SPOKEN WORD: American Actress Blanche DeBar Booth ~ Niece of John Wilkes Booth (c.1922)

[eclecticdufus]

Nipper1884 has uploaded the R&J Balcony Scene with Sothern and Marlowe--with Marlowe sounding remarkably like Blanche Booth. Romeo and Juliet: Balcony Scene - E. H. Sothern & Julia Marlowe

We might smile at the style, but, unlike so often today, you damn well know it's poetic verse they're speaking.

[stuartliff]

How extraordinary to hear someone declaiming in the style of the Victorian era actors - in 1922! This type of delivery had long disappeared by the 20s. The divine Sarah does rather come to mind but she really was in her heyday back in the late 80s.

Thank you for this - quite unique. Vivian

[CurzonRoad]

@stuartliff

Greetings Vivian:

Most welcome... thank YOU!

Doug --

[eclecticdufus]

@stuartliff One can hear this style on the 1921-22 Victors of E.H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe in Shakespeare scenes. They garnered rave reviews in England and America in their day. Likewise the records of Ellen Terry. Their declamation seems almost much closer to singing (sprechstimme?) than speaking.

[rupepill]

Heartening to feel that we all share a common rendezvous.

[CurzonRoad]

@rupepill

Hi Rob: For better and/or worse this appears to be the case... though with "Many Mansions" one does wonder. Perhaps some will got lost in the shuffle? Until then.... Cheers! Doug --

[rupepill]

@CurzonRoad What a quaint idea, that some might be sidetracked from attending a final rendezvous, perhaps to shuffle on eternally.

[MichaelHTillman]

Hi Doug! I'd been out of the Youtube loop for quite some time. It looks like this was posted yesterday - I'm glad to see you still going strong!

[CurzonRoad]

@MichaelHTillman

Wow! So good to hear from you, to see and hear your postings... THANK YOU!

[webrarian]

I have a cousin who was an actor manager born in England in 1865. In his recordings, he did not declaim in this way. But Sarah Bernhardt most certainly did. A wonderful document of someone born 44 years before Edison's Perfected Phonograph made a showing.

[CurzonRoad]

@webrarian

Greetings: Very interesting. Yes, another friend has also noted the similarity with Bernhardt. Question: Would it be possible for us to hear the recordings of your relative? Thank you! Doug --

[webrarian]

@CurzonRoad I don't have the recording on YT yet, but if you search Google for "burgomaster of stilemonde recording" (without the quotes) you'll find it.

[CurzonRoad]

@webrarian

Apologies belated reply (at times comments fail to land in one's inbox). Voila... found it! Quite interesting... many, many thanks for this! Best. Doug --

[spannerworks1]

Hi Doug

I have been to Essex Farm in Belgium - there is a brass plaque with the poem by John Mccrae which was the dressing station he worked at - which is still there. In the crematory I read aloud the citation of Pt Barrett V.C. aged 26 who is buried their at died in 1916.

Warm regards

Richard

[CurzonRoad]

@spannerworks1

Greetings Richard: And thank you for sharing with us your moving experience. Best Always. Doug --

[opertutto]

Doug, what a thrill to hear this declamation! More than just a souvenir of times gone by. George

[CurzonRoad]

@opertutto

Hello, George... and thank you! 

[EdmundStAustell]

This is fascinating--and very moving. I love that old style of declamation. I think it works very well in English, in a way that singing often does not. I have an ancient 78 of William Jennings Bryan reciting the 23rd Psalm, and the style is identical. Great post! I love this kind of thing.

[Labienus]

Great stuff-imagine listening to a Booth

That style of declaiming was very much the way it was done well into the twentieth century-if the recording is 22-I find it very much of its time-the rolled r's, the slight quavering of the voice, the over emphatic pronunciation

We were certainly led to believe Rendezvous was JFK's favorite poem-and in light of his end....but I do find that myth making a bit disquieting

[CurzonRoad]

@Labienus

Hi Marshall: Regarding JFK... is the alleged myth confirmed as such? THANKS! 

[Labienus]

@CurzonRoad I think so-Iremember that while he was president-but I did look a bit-not only was it a "favorite" and Jackie would recite it-but memorized it for him! Imagine sitting around the fireplace, and saying-honey, let's hear a little Rendezvous

But even inhis lifetime there was the tragedy of his brother&sister-oh and do we include Papa Joe lobotomizing his daughter?

Just being nasty-and was reacting to myth making about historical figures

[mayatatyana1]

Thank you, Doug. Extraordinary acting. Diction is wonderful. Great to hear the acting style of a bygone era. Maya

[CurzonRoad]

@mayatatyana1

Dear Maya:

Thank YOU... most welcome!

Doug --

PS: Phone home...

[transformingArt]

Saw this on the Holdridge catalogue of this year - thanks for posting this rare recording.

[CurzonRoad]

@transformingArt

Hi Mark... most welcome. Thank you! Doug --

[ThePeaceableKingdom]

Marvelous recording. Thanks for posting. This is from a cylinder, I presume?

Perhaps this gives a hint of the stentorian style of theatre performance in the victorian age? Or perhaps it's just the requirements of acoustic recording... being from 1922 it would certainly be an acoustic recording.

[CurzonRoad]

@ThePeaceableKingdom

Thank you!

Via 78RPM disc.

Best.

Doug --

[ThePeaceableKingdom]

@CurzonRoad Thanks. Good to know.

[CurzonRoad]

@ThePeaceableKingdom

Regarding acting styles of bygone days... yes, it is curious and fascinating. Perhaps there are listeners in the know? It would be good to hear from them. Cheers, etc. Doug --

[HerAeolianHarp]

How haunting that this fine work was beloved by JFK. Thanks for keeping some fascinating corners of history illuminated, Doug. I agree with the other comment about her diction. Indeed. :)

[CurzonRoad]

@HerAeolianHarp

Thank you, Erika... very much! Best. Doug --

[Bivolari]

She is very moving. Impeccable diction and a beautifully supported speaking voice. There are none like her anymore.

Thanks Doug!

[CurzonRoad]

@Bivolari

Good Evening, Stephen: As always... thank you! Doug --