Evening star., 1926-10-16
c. B. B.HANFOR DIES;
WAS NOTED ACTOR
CAPITAL Resident Was Widely
Known as Interpreter
of Shakespeare.
Charles B. Hanford, one of the most

Charles B. Hanford, one of the most
widely known and popular SNAKE
spearean actors Of America, ana
resident of the National Capltal TOT
msny years, died at his reslaehce,
2O32 Allen place, at 1915 o'clock
this afternoon, following a year OF
poor health and a recent critical III
ness of a few weeks. An attack OF
appendicitis suffered two weeks ago
had required and Mr.. Hanford'S gen.
eral condition precluded an opera
ton. Funeral arrangements have not
been made, but interment will be In
Rock Creek Cemetery.
Wherever actors foregather and
wherever the drama in which he
specialized Is appreciated Mr.. Hanford
will be mourned. Most of his pro-
tours which covered the entire United
States. He lived in Washington in
his off seasons and almost constantly
since his retirement from the stage in
1914. Although his home town did
not often have opportunity to see
him tread the boards, nevertheless,
due to the fact that its population
is drawn from all over the country
and to the ability and character of
honored him. Scarcely second to his
fame as an actor was his reputation
in patriotic recitation. Many thou
sands have listened with pleasure and
inspiration to his rendition of 'The
Star Spangled Banner"
Mr.. Hanford is survived by his wife,
who was Miss Mary Ella T. Bear of
this city and who later went on the
stage with her husband; by brother,
III ~
business manager of The Evening
Star, and by a sister, Mrs. Harry
Gullickson of Los Angeles. Calf.
Entered School Here.
Born in California May 5. 1859,
Hanford came East with his parents
10 years later, and graduated from
the Washington High School, prede-
cessor Of Central High, in 1890 He
began the study of law at Columbia
Law School, and served as secretary
to Horace F. Page, Representative in
Congress from California. For a short
time he held a clerkship in one of the
Federal departments. but soon his
prediction and equipment for the
stage drew him inevitably to his life
career. His first experience was
gained as a member of the Lawrence
Barrett Dramatic Club of this city, a
remarkable amateur organization,
which furnished a number of eminent
actors to the legitimate stage.
In 1882, at the age Of 23, he made
his first professional appearance in
Shakespearean plays with William
Stafford. He rose rapidly in the esti-
nation of his colleagues, and within
a few years achieved the distinction
of supporting the two eminent
tragedians, Barrett and Booth. He
also appeared with Thomas w. Keene,
| with Robson and Crane, with Mrs.
John Drew in old English comedy
and for two seasons was with Julia
MarloWe.
Stars i'm 1891.
Individual stardom was not long in
coming. In 1891 he first ventured on
an Independent starring season, filling
the roles of Marc Antony and lingo
mar. Subsequently he was co-star
with Keene, with r. d. Mclean, with
Odette Tyler, Louis James and Kath-
ryn Kidder.
For some years he headed his own
company, wherein, supported by his
wife, whose stage name was Miss
Marie Drofnah, he scored noteworthy
success in such roles as Petruchio,
Richard III, Brutus. Marc Antony,
| Othello, Iago, Shylock, Leontes, Au-
| tolycus and Benedick. Nor did the
| classics Of the Bard of Avon hold him
exclusively. He made marked repu-
| tation as Don Caesar de BaZan ana
Corp. Haversack in THE Old Guard.
1t was as an interpreter of Shake
| speare, nevertheless, that he gained
| his greatest glory. His commanding
presence and, above all, his resonant
and pleasant voice eminently fitted
| him for such Characterization. 1t Is
| related, that when he played Marc
Antony to Edwin Booths Brutus, the
| latter stars words could be heard
only in certain portions of the house,
| whereas when the Grafton of Antony
| was delivered every ear heard every
| syllable.
Played Here Often.
It must not be thought that Mr..
Hanford never played in washington.
| Although most Of his work was done
on the road he was seen here at
various times Among other ap-
| pearances here was that in which ne
| closed a successful season, when ne
played Iago at the Columbia Theater,
| in company with Odette Tyler, X. ID.
| Mclean and Mrs. Hanford.
Mr.. Hanford bore to the late VIII
| liam Jennings Bryan resemblance
| scarcely less ClOS0 llIhil Ills dNAiAA q
| ton for that statesman was sincere.
Even without extraneous aid he could
have passed himself off as Bryan on
the uninitiated. With a skilled touch
| or two of makeup, and In the garb
which Bryan affected. the resem-
blance was SO startling that one could
scarcely credit the fact that 1t was
an impersonation.
! One of the greatest hits, among
| those at Gridiron dinners OF decade
ago. was q pre-arranged appearance
| of Hanford as Bryan. in which the
former sat in the seat reserved for
| the Secretary of State for two hours,
and the hoax was discovSced only
when the real Bryan, unable to ap-
pear at the beginning of the festivi
| ties. confronted the actor.
Mr.. Hanford's last active season
| ON the stage was that of 1913-1914.
He had settled down to enjoy a we'll
earned leisure when the United States
| entered the World War. His knowl-
edge of stagecraft made him emf
| nently fitted to aid Thomas A. Edison
| in schemes wherewith to camouflage
| troops. troop ships and war vessels.
and during the period of hostilities
| he was closely and arduously associ-
ated with the great inventaA nARoA