Stage & Screen
CALCRAFT
(John William, stage name of J.W. Cole, circa 1793-1870, Actor)
Autograph Letter Signed to 'My dear Sir',
saying Mr. & Mrs. Walton... have also been mentioned to me by Dowling,... who you may recollect in our young days in Society, but I have I regret to say no vacancies or any probability at present... in lines of acting so important as they wish to fill... My people... find themselves so comfortable, if they can meet in London it will give me the greatest possible pleasure to take so dear a friend by the hand. How many generations of our contemporaries have 'shuffled off' since you and I first met, & here we are still. Fortune has given me many hard nuts, but I hope she has used you more kindly, 2 sides 8vo., York, 9th September
Item Date: 1847
Background
Calcraft served in the 21st Foot, wrote a dramatic version of 'The Bride of Lammermoor', 1823, and made his début at the Theatre Royal, Dublin, in 1824 as Sir Joseph Surface. He was its lessee 1830-1851, and wrote the life of Charles Kean, 1859, whose secretary he had been.
Stock No. 16850