Frederick George Maeder (1840- 9 April 1891, New York City) was an American playwright and actor.[1][2] Born in New York, he was the son of composer and vocal coach James Gaspard Maeder (1809–1876), and his wife, the actress Clara Fisher (1811–1898).[3] He made his professional stage debut in 1859 in Portland, Maine portraying the officer Barnardo in William Shakespeare's Hamlet in a production managed by George Paunceford.[2] As an actor he mainly performed comedic characters, often with an eccentric flair. He was best known during his lifetime as the writer of many plays; crafting works for numerous stage personalities of the second half of the 19th century.[3] In addition to the many plays he wrote alone, he also co-wrote plays with McKee Rankin, among them Wife and Child,[4] The Runaway Wife and The Canuck.[5]

Maeder died of pneumonia at the age of 50 at the home of his brother Gaspard at 311 E 114th St New York, NY 10029.[2]

Partial list of plays

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  • Red Riding Hood; or Wolf's at the Door (1868)[3]
  • Help (1871)[3]
  • Lola (1871)[3]
  • Buffalo Bill (1872)[6]
  • Life's Peril; or, The Drunkard's Wife (1872)[3]
  • Nip, the Pretty Flower (1873)[3]
  • Mat, the Romp (1883, written for Carrie Swain)[7]
  • Morning Glory (1884, written for Carrie Swain)[8]
  • Wife and Child (1884, with McKee Rankin)[4]
  • Old London (1887, with McKee Rankin)[9]
  • The Runaway Wife (1888, with McKee Rankin; heavily revised version of Wife and Child)[10]
  • The Skirmish Line (1888, with McKee Rankin)[11]
  • The Canuck (1889, with McKee Rankin)[12]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Hixon & Hennessee, p. 251
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary: Frederick G. Maeder". New York Sun. April 10, 1891. p. 2.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Bordman & Hischak
  4. ^ a b Beasley, p. 189
  5. ^ "Playwright Maeder Seriously Ill". Philadelphia Times. April 9, 1891. p. 1.
  6. ^ "William "Buffalo Bill" Cody". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Amusements". Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. January 2, 1883. p. 3.
  8. ^ "Amusement Review". Indianapolis Journal. February 19, 1884. p. 8.
  9. ^ Beasley, p. 239
  10. ^ Beasley, p. 246-247
  11. ^ Beasley, p. 249
  12. ^ Beasley, p. 254-255

Bibliography

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