New-York tribune., 1921-12-29
Sir John Hare,
Actor-Manager,
Dies i'm London
Long One of the Most Noted
Characters of the British
Stage and Associate of
Many Famous Thespians
Frequent Visitor to u. S.
First Appearance in This
City Was in Abbey's The
ater i'll December, 1895

LONDON, Dec 2S.-Sir John Hare,
for many years one of the foremost ac-
tors and managers Of the English stage,
and frequent and welcome visitor to
America, is dead at the age of seventy
seven. His real name was John Fairs,
but he adopted at the beginning of his
stage career that by which he ever since
has been known. Born in London on
May 16, 1874, and educated at the Gig
geswick Grammar School in Yorkshire,
he made his first appearance on the
stage when twenty years old at the
Prince Of Walcss Theater, Liverpool
The famous j. L. Toole was the star Of
the plav. "A Woman of Business and
young Hare's part, that of a fop, was
very small one, although big enough to
give him a bad case of stage fright
Among his frienos and associates at that
time were the elder Sothern. Squire
Bancroft, William Blakeley and Lionel
Brough.
After a year at Liverpool he went to
London in 1866 and played prominent
parts in the entire series of Robertson's
comedies and in the "Old English Come
dies one of his first great hits being as
Sir Peter Teazle. Another notable sue
cess was as Sam Gerridgc in Caste"
His ability as a stage manager as well
as actor was marked, and in 1875 he
began brilliant career as actor-man-
ager of the Court Theater There for
a time his leading lady was the gifted
Madge Robertson Kendall, with which he
produced Coghans Lady Flora" Gill
10, -tc
"A Nine Days Wonder" and other like
plays.
Ellen Terry in Company
As Prosper Couramont in an Angli-
cized version of Sardou's Scrap Of
Paper" he gave a performance which
for perfection was comparable with
that of Lester Wallack on the Ameri-
can stage. When Mrs. Kendall left his
company for time her place was filled
by Miss Ellen Terry, with whom he
produced Wills's "Olivia." Then Mrs.
Kendall and her husband returned, and
remained there until 1879, when Mr.
Hare and Mr.. Kendall formed partner
ship for the management of the ST.
James's Theater, an enterprise which
lasted with brilliant success until
until 1888. 1t was under their man
agement that A W. Pinero's plays
were produced, and that authors repu-
tation was established as one of the
foremost English playwrights' Of his
time. Mrs. Burnetts and Mr.. Gillette's
"Esmeralda" also was presented, to-
gether with many other fine comedies,
new and old.
In 1889 Mr.. Hare assumed the direc-
tion of the Garrick Theater, which had
been built for him. There he produced
Pinero's "The Profigate," Diplomacy" I"
"a Pair of Spectacles," "a FOOLS Para
disc" "The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith"
and manv others, in most of which he
himself took the leading parts.
Mr.. Hare first visited America in
1895, and on December 23 made his
first appearance in New York at Alb
bey's Theater as the Duke of ST.
Olpherts in "Thc Notorious Mrs Ebb-
smith" Among the members of his
(Julia Neilson). His success was great,
with both the critics and the public,
and he was recognized, as he had been
for thirty years in England, as su-
preme exponent of highly finished,
polished and subtle stage art.
Subsequent Visits to United States
He made several subsequent visits
to America, his last as an actor being
in 1900. He was engaged by Charles
Frohman to open the Blackstone Thea
ter in Chicago in 1911, but the engage
ment was cancelled. He visited New
York for the last time in April, 1912,
on his way to Canada to judge, at the
invitation of the Governor General, the
amateur dramatic competition for the
Canadian trophy. At that time he had
nominally retired from the stage, his
so-called farewell appearance having
been in "The Gay Lord Quex" in Lon
don in 1907, although, in fact, he
played many times thereafter in
various English towns, giving among
them q round Of farewell perform
ances."
He wns knighted in 1907. In 1864,
almost coincidently with his first ap-
pearance on the stage, he was married
to Mary Adela Elizabeth Holmes,
daughter of John Hare Holmes, from
whose fathers name he took his own
stage name. His children were a son
and two daughters.
Miss Orn1istOn a Bride