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Al. H. Wilson ( Alphonse or Alfonso H. Wilson; né Alphonse Heerwich Niederhöfer; 3 March 1868 – 6 March 1936) was an American stage actor, comedian, singer, monologist, songwriter, theater stock company director, and playwright. He was the brother of actress Lizzie Wilson (née Elisabeth Niederhöfer; 1863–1939). Until World War I, he was billed as "the great German dialect comedian and golden voiced singer".

Who's Who verbatim
Wilson was born in Buffalo, New York, to Johannes (John) Niederhofer (1827–1892) and Joanna (Anna) Stengel (1826–1872). He was educated in the Buffalo public schools. Wilson began his professional career as a member of the Messenger Boys' Quartette, in variety, 1885–1886, then becoming member of Wilson's All Star Minstrels (George Wilson; 1844–1930), in which, from 1887 to 1888, he appeared as featured vocalist and vocalist with the Messenger Quartette (with Falke, Sanders, and Zimmerman).


 * Wilson's All-Star Minstrels


 * Fox & Ward, comedians, Joe Fox (né Joseph Monahan, 1852–1934) and William H. Ward (1852–1937) – comedy team for 70 years, from 1868 to 1928
 * Professor A.L. Gleason and His 10,000 Dog Circus
 * Falke & Semans, musical artists
 * Marba Con tortionist – "the human snake"
 * Messenger Quartette – Wilson, Falke, Sanders, and Zimmerman
 * The Boston Four


 * He then played several parts in the touring show, A Soap Bubble, 1888–1889, a three-act comedy produced by Irish-born comedian from Buffalo, Thomas J. Farron (1851–1923), and written by James Montgomery Phister (1852–1917), a Yale graduate who, among other things, had been dramatic editor of the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune for 35 years.


 * He began vaudeville as a single act, 1889–1890, making his first appearance in Chicago, singing German songs. His success was immediate, and he joined Nelson's Great World Combination (see ) ("America's representative vaudeville company"), a group of vaudeville artists, 1890–1892. Robert Nelson (1940–1916).


 * Wilson played Jacob Blotzmeyier in Two Old Cronies, 1891–1893. Fannie Bloodgood was in the cast as Elsie Rush. Wilson and Fanny Bloodgood (née Fannie Mauran; 1867–1951) were married in Chicago April 19, 1892, during the production. The play was written by Frank M. Wills ( Franklin M. Wills; 1854–1903) and William C. Anderson. It premiered in 1887 under the auspices of Wills, Henshaw, and Ten Broeck – composed of Frank M. Wills, John E. Henshaw (1853–1939), and Miss May Ten Broeck ( Mary Hale; 1848–1908; married 1868 to George Williams Beardsely; 1840–1917). Around 1890, Henshaw and Ten Broeck sold their interest to Frank Wills' brother, John B. Wills ( John Buchanan Wills; 1859–1913).
 * Selected songs:

 "Blame It On the Girls," sang by Ada Deaves (1855–1920)  "Poppy," sang by Bloodgood


 * Fannie Bloodgood was a daughter of Carlo "Harry Bloodgood" Mauran (1844–1886), a comic actor.


 * Appeared as Karl Pretzel, with Frederick Hallen and Joseph Hart, in The Idea, 1892–1895. Wilson's wife, Fannie Bloodgood, play the part of Peach Blow. The play opened in 1892 in Kansas City at the Grand Opera House, formerly on 704 Walnut Street (erected 1891, demolished 2007).


 * Wilson starred as John Stoppel, an elderly German-American shoemaker, in the comedy-drama, Struck Oil, 1894–1896. Venues for the production included the Fourteenth Street Theatre, New York. The production co-starred Jane Stuart ( Jane Holohan; 1871–1936) as young Lizzie Stoppel, the shoemaker's daughter. The play was a revival by Augustus Pitou (1843–1915) of an 1877 production that premiered during the throes of the Pennsylvania oil rush. The Union Square Theatre in Manhattan was among the engagement venues. The play was written by Samuel W. Smith, Clay Meridith Greene (1850–1933), and J.C. Williamson (1845–1913). The original production starred Williamson and and Maggie Moore. Pitou, in 1906, married actress Gertrude Coghlan. Struck Oil was produced in Australia as a silent film in 1919. Jane Stuart – on February 26, 1895 – married Louis Auer III (1857–1910) of Milwaukee and retired from the stage.


