Albert Henry Canby (1856-1940) was an actor, producer, and theatrical manager. He was elected to The Lambs in 1896 as a professional member.
Canby was born in Ellicott's Mills (later Ellicott City), Maryland, Sept, 7, 1856, to Samuel Canby and Maria Louisa Knight Canby. He was of Quaker ancestry from Baltimore. He worked for the Baltimore American, Philadelphia Public Ledger, and Philadelphia Times as a reporter when he was a young man. He appeared for the first time as an actor at the Baltimore Academy of Music under the direction of the noted actor Louis James. It was James who advised him to take up a stage career. Canby made his debut as a professional with the Chestnut Street Theatre Company in Philadelphia in 1878. After that he played with John Ellsler's company in Cleveland, Ohio.
Returning east, Canby acted with the Criterion Comedy Company. After serving as leading man in Two Nights in Rome, he became the business manager of the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. For the remainder of his career Canby worked behind the scenes, managing performers and working for productions.
In 1884 he was working as the advance man for John T. Raymond and his company of traveling actors. Canby worked for the Walnut Street Theatre into the 1880s. He took a job as manager of Dockstader's Company and in 1887 he ran the show in Atlantic City for the summer.
His career led him to be the much-travelled manager of the Francis Wilson Comic Opera Company. He worked for Wilson for 10 years. He directed various productions, including the Ruler, the Merry Monarch, and the Little Corporal. He also produced shows in London with Wilson.
Canby went to Paris in the summer of 1888 with Wilson, scouting talent for his comic opera. He decided to book a private tour of the catacombs, and ended up being lost underground for more than five hours. When he emerged and returned to New York he said, "I wouldn't visit that Golgotha again, guide or no guide, for $1 million in bright, yellow gold!"
In April 1890 he married Chicago actress Jessie Quigley in Baltimore when he was manager of the troupe. She died in 1897.
Canby was involved in a newsmaking feat in 1890. He was the manager for Wilson and his company for a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, performed in New York and Philadelphia on the same day. The entire company, it's orchestra and staff, more than 100 members, boarded train cars in Philadelphia at 9:30 a.m. to reach New York in less than two hours. The company played a matinee at Palmer's Theatre, then turned around and performed it again later that evening at the Broad Street Theatre in Philadelphia. All of the performers traveled via the Pennsylvania Railroad in record time.
For five years he was the manager of Alla Nazimova. In 1909 when she was starring in The Passion Flower, Canby was overheard trying to teach the beauty the popular slang used in New York. Canby had a knack for managing foreign stars; during WWI he was associated with representing Madam Olga Petrova, the British-American actress, screenwriter and playwright. Canby managed famous actresses such as Mrs. Patrick Campbell (Beatrice Rose Stella Tanner), Minnie Gertrude Ellis Jeffreys, and Kyrle Bellew.
Canby worked for fellow Lambs member Charles Frohman on a national tour of the Circus Girl, and in London. He later journeyed to Australia to manage Irish stars. His last steady work was with fellow Lambs David Belasco and John Golden just before his retirement. He lived at The Lambs clubhouse following the death of his wife.
Canby retired around 1930. He was a life member of the Actors Fund of America. He moved into the Percy Williams Home in East Islip, Long Island, a retirement home for actors founded by The Lambs' member. When his health failed he moved to the Brunswick Home in Amityville, Long Island, N.Y., where he died on October 15, 1940. He was 84. Canby was interred in the Locust section of Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx.
Canby was born in Ellicott's Mills (later Ellicott City), Maryland, Sept, 7, 1856, to Samuel Canby and Maria Louisa Knight Canby. He was of Quaker ancestry from Baltimore. He worked for the Baltimore American, Philadelphia Public Ledger, and Philadelphia Times as a reporter when he was a young man. He appeared for the first time as an actor at the Baltimore Academy of Music under the direction of the noted actor Louis James. It was James who advised him to take up a stage career. Canby made his debut as a professional with the Chestnut Street Theatre Company in Philadelphia in 1878. After that he played with John Ellsler's company in Cleveland, Ohio.
Returning east, Canby acted with the Criterion Comedy Company. After serving as leading man in Two Nights in Rome, he became the business manager of the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. For the remainder of his career Canby worked behind the scenes, managing performers and working for productions.
In 1884 he was working as the advance man for John T. Raymond and his company of traveling actors. Canby worked for the Walnut Street Theatre into the 1880s. He took a job as manager of Dockstader's Company and in 1887 he ran the show in Atlantic City for the summer.
