Alexander-Rideout collection
Biographical / Historical note
The British actor-manager Sir George Alexander (1858-1918) was born Alexander George Samson in Reading, England. He began acting in amateur theatricals in 1875, and four years later embarked on a professional acting career, making his London debut in 1881. He played many roles in the leading companies, including Sir Henry Irving's Lyceum. In 1890 he produced his first play at the Avenue Theatre and in 1891 he became the manager of St. James's Theatre. Here he produced several of the major plays of the day such as Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde (1892), The Second Mrs. Tanqueray by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1893), The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde (1895), and The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope (1896). Nigel Rideout has acted in radio, theatre, television and film productions in England and Australia. He has taught drama at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and has written several books on preparing for a career in acting.
Scope and Contents
The Alexander-Rideout Collection consists of material relating to Sir George Alexander and St. James's Theatre assembled by Alexander's distant relative, Nigel Rideout. The British actor-manager Sir George Alexander (1858-1918) was born Alexander George Samson in Reading, England. He began acting in amateur theatricals in 1875, and four years later embarked on a professional acting career, making his London debut in 1881. He played many roles in the leading companies, including Sir Henry Irving's Lyceum. In 1890 he produced his first play at the Avenue Theatre and in 1891 he became the manager of St. James's Theatre. Here he produced several of the major plays of the day such as Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde (1892), The Second Mrs. Tanqueray by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1893), The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde (1895), and The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope (1896).
Nigel Rideout has acted in radio, theatre, television and film productions in England and Australia. He has taught drama at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and has written several books on preparing for a career in acting. His collection of Alexander material includes Alexander's scrapbook of newspaper notices of his early acting career, correspondence, playbills of productions at St. James's Theatre and other theatres in which Alexander preformed, souvenir programs, and photographs of Alexander, other actors and production scenes.
Creator
- Alexander, George, Sir, 1858-1918 (Person)
Dates
- Creation: 1883-1939
Language of Materials
English
Extent
4 box(es) (4 boxes, 1 album, and 1 portfolio)
Access
The Alexander-Rideout collection is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
The Alexander-Rideout Collection is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Nigel Rideout, January 2004. Metzdorf Fund.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Alexander-Rideout Collection, D.305, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
Subject
- Alexander, George, Sir, 1858-1918 (Person)
- Saint James' Theatre (Organization : London, England) (Organization)
- Title
- Alexander-Rideout collection
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- undated
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library