 * Thomas H. Davis (1859–1911) and William T. Keogh's ( William Trokes Keogh; 1860–1947) farce-comedy in three acts, The Finish of Mr. Fresh, about life in New York, 1898–1899, by Thomas H. Davis (1859–1911) and Scott Marble. Fanny Bloodgood was in the cast. The production opened at Butler's Grand Opera House in Washington, D.C., October 25, 1898, in preparation for a November 7 premiere at the Star Theater in New York, performing for a week, then the Metropolis Theatre in The Bronx for another eight performances, then abruptly dissapeared.


 * Wilson remained a season with this company and then returned to vaudeville for seasons 1896–1898; appeared as Capt. Dietrich in Evangeline, 1899, staged and directed by Edward E. Rice.


 * As the Professor von Bilderbogen in The Twentieth Century Girl, 1900, text by Sydney Rosenfeld, music by Ludwig Engländer


 * After a season with Imperial Stock Company, St. Louis, he went west on tour playing Pelig Kalsenheimer in The Evil Eye, or the Many, Merry Mishaps of Nid and the Weird, Wonderful Wanderings of Nod, 1899–1901, produced by Charles H. Yale's and written by Sidney R. Ellis. Fannie Bloodgood played Adora Van de Voort of New York.

 "Johnny in the Army"  "Love Is All in All"  "My Little Fraulein"  "Tea Kettle Song"  "In Tyrol"  "The Song of Home"  "My Own Sweet German Rose"  "Naughty, Naughty"  "The Voice of the Storm"
 * He then became a star under Sidney R. Ellis (1857–1924) and Charles H. Yale's management, beginning his famous series of "Metz" parts, first in The Watch on the Rhine, 1900–1903

 "The Schnitzelbank"  "Whispering Breeze"  "The Winding of Yarn" <li> "Memory" <li> "My Old Pipe"</ol>
 * As Prince von Reppert, an exiled Austrian, in A Prince of Tatters, 1903–1905, a play by Sidney R. Ellis. Wilson's wife, Fannie Bloodgood was in the cast as Ann Clatterkopf.
 * The German Gypsy, 1905–1906

<li> "My Heaven is in Your Eyes" <li> "Wilson's Lullaby" <li> "Swiss Mountain Bird Yodel" <li> "Songs of Old Fatherland" <li> "Whispering Breeze" <li> "Snitzlebank"</ol>
 * Metz in the Alps, 1906–1908, included an opening night in Altoona, Pennsylvania, at the Mishler Theatre. Songs included:


 * When Old New York was Dutch, 1908–1909, by Al H. Wilson


 * 1914, from When Old New York was Dutch, 1908–1909, by Al H. Wilson

<li> "When I First Met You". <li> "Moon, Moon, Moon". © 1914; Words by Chas. Noel Douglas; music by Al. H. Wilson, arr. by Eugene Rautenberg (b. 1866, Poland, per 1920 US Census). © 1914 Ellis & Wilson (publisher). . <li> "When the Roses in Spring Bloom Again". © 1914; Words by Sidney R. Ellis; music by Al. H. Wilson, arr. by Eugene Rautenberg. © 1914 Ellis & Wilson (publisher). (folio) <li> "Mr. Bear". © 1914 Words by Chas. Noel Douglas; music by Al. H. Wilson, arr. by Eugene Rautenberg <li> (and a stirring march song)</ol>

<li> "Love Thoughts" <li> "Erin's Isle" <li> "The Banshee" <li> "The Nightingale Song" <li> "Little Jimmy Murphy"</ol>
 * Metz in Ireland, 1909–1910, a 3-act musical drama


 * One of the venues, The Kempner Theatre in Little Rock, was involved in a syndicate war that peaked during the company's first performance, a matinée, on October 20, 1910.