His career led him to be the much-travelled manager of the Francis Wilson Comic Opera Company. He worked for Wilson for 10 years. He directed various productions, including the Ruler, the Merry Monarch, and the Little Corporal. He also produced shows in London with Wilson.
Canby went to Paris in the summer of 1888 with Wilson, scouting talent for his comic opera. He decided to book a private tour of the catacombs, and ended up being lost underground for more than five hours. When he emerged and returned to New York he said, "I wouldn't visit that Golgotha again, guide or no guide, for $1 million in bright, yellow gold!"
In April 1890 he married Chicago actress Jessie Quigley in Baltimore when he was manager of the troupe. She died in 1897.
Canby was involved in a newsmaking feat in 1890. He was the manager for Wilson and his company for a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, performed in New York and Philadelphia on the same day. The entire company, it's orchestra and staff, more than 100 members, boarded train cars in Philadelphia at 9:30 a.m. to reach New York in less than two hours. The company played a matinee at Palmer's Theatre, then turned around and performed it again later that evening at the Broad Street Theatre in Philadelphia. All of the performers traveled via the Pennsylvania Railroad in record time.
For five years he was the manager of Alla Nazimova. In 1909 when she was starring in The Passion Flower, Canby was overheard trying to teach the beauty the popular slang used in New York. Canby had a knack for managing foreign stars; during WWI he was associated with representing Madam Olga Petrova, the British-American actress, screenwriter and playwright. Canby managed famous actresses such as Mrs. Patrick Campbell (Beatrice Rose Stella Tanner), Minnie Gertrude Ellis Jeffreys, and Kyrle Bellew.
Canby worked for fellow Lambs member Charles Frohman on a national tour of the Circus Girl, and in London. He later journeyed to Australia to manage Irish stars. His last steady work was with fellow Lambs David Belasco and John Golden just before his retirement. He lived at The Lambs clubhouse following the death of his wife.
Canby retired around 1930. He was a life member of the Actors Fund of America. He moved into the Percy Williams Home in East Islip, Long Island, a retirement home for actors founded by The Lambs' member. When his health failed he moved to the Brunswick Home in Amityville, Long Island, N.Y., where he died on October 15, 1940. He was 84. Canby was interred in the Locust section of Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx.
Albert Henry Canby (1856-1940) was an actor, producer, and theatrical manager. He was elected to The Lambs in 1896 as a professional member.
Canby was born in Ellicott's Mills (later Ellicott City), Maryland, Sept, 7, 1856, to Samuel Canby and Maria Louisa Knight Canby. He was of Quaker ancestry from Baltimore. He worked for the Baltimore American, Philadelphia Public Ledger, and Philadelphia Times as a reporter when he was a young man. He appeared for the first time as an actor at the Baltimore Academy of Music under the direction of the noted actor Louis James. It was James who advised him to take up a stage career. Canby made his debut as a professional with the Chestnut Street Theatre Company in Philadelphia in 1878. After that he played with John Ellsler's company in Cleveland, Ohio.
Returning east, Canby acted with the Criterion Comedy Company. After serving as leading man in Two Nights in Rome, he became the business manager of the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. For the remainder of his career Canby worked behind the scenes, managing performers and working for productions.
In 1884 he was working as the advance man for John T. Raymond and his company of traveling actors. Canby worked for the Walnut Street Theatre into the 1880s. He took a job as manager of Dockstader's Company and in 1887 he ran the show in Atlantic City for the summer.
His career led him to be the much-travelled manager of the Francis Wilson Comic Opera Company. He worked for Wilson for 10 years. He directed various productions, including the Ruler, the Merry Monarch, and the Little Corporal. He also produced shows in London with Wilson.
Canby went to Paris in the summer of 1888 with Wilson, scouting talent for his comic opera. He decided to book a private tour of the catacombs, and ended up being lost underground for more than five hours. When he emerged and returned to New York he said, "I wouldn't visit that Golgotha again, guide or no guide, for $1 million in bright, yellow gold!"
In April 1890 he married Chicago actress Jessie Quigley in Baltimore when he was manager of the troupe. She died in 1897.
Canby was involved in a newsmaking feat in 1890. He was the manager for Wilson and his company for a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, performed in New York and Philadelphia on the same day. The entire company, it's orchestra and staff, more than 100 members, boarded train cars in Philadelphia at 9:30 a.m. to reach New York in less than two hours. The company played a matinee at Palmer's Theatre, then turned around and performed it again later that evening at the Broad Street Theatre in Philadelphia. All of the performers traveled via the Pennsylvania Railroad in record time.
