Author: Wilson, Francis.(1854-1935). American stage actor who was the founding president of Actors Equity.
Title: A Friendly, Humorously Sarcastic Letter to Architect Edgar Allen Poe Newcomb Signed by American Stage Actor Francis Wilson.
Description: Colonnade Hotel, Philadelphia, PA: December 23rd, 1890. 1890. - Letter penned in black ink & filling both sides of an 8-1/2 inch high by 5-1/8 inch wide sheet of lined Colonnade Hotel letterhead. Signed "Francis Wilson". The top edge of the letterhead is darkened, chipped & creased and the bottom right corner is lightly creased. There are several tiny pinholes to the left edge. Folded twice for mailing. Good.

A humorous letter, full of personality, penned by Wilson to Edgar Allen Poe Newcomb who was then working in his father's architectural firm, Levi Newcomb & Son in Boston. Wilson appears to address his correspondent as "Mr. Newcomb Planner" and writes: "We are ready for the window plan when you are but don't let that interfere with your work or your digestion. I send you something bracing with which to drink my health. I send it direct to N. Scituate [a town in Massachusetts] -- as it is designed to be used there only." He then refers to a "Song", possibly "Two Maidens" by Newcomb, who was also a poet and composer. The song was published in the year of this letter, 1890.

Francis Wilson [1854-1935] was an American stage actor, born in Philadelphia, who was the founding president of Actors Equity [1913-1920]. After several years playing in comedy and comic opera and making a great success in "Erminie" [1886], Wilson made his first appearance as a star in "The Oolah". He formed his own theatre company in 1899. He was also an author, writing several plays, a memoir of Joseph Jefferson, an autobiography, and "John Wilkes Booth, Fact and Fiction of Lincoln's Assassination" [1929], which he wrote with information from his close friend Edwin Booth. Good .

Keywords: THEATRE; AMERICAN THEATRE; A FRIENDLY, HUMOROUSLY SARCASTIC LETTER TO ARCHITECT EDGAR ALLEN POE NEWCOMB SIGNED BY AMERICAN STAGE ACTOR FRANCIS WILSON; ALS; A.L.S.; SIGNATURE; LEVI NEWCOMB & SON; FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF ACTORS EQUITY; NINETEENTH CENTURY;

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