 * October 20, 1910, the Al H. Wilson company, managed by Sidney R. Ellis and under contract to Klaw & Erlanger, arrived in Little Rock with the intention of playing at the Kempner Theatre rather than at the Capital Theater. The Kempner Theater, built and owned by Isaac "Ike" Kempner (1871–1931), had its grand opening a month earlier – September 20, 1910.


 * This attempt by Al appear to appear at the independent Kempner brought the theatrical was in Little Rock out into the open. The Capital Amusement Company (chartered in Little Rock, June 15, 1910), as lessee of the Capital Theatre and holders of the Syndicate's contracts, immediately moved Pulaski County chancery court to secure an injunction against Oppenheim and Weis, the lessees of the Kempner Theater. The injunction was issued the grounds of "the old contract with the Capital Theater for the production in that house." According to the Capital Amusement Company, there was a breach of contract by the management of Al H. Wilson Company, because said management entered into with the Capital Theater on March 11, 1910, which specified that Wilson's company would appear at the Capital Theater on October 20. The Capital Amusement Company exhibited a contract signed by themselves and Sidney R. Ellis, acting as manager for Al H. Wilson. The injunction requested that Wilson's company be restrained from appearing at the Kempner for either a matinée or night performance. Ellis Martineau concurred, and issued the injunction at 2:36 . The matinee performance by Wilson at the Kempner had already begun at the regular time, 2:30, and was in progress the injunction was served. But with the consent of John Frank Head (1869–1949) – a manager and founding secretary of the of Capital Amusement Company – the matinée performance was allowed to proceed. The Kempner's manager then announced that there would be no night performance by the Wilson company. Although the Capital Amusement Company had requested a further order binding the company to maintain its contract to play at the Capital Theater, this order was not issued. The Capital management did offer the Capital Theater to Wilson for his evening performance, but Wilson declined, stating that his company would not put on any show in Little Rock that evening.
 * Albert Weis (1841–1918) was, at the time,


 * <li> Founding treasurer and a founding director in the National Theater Owners' Association, founded May 1910, foes of the Theatrical Syndicate.
 * <li> Weis was also a partner of Klaw & Erlanger.
 * <li> Weis was also, in 1909, head of the American Theatrical Exchange (created in opposition of the Theatrical Syndicate).
 * <li> Weis also owned a theater chain in the Southwest and Texas.</ol>


 * L.R. Oppenheim was the representative of Klaw & Erlanger in the Southwest.


 * Look-up Vaudeville War, 1908

<li> "When You Part From the Girl You Love" <li> "Memory" <li> "Her Smile" <li> "Song of Old Fatherland"</ol>
 * Wilson played the title role of Prince Metz Von Archeim (various spellings of the character surname by theater critics), an impoverished prince of the German Empire, in A German Prince, 1911–1912, a singing comedy" adaptation of a story by Archibald Clavering Gunter (1847–1907). Produced by Sidney R. Ellis, starring Al. H. Wilson, Edward Barbour, Ben Holmes, Edith Yeager ( Edith Hillman Yeager; 1885–1959), who, in 1916, married Walter Ashlin Fairservis (1889–1941), with whom she had a son, archeologist Walter Ashlin Fairservis, Jr. (1921–1994).

<li> "She Love's Me – Loves Me Not" <li> "My Lady Fair" <li> "Loves of Bygone Days" <li> "The Twilight's Call," a yodeling song</ol>
 * Wilson played Metz Von Klatz in It Happened in Potsdam, 1912–1913, a adaptation of The French, by Cyril Reed


 * A Rolling Stone, 1913, a comedy drama by Herbert Hall Winslow

<li> "Yesterday" <li> "Mother O Mine" <li> "As the Years Roll On" <li> "She Left Me for a Teddy Bear" <li> "My Old Pine"</ol>
 * As the Years Roll On (1915–1916), by Herbert Hall Winslow and Charles Horwitz (1864–1938). Winslow's wife, Laura Lemmers, acted in the production.

