November 6, 2015
Percy Garnett Williams (1857-1923) was an American actor and an Immortal Lamb. He rose from starring in travelling medicine shows to owning scores of theaters by the late 19th century. Williams developed real estate and an amusement park in rural Brooklyn, and he was an early supporter of the Actors… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Albert Jerome “Bert” Wheeler (7 April 1895 – 18 January 1968) was a comedian who performed on Broadway, in Hollywood, on radio, and in Vaudeville. He was the comedy partner of Robert Woolsey (1888-1938), and together they formed a successful double act called Wheeler & Woolsey from 1927-1937. His comedy… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Percy Wenrich (January 23, 1880 – March 17, 1952) was a composer of ragtime and popular music. Wenrich was born in Joplin, Missouri, where his father, Daniel Wenrich, was a lead miner. He learned to play piano and organ from his mother Mary, and started to compose songs as a… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
David Warfield (November 28, 1866-June 27, 1951) was one of the greatest stage actors of his generation. His career spanned the Gilded Age to the Prohibition Era and Warfield gained a national reputation for popular comedy and dramatic parts that played on his hidden immigrant roots. Warfied was a Lamb… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Augustus Thomas (8 January 1857 – 12 August 1934) was a Missouri-born playwright, a champion for social justice in the theatre, outspoken pundit, and a member of The Lambs for nearly 50 years. He was elected to The Lambs in 1889, served as Boy for seven terms, and Shepherd 1907-1910.… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Winchell Smith (5 April 1871 – 10 June 1933) was a successful playwright and producer in the first decades of the 20th century. Smith co-wrote two major Broadway hits, Brewster’s Millions (1906) and Lightnin’ (1918), that not only made him rich, they gave work to hundreds of professionals for many… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Raymond W. Peck (July 3, 1876-March 15, 1950) served The Lambs as Librarian, Recording Secretary, Councilor, Boy, and the 25th Shepherd. He was a successful lyricist and writer for vaudeville and Broadway musicals. Peck was elected to The Lambs in 1910 and was a member for 40 years. He retired… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
William Norris (15 June 1862 – 20 March 1929) was a longtime working actor with a career that spanned from California to New York, from playing musical comedies on the road to silent pictures. When he died he left what money he’d saved to The Lambs and others. For his… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Henry James Montague (1846-1878) was an actor and one of the founders of The Lambs in New York in 1874. He served as the club’s first Shepherd, but didn’t live long enough to see its great success. He is an Immortal Lamb and The Lambs’ Montague Society is named in his honor.… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Thomas Meighan (April 9, 1879 – July 8, 1936) was an American actor of silent films and early talkies. He played several leading man roles opposite popular actresses of the day including Mary Pickford and Gloria Swanson. At one point he commanded $10,000 a week. Meighan was elected to The… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Bert Mortimer Lytell (24 February 1884 – 28 September 1954) was one of many members of The Lambs who started out in Vaudeville and made the leap to Broadway, radio serials, silent films, talking pictures, and ultimately to live television. He toured the country numerous times–even to the Hawaiian Islands–and… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Frank W. Kitching (6 April 1839 – 16 November 1917) was a nontheatrical member of The Lambs who respected his friends and actors so much that it led him to launch the Lambs Memorial Relief Fund, which is still supporting worthy causes 100 years later as the Lambs’ Foundation. Kitching… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Charles Hale Hoyt (1859-1900) was one of the most beloved American playwrights of his time, specializing in “farce comedy,” early models of American musical comedy. He was a product of New England, and his comedies played well in small towns across the country. His biggest hit was A Trip to… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
DeWolf Hopper (30 March 1858 – 24 September 1935) was a New York actor, comedian, singer, and producer. A star of musical theater, he made the baseball poem “Casey at the Bat” famous by performing it 12,000 times. He was elected to The Lambs in 1887, served as Shepherd 1900-02,… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
William Surrey Hart (December 6, 1864 – June 23, 1946) was an American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is remembered as a foremost western star of the silent era who “imbued all of his characters with honor and integrity.” During the late 1910s and early 1920s, he… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Robert L. Hague (March 2, 1880 – March 8, 1939) was a sailor, shipping executive, philanthropist, and bon vivant of the highest caliber. Hague was treasurer of The Lambs during the Great Depression and used his business savvy to rescue the Club from certain doom. The Lambs may have folded… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Joseph R. Grismer (3 November 1849 – 3 March 1922) was an actor, writer, producer, and manager. He became wealthy by producing hit melodramas that played across the United States at the end of the 19th century. He was elected to The Lambs May 29, 1893. As 12th Shepherd of… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Clay Meredith Greene (12 March 1850-5 September 1933) was a prolific playwright from San Francisco. He was Shepherd of The Lambs for 11 terms as well as Boy and Director many times. He was elected to The Lambs in 1887. In 1887–when the club was only 13 years old–the routine… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
John L. Golden (27 June 1874-17 June 1955) worked in every single creative role in theatre and was a tireless champion of Broadway. He rose from writing novelty songs to producing major hits to become one of the most popular of any Lambs’ member before World War II. He was… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
James Scott Glascock (20 March 1952-27 August 2016) was an actor, philanthropist, attorney, and investor. He left the corporate world to pursue acting and voice-over work. He was an active participant in numerous clubs. Glascock was elected to The Lambs in 1992; he served on the Lambs’ Council for many… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Martin James Gillen (October 1, 1872-September 22, 1943) was a nonprofessional member and a nationally known business counselor, economist, and writer. Gillen was elected to The Lambs in 1931. He was an invaluable member of the Council during the Great Depression. As chairman of the Finance Committee, he was chiefly… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
William Anthony Gaxton (December 2, 1893 – February 2, 1963) was a star of vaudeville, film, and theatre. Gaxton was Shepherd from 1936-1939, 1952-1953, and 1957-1961. He is an Immortal Lamb. He was born Arturo Antonio Gaxiola in San Francisco. While attending the University of California he made his stage… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Tom Dillon (1918-2005) was Shepherd of The Lambs from 1969-1986. The actor and singer was the longest serving Shepherd. Assuming the post in 1969, he gave his heart and soul to steer the club through the difficult years of the 1970s. He was the Shepherd to lead the Flock from… Continue reading →
November 6, 2015
Richard Lincoln Charles (12 February 1923 — 22 September 1997) was an actor, publishing executive, and philanthropist. He was elected to The Lambs in 1953. He served as Shepherd from 1986-1997. For his devotion to the Club he was named an Immortal Lamb. From The Lambs’ Script, By Editor Lewis… Continue reading →