Lawrence Marston

Lawrence Marston (June 8, 1857 – February 1, 1939) was an American actor, playwright, producer, stage director and film director.

Biography

Marston was born to a Jewish family in Hammerstadt, Bohemia, Austrian Empire (now Vlastějovice in the Czech Republic). Naturalized in Chicago, he lived mainly in New York City. After working as an actor, producer and director for the stage, he became a film director with the Biograph Studios.

His first wife was actress Lillian Lewis, born in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, as Katherine (Kate) Lillian Manley. She was the daughter of George C. and Amanda Furman Manley. Four children were born to George and Amanda: Milton, Kate (Lillian), Fred and Mabel. George C. Manley was an American Civil War veteran born in the state of New York. His Grand Army of the Republic flag is at the grave site of his wife Amanda at Newton Cemetery just outside Emporium, Pennsylvania. It is not known if he had a grave marker or if time and vandalism have taken it. Amanda died March 19, 1865, her son, Milton died shortly after.

Lillian was employed for several terms as teacher in both Emporium and Shippen and considered to be a scholar with an energetic and pleasing disposition. About 1873, she moved to Minnesota with her father. She met Jacques Julian Lewis to whom she married in Manhattan on 2 April 1878 and gave birth to Jacqueline Mable "Tott" Lewis in Chicago. Her first appearance on the stage was in 1882, when she played Marianne in The Two Orphans at the Fifth Avenue Theater, New York City. Jacques and Lillian divorced in Chicago on November 20, 1885. After three years of success in various companies, she organized a company of her own and entered upon a successful career as a star at the People's Theater. New York, in the autumn of 1885. She chose the part of Cora in Article 47 for her introduction to the public on that occasion, and was well received. In addition she played the principal woman in Camille, The Lady of Lyons, An Unequal Match, The New Magdalen, Frou-Frou and Adrienne Lecouvreur.

In 1888 she married Marston, who had been for some time her leading man. Marston continued to act the principal men of her plays, managed her business, and adapted and wrote plays for her. By his work her repertory was increased with As in a Looking Glass, Doña Sol, Credit Lorraine, Lady Lil, Good-by, Sweetheart, Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, An Innocent Sinner, For Liberty and Love and The Widow Goldstein. The last three were the joint work of Mr. and Mrs. Marston. Her last appearance was in St. Louis, April 27, 1898. The last year of her life was passed in seeking relief from consumption. She died in Farmington, Minnesota on August 11, 1899.

Marston's second wife Anna Cornelia Delves was billed as Mrs. Lawrence Marston. With her, he had his only daughter, Anna Lawrence Marston, who was baptized Catholic at age 12.

Lawrence Marston died 1 February 1939 in Manhattan. His ashes were interred into the mausoleum of Ferncliff Cemetery.

Works

Playwright

• An Innocent Sinner (1896)
• The Widow Goldstein (1897)
• For Liberty and Love (1897)
• The Helmet of Navarre (1901)
• The Penitent (1902) from Hall Caine's novel A Son of Hagar
• The Little Mother (1902)
• A Remarkable Case (1902)
• After Midnight (1904)
• When the World Sleeps (1905)
• Jeanne D'arc (1906)

Screenwriter

• The Warfare of the Flesh (1917) scenario
• The Border Legion (1918)
• A Man of Iron (1925) adaptation

Stage director

• The Monster (1922) play by Crane Wilbur
• Death Takes a Holiday (1929) with Katharine Hepburn (both actress and director were fired during the run)

Film director

• The Star of Bethlehem
• The Evidence of the Film (1913) short
• The Woman in Black (1914)
• Under the Gaslight (1914) with Lionel Barrymore and Mrs. Lawrence Marston
• The Marriage Bond (1916)
• A Wall Street Tragedy (1916)

External links

• Lawrence Marston at IMDb
• Lawrence Marston at the Internet Broadway Database