<li> "Mary Houlihan" <li> "The Song That Stole My Girl Away" <li> "My Killarney Rose" <li> "The Love I Give To You" <li> "Where the Shamrock Grows" <li> "Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms" <li> "As Years Roll On"</ol>
 * "Al Wilson in Irish character as Tom Carey in My Killarney Rose (1916), an Irish romance written by Thomas Hall Winslow. Wilson's second wife, Laura Lemmers, played Rose Langley.


 * Note: Other stars who had successfully switched to Irish roles included Chauncey Olcott, Andrew Mack, and Fiske O'Hara.


 * From about 1922 to 1927, Wilson sang on live radio broadcasts from New York, often with soprano Judith Roth.


 * In each of his stellar productions, he appears as Metz, a singing comedy role in which he has won great success. Married Fanny Bloodgood, 1892. Clubs: Green Room Club, New York; Eccentric Club, London. Permanent address: 16 Columbia Ave., Grantwood, New Jersey.

Selected extant discography

 * discography

Family
Wilson was married twice times. <li> Fannie Blake (Fannie Bloodgood), who Wilson married April 19, 1892, in Chicago, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. White. During the period, both were on tour performing in the show, Two Old Cronies. Witnesses were Mr. and Mrs. White and two members of the cast, Florence Myatt, featured soprano, and Lindsay Morison (David Lindsey Morison; 1865–1917), featured bass. Fannie Bloodgood was an acclaimed dancer. <li> Fannie Bloodgood was a daughter of minstrel actor Harry Bloodgood ( Carlos Mauran; 1844–1886). <li> Fannie Bloodgood was a great-grandniece of Oroondates Mauran (1791–1846), a New York City businessman, summer resident of Grymes Hill, Staten Island, with Cornelius Vanderbilt, onetime owner of the Staten Island Ferry, first owner of the Italian Opera House, and one of the earliest members of the Union Club of the City of New York. <li> Fannie Bloodgood was a daughter of actress Lisle Bloodgood ( Lisle Riddell; 1854–1916). <li> One of Fannie's sisters, Linda Bloodgood ( Linda Mauran; born 1873), married to Ferdinand A. Russy, was an accomplished pianist, actress, and songwriter.</ol>

<li> Laura Lemmers (1882–1946), actress, who Wilson married April 19, 1913, in Jersey City at the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Van Vorst</ol>

Al H. Wilson's sister, Fannie Wilson, was a singer, comedienne, and actress.

Al H. Wilson was a nephew of Senator James F. Wilson (1828–1895) of Iowa.( can't confirm )

Death
Alphonse H. Wilson's name is inscribed on a vertical-type monument, 10 feet high, 8 feet wide (front face, right margin, 13th row), honoring Catholic Actors Guild of America, in Calvary Cemetery Woodside, Queens. Inscribed at the top of the front face is a quote from Macbeth, "A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more". Inscribed at the top of the back face is a quote from Hamlet, "Flights of angels sing thee to thy rest". (see Findagrave, and BillionGraves references, below)

Gallery

 * ‡ Theatrical poster collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
 * † Russell-Morgan Print, the poster department of United States Lithograph Company (Unites States Printing Company), Cincinnati and New York. The U.S. Lithograph Company was founded 1867 in Cincinnati as the printing plant of the Cincinnati Enquirer. That year, 1867, Anthony Octavius Russell (1826–1900), John Franklin Robinson II (1843–1921) (2nd generation family owner of the John Robinson Circus), Col. Robert "Bob" J. Morgan (1838–1917), and James Monroe Armstrong (1812–1895) purchased the plant from the Enquirer Company, and became widely known as the Russell-Morgan Company. From that plant, the United States Playing Card Company, the largest plant of its kind in the world, the United States Printing Company and the United States Lithograph Company consolidated.

