Henry B. Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry B. Harris
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| Born |
Henry Birkhardt Harris
December 1, 1866 |
| Died | April 15, 1912 (aged 45) |
| Occupation | theatrical producer |
| Years active | 1901–1912 |
| Spouse(s) | Renee Harris (married 1898–1912) |
| Parent(s) | William Harris, Sr. Rachel Freefield |
| Relatives | William Harris Jr. (brother) |
Henry Birkhardt Harris (born December 1, 1866 – died April 15, 1912) was an important person in the world of Broadway shows. He owned theaters and produced many plays. Sadly, he died when the famous ship, the RMS Titanic, sank. His wife, Renee Harris, also became a producer. She survived the sinking and lived until 1969.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and Family
Henry Harris was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1866. His father was William Harris Sr.. William Harris Sr. was one of the people who started the Theatrical Syndicate in the 1890s. This group helped control many theaters and shows across the country. Henry's mother was Rachel Freefield. He also had a younger brother named William Harris Jr..
When Henry was a young boy, his family moved to Boston. He started working in theaters at a young age. He would sell song books in the lobby of the Howard Athenaeum theater in Boston.
Starting His Own Business
Henry worked for his father in the theater business for several years. Then, in 1901, he decided to start his own company. He began producing plays on his own. He worked with famous actors like Amelia Bingham and Robert Edeson.
In 1899, Henry married Irene (Renee) Wallach. Renee was a legal secretary from Washington, D.C.. She was also very interested in theater.
Owning Theaters
Henry Harris became a theater owner in 1906. He bought the Hackett Theatre on 42nd Street in New York City. This theater was later renamed the Harris Theatre. It was named to honor his father, William Harris Sr.
He also rented and managed the Hudson Theatre in New York. In 1911, he built a new theater called the Folies Bergère Theatre. Henry wanted this theater to be like the famous Folies Bergère in Paris, France. However, this theater did not do well. Henry lost a lot of money on it.
Plans in London
By April 1912, Henry Harris was in London, England. He was planning to bring a play called Maggie Pepper to London. The play starred Rose Stahl and the original American cast. This play was later made into a movie in 1919. Henry also bought the rights to show The Miracle in the United States. This was one of the world's first full-color movies.
The Sinking of the Titanic
Henry Harris was traveling back to New York on the RMS Titanic. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank. Henry was one of nearly 1,500 people who died in the disaster.
His wife, Renee Harris, was also on board. She had broken her arm earlier that day in a fall. Even with her injury, Renee did not want to leave her husband. Renee Harris was rescued by another ship, the RMS Carpathia. She sent a message from the ship, hoping her husband had been saved by another vessel. Sadly, Henry's body was never found.
Portrayal in Film
Henry Harris has been shown in one movie about the Titanic. He was played by actor Ed Bishop in the 1979 film SOS Titanic.
Selected Productions
Henry Harris produced many popular plays during his career. Here are some of them:
- Soldiers of Fortune (1901)
- Strongheart (1905)
- The Lion and the Mouse (1905)
- The Chorus Lady (1906) – This play helped make Rose Stahl a big star.
- The Struggle Everlasting (1907)
- The Traveling Salesman (1908)
- Pierre of the Plains (1908)
- The Third Degree (1909) – This play helped make Helen Ware a big star.
- Such a Little Queen (1909) – This play helped make Elsie Ferguson a big star.
- A Skylark (1910) (with May de Sousa)
- The Arab (1911)
- Strongheart (1914)