For five years he was the manager of Alla Nazimova. In 1909 when she was starring in The Passion Flower, Canby was overheard trying to teach the beauty the popular slang used in New York. Canby had a knack for managing foreign stars; during WWI he was associated with representing Madam Olga Petrova, the British-American actress, screenwriter and playwright. Canby managed famous actresses such as Mrs. Patrick Campbell (Beatrice Rose Stella Tanner), Minnie Gertrude Ellis Jeffreys, and Kyrle Bellew.
Canby worked for fellow Lambs member Charles Frohman on a national tour of the Circus Girl, and in London. He later journeyed to Australia to manage Irish stars. His last steady work was with fellow Lambs David Belasco and John Golden just before his retirement. He lived at The Lambs clubhouse following the death of his wife.
Canby retired around 1930. He was a life member of the Actors Fund of America. He moved into the Percy Williams Home in East Islip, Long Island, a retirement home for actors founded by The Lambs' member. When his health failed he moved to the Brunswick Home in Amityville, Long Island, N.Y., where he died on October 15, 1940. He was 84. Canby was interred in the Locust section of Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx.
Canby was born in Ellicott's Mills (later Ellicott City), Maryland, Sept, 7, 1856, to Samuel Canby and Maria Louisa Knight Canby. He was of Quaker ancestry from Baltimore. He worked for the Baltimore American, Philadelphia Public Ledger, and Philadelphia Times as a reporter when he was a young man. He appeared for the first time as an actor at the Baltimore Academy of Music under the direction of the noted actor Louis James. It was James who advised him to take up a stage career. Canby made his debut as a professional with the Chestnut Street Theatre Company in Philadelphia in 1878. After that he played with John Ellsler's company in Cleveland, Ohio.
Returning east, Canby acted with the Criterion Comedy Company. After serving as leading man in Two Nights in Rome, he became the business manager of the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. For the remainder of his career Canby worked behind the scenes, managing performers and working for productions.
In 1884 he was working as the advance man for John T. Raymond and his company of traveling actors. Canby worked for the Walnut Street Theatre into the 1880s. He took a job as manager of Dockstader's Company and in 1887 he ran the show in Atlantic City for the summer.
His career led him to be the much-travelled manager of the Francis Wilson Comic Opera Company. He worked for Wilson for 10 years. He directed various productions, including the Ruler, the Merry Monarch, and the Little Corporal. He also produced shows in London with Wilson.
Canby went to Paris in the summer of 1888 with Wilson, scouting talent for his comic opera. He decided to book a private tour of the catacombs, and ended up being lost underground for more than five hours. When he emerged and returned to New York he said, "I wouldn't visit that Golgotha again, guide or no guide, for $1 million in bright, yellow gold!"
In April 1890 he married Chicago actress Jessie Quigley in Baltimore when he was manager of the troupe. She died in 1897.
Canby was involved in a newsmaking feat in 1890. He was the manager for Wilson and his company for a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, performed in New York and Philadelphia on the same day. The entire company, it's orchestra and staff, more than 100 members, boarded train cars in Philadelphia at 9:30 a.m. to reach New York in less than two hours. The company played a matinee at Palmer's Theatre, then turned around and performed it again later that evening at the Broad Street Theatre in Philadelphia. All of the performers traveled via the Pennsylvania Railroad in record time.
For five years he was the manager of Alla Nazimova. In 1909 when she was starring in The Passion Flower, Canby was overheard trying to teach the beauty the popular slang used in New York. Canby had a knack for managing foreign stars; during WWI he was associated with representing Madam Olga Petrova, the British-American actress, screenwriter and playwright. Canby managed famous actresses such as Mrs. Patrick Campbell (Beatrice Rose Stella Tanner), Minnie Gertrude Ellis Jeffreys, and Kyrle Bellew.
Canby worked for fellow Lambs member Charles Frohman on a national tour of the Circus Girl, and in London. He later journeyed to Australia to manage Irish stars. His last steady work was with fellow Lambs David Belasco and John Golden just before his retirement. He lived at The Lambs clubhouse following the death of his wife.
Canby retired around 1930. He was a life member of the Actors Fund of America. He moved into the Percy Williams Home in East Islip, Long Island, a retirement home for actors founded by The Lambs' member. When his health failed he moved to the Brunswick Home in Amityville, Long Island, N.Y., where he died on October 15, 1940. He was 84. Canby was interred in the Locust section of Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx.
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