Benedict DeBar (1812â€"1877) was a prominent American actor-manager.
He is associated with operating a major theater in St. Louis, and for
portraying the role of Falstaff. He was also connected by marriage
with the Booth family of actors.Born in England, he came to America as
an equestrian performer in 1837. He was the stage manager for Noah
Ludlow and Sol Smith (uncle of Sol Smith Russell) for their St.
Charles Theater in New Orleans and, when they retired in 1843, he
assumed ownership of their New Orleans and St. Louis theaters.Upon the
outbreak of the American Civil War, he moved St. Louis, but retained
ownership of the St. Charles Theater in New Orleans until 1876. In
1873 he moved from the St. Louis Theatre to DeBar's Grand Opera House.
He remained active as a performer even while managing his theatrical
companies. For example, he opened the 1862â€"1863 season in war
ravaged St. Louis in September 1862, started the season with a company
that included himself as a comedian, Emma Maddern as the stock
'chambermaid', and Ella and Mary Maddern as the 'walking ladies.'
DeBar is credited for first presenting Emma Maddern, mother of actress
Emily Stevens and community theater director Robert Stevens, as an
actress. He was also associated with Thomas Davey, who managed a
circuit of theaters in the old Southwest. Davey was also married to
Elizabeth Maddern, sister of Emma Maddern and mother of actress Mrs.
Fiske.
He is associated with operating a major theater in St. Louis, and for
portraying the role of Falstaff. He was also connected by marriage
with the Booth family of actors.Born in England, he came to America as
an equestrian performer in 1837. He was the stage manager for Noah
Ludlow and Sol Smith (uncle of Sol Smith Russell) for their St.
Charles Theater in New Orleans and, when they retired in 1843, he
assumed ownership of their New Orleans and St. Louis theaters.Upon the
outbreak of the American Civil War, he moved St. Louis, but retained
ownership of the St. Charles Theater in New Orleans until 1876. In
1873 he moved from the St. Louis Theatre to DeBar's Grand Opera House.
He remained active as a performer even while managing his theatrical
companies. For example, he opened the 1862â€"1863 season in war
ravaged St. Louis in September 1862, started the season with a company
that included himself as a comedian, Emma Maddern as the stock
'chambermaid', and Ella and Mary Maddern as the 'walking ladies.'
DeBar is credited for first presenting Emma Maddern, mother of actress
Emily Stevens and community theater director Robert Stevens, as an
actress. He was also associated with Thomas Davey, who managed a
circuit of theaters in the old Southwest. Davey was also married to
Elizabeth Maddern, sister of Emma Maddern and mother of actress Mrs.
Fiske.
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