Selected songs by Wilson

 * 1916

<li> "My Killarney Rose" © 1916 <li> "Where The Shamrock Grows" © 1916 <li> "The Love I Give to You" © 1916 <li> "Mary Hoolihan" © 1916 <li> "She Left Me For a Teddy Bear". Words by Chas. Noel Douglas; music by Al. H. Wilson. © 1916 Ellis & Wilson (publisher). .</ol>


 * 1917

<li> "I Want You Then Machreé" © 1917</ol>


 * date not known

<li> "Yesterday <li> "Mother Mine <li> [https://books.google.com/books?id=NUghAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA770&lpg=PA770&dq=%22as+years+roll+on%22 "As Years Roll On". Words by Charles Horwitz; music by Al. H. Wilson. © 15 August 1915; 2. c. 10 August 1915; E363815; Ellis & Wilson, New York]</ol>

Copyrights


<li> Vol. 2; O to Z (1918). Old Cronies [https://books.google.com/books?id=hjLKGXpTj-sC&pg=PA1677&lpg=PA1677&dq=%22frank+m+wills%22Henshaw%22old+cronies%22 © 8 July 1887; no. 17475; Frank M. Mills and William C. Anderson. p. 1677]</ol>



<li> Whole No. 301. 1897 (1897) "Sweet Nellie Fay". © 1897; T.B. Harms & Co.. p. 19. <li> Fourth Quarter, 1902; Whole No. 589 – October 16, 1902 (1902). Vol. 32. "The Winding of the Yarn". [https://books.google.com/books?id=w_83AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA348&lpg=PA348&dq=%22winding+(the)+of+the+yarn%22 © 16 September 1902; 2 c. 16 September 1902; Class C, XXc., no. 33530; Yale and Ellis Music Company. p. 348]. <li> Fourth Quarter, 1902; Whole No. 589 – October 16, 1902 (1902). Vol. 32. "Memory". [https://books.google.com/books?id=w_83AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA348&lpg=PA348&dq=%22memory%22 © 16 September 1902; 2 c. 16 September 1902; Class C, XXc., no. 33532; Yale and Ellis Music Company. p. 348]. <li> Fourth Quarter, 1902; Whole No. 589 – October 16, 1902 (1902). Vol. 32. "Whispering Breeze". [https://books.google.com/books?id=w_83AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA348&lpg=PA348&dq=%22whispering+breeze%22 © 16 September 1902; 2 c. 16 September 1902; Class C, XXc., no. 33531; Yale and Ellis Music Company. p. 348].</ol>



<li> Vol. 3; Nos.45–48, November 1908 (1908). "Helen". [https://books.google.com/books?id=iDDQAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA979 © 28 August 1908; 2 c. 25 August 1908; C191072; Ellis & Wilson. p. 979]. <li> Vol. 5; Nos.40–43, October 1910 (1910). "My Queen of Dreams". © 17 August 1910; 2 c. 15 August 1910; E237222; Ellis and Wilson Music Co. p. 1253. <li> Vol. 9; Part 2, No.10, October 1914 (1914). "Mr. Bear". © 31 August 1914; 2 c. 28 August 1914; E347228; Ellis and Wilson Music Co. p. 1199. <li> Vol. 9; Part 2, No.10, October 1914 (1914). "Moon – Moon – Moon". © 31 August 1914; 2 c. 28 August 1914; E347229; Ellis and Wilson Music Co. p. 1200. <li> Vol. 9; Part 2, No.10, October 1914 (1914). "When the Roses in Spring Bloom". © 31 August 1914; 2 c. 28 August 1914; E347230; Ellis and Wilson Music Co. p. 1261. <li> Vol. 10; Part 2, No.9, September 1915 (1914). "As the Years Roll On". © 16 August 1915; 2 c. 10 August 1915; E363815; Ellis and Wilson Music Co. p. 770. <li> Vol. 10; Part 2, No.9, September 1915 (1914). "Mother Mine". © 16 August 1915; 2 c. 10 August 1915; E363818; Ellis and Wilson Music Co. p. 819. <li> Vol. 10; Part 2, No.9, September 1915 (1914). "She Left Me for a Teddy Bear". © 16 August 1915; 2 c. 10 August 1915; E363S16; Ellis and Wilson Music Co. p. 836. <li> Vol. 10; Part 2, No.9, September 1915 (1914). "Yesterday". © 16 August 1915; 2 c. 10 August 1915; E363817; Ellis and Wilson Music Co. p. 857. <li> Vol. 11; Part 2, No.9, September 1916 (1916). "The Love I Give to You". [https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig112libr/page/760/mode/2up © 28 August 1916; 2 c. 24 August 1916; E387950; Ellis & Wilson. p. 761]. <li> Vol. 11; Part 2, No.9, September 1916 (1916). "Mary Hoolihan". [https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig112libr/page/764/mode/2up © 28 August 1916; 2 c. 24 August 1916; E387951; Ellis & Wilson. p. 765]. <li> Vol. 11; Part 2, No.9, September 1916 (1916). "My Killarney Rose". [https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig112libr/page/772/mode/2up © 28 August 1916; 2 c. 24 August 1916; E387952; Ellis & Wilson. p. 772]. <li> Vol. 11; Part 2, No.9, September 1916 (1916). "Where the Shamrock Grows". [https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig112libr/page/822/mode/2up © 28 August 1916; 2 c. 24 August 1916; E387953; Ellis & Wilson. p. 823].

