑ Catherine Parsons Smith, Making Music in Los Angeles: Transforming the Popular, (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007), 135.
- ↑ Smith, 135.
- ↑ Joy Mills, 100 Years of Theosophy in America, (Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987), 58.
- ↑ "The Light of Asia" in Internet Broadway Database.