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2 Actor Photos WilliamClark Sampson / Mary Sampson c 1900 Coll John T. Ford Family
William Sampson(1859-1922)was a veteran comedian and character actor, along with being one of thefounding members of Actors Equity. For more than a year Foster played thecrusty father inThe First Year(1920) at the Little Theatre. WilliamClark Sampson was born 2 May 1859 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Among hisfirst Broadway credits was inThe Geisha(1896). He was amember of the Daly stock company and was in the original cast ofTheEasiest Way(1909), playing the role of Jim.The Witching Hour(1907)andDavid Harum(1900) were among the many other plays inwhich he acted.
Sampson was elected toThe Lambs in 1903, and he was a member of The Players. In 1913 he was one ofthe original 23 council members when Actors’ Equity was created.
He and his wife, actressMary Ann Webster, married in 1900, spent their summers near Boston and at thebeaches of Minot, a section of Scituate, Massachusetts.
Sampson had been in poorhealth for some time. The day before his death he regretfully notified themanagement that he was too ill to appear that evening, the first time in 40years on the stage he was unable to play his part. On April 5, 1922 he died ofheart disease in his apartment in the Hotel Seymour. He was 62.
With certificate ofprovenance from Rare Nest Gallery Chicago. Catalog number PMK0031-32
Collectors Biography:Estate of Martha Ford Gresham (John T. Ford daughter)
1872, Baltimore – 1923,Baltimore
Growing up in herfather’s theaters gave Martha Ford a rare vantage point and opportunity to rubelbows with the prominent theatrical figures of the 19th and early 20thcentury. Evidence of this proximity is present throughout her sub-collection.Martha’s autograph book, dedicated photographs and a poem composed by EdwinBooth about her as a toddler demonstrate convivial relationships with thestars. From her teen years, Martha’s father worked assiduously to develop andpromote her career and from at least 1894 Martha developed a repertory withrenowned Shakespearian actor Creston Clarke (nephew of the Booth brothers).Martha received positive reviews as Ophelia in Hamlet and as Juliet. From 1890,Martha became known for her recitation of Francis Scott Key’s “Star SpangledBanner”. The national anthem enjoyed an almost fanatical revival during thisperiod, and she was asked to recite at fairs and festivals across the country,including the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Also in the 1890’s,possibly at Daly’s Theatre in New York, Martha met Herbert Gresham, aLondon-born stage manager and actor. After her marriage to Herbert, Marthaseems to have retired from the stage to raise her three children.
We areselling several hundred pieces related to John T. Ford, Ford’s Theater andFord’s descendants who were figures in American theater from 1840 – 1970. Seemy store, subscribe and visit category “American Theater History” for muchmore.
