Alan Dale (May 14, 1861 - May 21, 1928)[1][2] was an influential British theatre critic, playwright and book author of the late Victorian and early 20th Century eras. He was born Alfred J. Cohen in Birmingham England. He arrived in New York in 1887 and became a drama critic for several New York papers i.e., New York Evening World, New York Journal and the New York American. His reviews of plays were often negative but helped sell a lot of William Randolph Hearst's newspapers. The theatre world despised Dale for his acid reviews.[3]

Alan Dale
Dale c. 1910
Born
Alfred J. Cohen

(1861-05-14)May 14, 1861
DiedMay 21, 1928(1928-05-21) (aged 67)
on train en route from Plymouth to Birmingham England
Occupation(s)critic, author,Theatre criticism
Years active1880s-1928
SpouseCarrie L. Frost

His spouse was Carrie L. Frost and they had at least one child Margaret (or Marjorie).[2]

Dale died aboard a train while traveling from Plymouth to Birmingham. He had previously undergone several operations after health problems.[2]


Selected bibliography

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Novels

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  • Jonathan's Home (1885)
  • A Marriage Below Zero (1889)
  • An Eerie He and She (1889)
  • An Old Maid Kindled (1890)
  • Miss Innocence (1890)
  • Conscience on Ice: a story of the stage (1892)
  • My Footlight Husband: a story of the stage (1893)
  • A Moral Busybody: an episode of New York's today (1894)
  • His Own Image: a novel (1899)
  • A Girl Who Wrote (1902)
  • Wanted, a Cook: domestic dialogues (1904)

Other works

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  • Familiar Chats with Queens of the Stage (1880)

References

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  1. ^ Who Was Who in the Theatre:1912-76, p.583 vol.2 D-H c.1976 compiled from editions originally published annually by John Parker, 1976 edition by Gale Research ISBN 0-8103-0406-6
  2. ^ a b c Silent Film Necrology, p.116 2nd edit. c.2001 by Eugene M. Vazzana ISBN 0-7864-1059-0
  3. ^ The Oxford Companion To American Theatre, p.180 2nd edition c.1992 by Gerald Bordman ISBN 0-19-507246-4
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