Frederick G. Maeder Explained

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

• 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

Bibliography

• Book: Beasley, David R.. McKee Rankin and the Heyday of the American Theater. 2002. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. 9780889203907.
• Book: Bordman, Gerald. The Oxford Companion to American Theatre (3 ed.). Maeder, Frederick G[eorge] (1840–91), playwright and actor. Thomas S.. Hischak. Oxford University Press. 9780195169867.
• Book: Nineteenth-century American Drama: A Finding Guide. Donald L.. Hixon. Don A.. Hennessee. 1977. Scarecrow Press. 9780810810839.

Notes and References

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