Marcus R. Mayer (Nov. 17, 1842–May 8, 1918) was responsible for the first American performances of Sarah Bernhardt, Henry Irving, Olga Nethersole, Ellen Terry, and scores more. Mayer managed national tours for Edwin Booth and Lillie Langtry. The San Francisco Chronicle nicknamed Mayer “The Dean of Impressarios.”
Mayer was elected to the Lambs in 1891 as a Professional Member.
He was born in New Orleans on Nov. 17, 1842. His large family went to San Francisco as pioneers in 1850, later settling in Portland. Mayer was a raconteur, and friends believed he was a Pony Express rider and stagecoach driver for Wells Fargo Express. However, before his theatrical life, Mayer was an expert of printing presses and newspaper deadlines.
In 1859 he arrived in Portland, where he joined the staff of The Oregonian. He was on the staff for fifteen years as an editor, before taking newspaper jobs in Victoria, British Columbia, and San Francisco. In Sacramento, he worked for the California Legislature, leading to other roles in politics on the publicity and marketing side of the industry.
This led him to New York in the 1870s. Mayer was an advance man for Lawrence Barrett, the celebrated Shakespearean actor and co-star of Edwin Booth. Among his early clients was the notoriously difficult Bernhardt. Mayer smoothly won Bernhardt over, and she called him “Ma chère Marcus” and was his dear friend for decades. In time, when a European star travelled to tour the immense United States and Canada territories, it was Mayer who made all the arrangements.
He became partners with Henry E. Abbey. Mayer and Abbey at one time briefly managed the Metropolitan Opera House with his vast knowledge of opera performers. In time, the travels of stars big and small were handled by Mayer and his associates. He took great care with the older 19th century actors, many of them his friends from The Lambs.
Mayer began his show business career managing troupes of traveling actors and musicians. He conducted the tours of players, including Booth and Bernhardt. Because he was intimately associated with the West Coast, he was able to book tours for traveling companies with his vast knowledge and connections. While he ran his business from Manhattan, he occasionally toured. He famously took superstar Spanish soprano Adelina Patti to Portland to meet his friends and family, then onto an international tour.
Mayer was one of the most beloved Lambs for his generosity. He gave away large sums to those in need. If a show was a failure, he would step in to help those who were in financial distress. Mayer never married, and lived in the Lambs’ clubhouse on West 44th Street when he was in New York. Mayer was among the most travelled of any club; he boasted more than 100 ocean crossings. These were always first class and on the best steamship lines.
In January 1911 a massive all-day Sunday tribute was held in his honor at the Amsterdam Theatre. As Mayer’s health deteriorated, The Lambs hosted all-stars of drama and comedy, and performed three songs (one in drag). In attendance were David Belasco, William A. Brady, Charles Frohman, Oscar Hammerstein, Lee Shubert, Daniel Frohman, A.L. Erlanger, Marc Klaw, and William Harris. Shepherd Augustus Thomas was the host and the opening remarks were delivered by Bernhardt. Many classic shows were on the bill for a packed house. Among the most-beloved was a revival of an act from “Bertha, The Sewing Machine Girl” with Ethel Barrymore, John Drew, and Tyrone Power. The tribute started at 1:30 and the final curtain came down after 6:00 p.m. for the rousing show.
On Dec. 31, 1917, Mayer suffered a stroke outside the Clubhouse for the Club’s New Year’s Eve dinner. He never recovered. Mayer spent his last days at a Long Island retirement home in Amityville. His death occurred on May 8, 1918. He was 75 years old. His funeral was under the auspices of the Masonic Temple of New York, with Lambs filling the seats. His death was reported internationally.
Researched and written by Shepherd Kevin C. Fitzpatrick (2026)