(title song from a 1916 Irish song play, Where the Shamrock Grows, by Herbert Hall Winslow and Charles Horwitz, directed by Sidney R. Ellis.

<li> Vol. 12; Part 2, No.9, September 1916 (1916). "I Want You Then Machreé". [https://books.google.com/books?id=7kshAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA786&lpg=PA786&dq=%22al+h.+wilson%22 © 20 August 1917; 2 c. 16 August 1917; E407597; Sidney R. Ellis and Al H. Wilson. p. 786]. <li> Vol. 12; Part 2, No.9, September 1917 (1917). "Ireland Is Your Home Sweet Home". [https://books.google.com/books?id=7kshAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA789&lpg=PA789&dq=%22al+h.+wilson%22 © 20 August 1917; 2 c. 16 August 1917; E407595; Sidney R. Ellis and Al H. Wilson. p. 789]. <li> Vol. 12; Part 2, No.9, September 1917 (1917). "A Lily From Heaven". [https://books.google.com/books?id=WjbQAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA797&lpg=PA797&dq=%22lily+(a)+from+heaven%22 © 20 August 1917; 2 c. 16 August 1917; E407596; Sidney R. Ellis and Al H. Wilson. p. 797]. <li> Vol. 12; Part 2, No.9, September 1917 (1917). "My Mother's Wedding Ring". [https://books.google.com/books?id=7kshAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA808&lpg=PA808&dq=%22al+h.+wilson%22 © 20 August 1917; 2 c. 16 August 1917; E407598; Sidney R. Ellis and Al H. Wilson. p. 808].</ol>

<li> Vol. 19, Part 2, Nos. 11–12, November–December 1924 (1924). "There'll Be Some Changes Made". [https://archive.org/stream/catalogofcopyri193libr#page/1299/mode/1up © 20 November 1924; 2 c. 21 November 1924; E601555; Edward B. Marks Music Co. (© additional choruses). p. 1299].
 * 5 additional choruses to "There'll Be Some Changes Made" by Wilson & Ringle

Copyright renewals and arrangements
Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Renewal Registrations-Music, Library of Congress, Copyright Office

<li> Vol. 33; No.11, November 1938 (1938). "My Queen of Dreams". [https://books.google.com/books?id=PVNjAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1375&lpg=PA1375&dq=%22my+queen+of+dreams%22 Renewed 1 August 1938; R68294; Laura Wilson. p. 1375]. <li> Vol. 5, Part 5C, January–June 1951, No. 1 (1952). "There'll Be Some Changes Made". [https://archive.org/stream/catalogofcopyrig355libr#page/158/mode/2up Renewed; 10 December 1951 R87327; Edward B. Marks Music Corp. pg. 159] <li> Vol. 5, Part 5C, January–June 1951, No. 1 (1952). "There'll Be Some Changes Made". [https://archive.org/stream/catalogofcopyrig355libr#page/158/mode/2up Renewed; 24 November 1951 R86297; Dave Ringle. pg. 159]</ol>