Augustus Harris
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Not to be confused with Augustus Glossop Harris (1825-1873), also a British dramatist.
Sir Augustus Henry Glossop Harris (b. Paris, France, 1852; d. June 22, 1896, Folkestone, England) was an actor, impresario, and dramatist. From 1879, he was manager of the Drury Lane Theatre in London, England, and was nicknamed the "Father of Modern Pantomime" and "Augustus Druriolanus."
Harris also took an interest in politics, and became a member of the London County Council, representing the Strand division. He was appointed sheriff in 1891 and deputy lieutenant of the city of London. He was knighted in 1891.
Plays written by Harris, some in collaboration with Petit and Hamilton, included: The World (his first production), Youth, Human Nature, A Run of Luck, The Spanish Armada, A Million of Money, The Prodigal Daughter, A Life of Pleasure, and The Derby Winner, produced in the United States under the title The Sporting Duchess. With Francis Clement Philips, he co-authored the play "A Puzzled Painter", which was published after his death.
With Henry Pettitt, he wrote the play Burmah, produced on Broadway in 1896.
Harris is commemorated at the Drury Lane Theatre with a publicly funded memorial fountain featuring masonic symbols (he was a freemason).
[edit] External links
- Works by Augustus Harris at Project Gutenberg
- Augustus Harris at the Internet Movie Database
- Augustus Harris at the Internet Broadway Database
- Memorial Fountain Profile at SOL Guide to London
- Portrait
- Biography at the Jewish Encyclopedia
