Harry Hawk (April 28, 1837 â€" May 28, 1916) was an American actor and
comedian, remembered as the only performer on stage at Ford's Theatre
at the moment Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865.William Henry
Hawk was born in Philadelphia in 1837 to William J. Hawk and his wife,
but the family moved to Chicago when he was young. He began theater
work as a call boy, or stagehand, at McVicker's Theatre in Chicago.
After two years, he left to work for John E. Owens at the Variety
Theatre in New Orleans. His first stage role was in 1859 in The Little
Treasurer. He made his way back north with the onset of the American
Civil War, and by the early 1860s he was appearing in billed roles
including, for example, the role of Mark Meddle in London Assurance,
and Davy in The Phantom.On tour with Laura Keene's stage company in
1865, he had recently gained the title role in the company's
production of Tom Taylor's play Our American Cousin, playing the role
of Asa Trenchard. That role was best known for being played by popular
comedian Joseph Jefferson, as part of the company Keene used to debut
the play in America in 1858. The play remained popular for many
years.Hawk was alone on stage in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865,
delivering what was considered one of the funniest lines of the play.
"Don't know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know
enough to turn you inside out, old gal; you sockdologizing old
man-trap!" which was delivered just after actress Helen Muzzy left the
stage. Hysterical laughter began permeating the theater, and Lincoln
was laughing at this line when he was shot. John Wilkes Booth, an
experienced actor, knew the line would draw much laughter, and used
the opportunity to shoot, counting on the laughter to mask the report
of his pistol. When Booth jumped down toward the stage, Hawk at first
thought Booth was coming after him, and backed off the stage. Hawk
knew Booth, and immediately recognized him.
comedian, remembered as the only performer on stage at Ford's Theatre
at the moment Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865.William Henry
Hawk was born in Philadelphia in 1837 to William J. Hawk and his wife,
but the family moved to Chicago when he was young. He began theater
work as a call boy, or stagehand, at McVicker's Theatre in Chicago.
After two years, he left to work for John E. Owens at the Variety
Theatre in New Orleans. His first stage role was in 1859 in The Little
Treasurer. He made his way back north with the onset of the American
Civil War, and by the early 1860s he was appearing in billed roles
including, for example, the role of Mark Meddle in London Assurance,
and Davy in The Phantom.On tour with Laura Keene's stage company in
1865, he had recently gained the title role in the company's
production of Tom Taylor's play Our American Cousin, playing the role
of Asa Trenchard. That role was best known for being played by popular
comedian Joseph Jefferson, as part of the company Keene used to debut
the play in America in 1858. The play remained popular for many
years.Hawk was alone on stage in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865,
delivering what was considered one of the funniest lines of the play.
"Don't know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know
enough to turn you inside out, old gal; you sockdologizing old
man-trap!" which was delivered just after actress Helen Muzzy left the
stage. Hysterical laughter began permeating the theater, and Lincoln
was laughing at this line when he was shot. John Wilkes Booth, an
experienced actor, knew the line would draw much laughter, and used
the opportunity to shoot, counting on the laughter to mask the report
of his pistol. When Booth jumped down toward the stage, Hawk at first
thought Booth was coming after him, and backed off the stage. Hawk
knew Booth, and immediately recognized him.
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