William Postance Explained

William Postance
Birth Name:	William Charles Frederick Postance
Birth Date:	4 June 1874
Birth Place:	Great Britain
Death Place:	Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.

William C. F. Postance (June 4, 1874 – April 14, 1953) was an American and British theatre actor, playwright, producer, director and silent film actor.

Early life and career

William C. F. Postance^[1] was born on June 4, 1874, in Great Britain.^[2] He worked as a theatre actor, playwright, producer, director and film actor. He started as a 13-year-old call boy at the Garrick Theatre. At the age of 15, Postance worked as a prompter in the production of Diplomacy to Queen Victoria.^[3] He joined Olga Nethersole in Sandou's La Tosca.^[4]

He worked as William Gillette's personal director for 13 years and worked with him for over 40 years. He helped Gillette prepare the stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes and directed its London production.^[5] He performed before Queen Victoria, Edward VIII, William Ewart Gladstone and Woodrow Wilson. Throughout his career, he was involved in 167 plays. His last stage appearance was The Man Who Came to Dinner in 1940.

Plays

• Diplomacy, as prompter^[3]
• The Governor and the Boss (1909), as writer^[6]
• Remember the Day^[3]
• Criminal At Large^[3]
• The Morals of Marcus, as director^[3]
• The Richest Girl, as director^[3]
• Captain Kid, as director^[3]
• Robin Goodfellow, as director^[3]
• Carmen, as director^[3]
• Camille, as director^[3]
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1927), as Sir Francis Beekman^[7]
• Sherlock Holmes (1930), as director and as Sidney Prince^{[3] [8]}
• The Admirable Crichton (1931), as director^{[3] [9]}
• Tea for Three (1936), as director^[10]

Films

• The Iron Woman (1916)^[11]
• Sherlock Holmes (1916), as Sidney Prince^[12]

Personal life

Postance died, at the age of 78, on April 14, 1953, at St. Mary's Hospital in Hoboken, New Jersey.^{[1] [5]}

Notes and References

1. News: Postance, Veteran of Show Business . 1953-04-16 . Transcript-Telegram . 14 . . 2023-01-21.
2. Web site: William Charles Frederick Postance, "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918" . FamilySearch.org.
3. News: Promptness Paid Youthful Prompter . 1936-05-01 . . 22 . . 2023-01-21.
4. Web site: 1953-04-15 . Obituaries: Wm. C. F. Postance, Variety . 2023-02-20 . lantern.mediahist.org.
5. News: Veteran actor-producer dies . 1953-04-15 . Evening Despatch . 5 . . 2023-01-21.
6. News: With The Mummers . 1909-05-30 . Star Tribune . 21 . . 2023-01-21.
7. News: Lorelei Lee Makes Bow at the Adelphi . 1927-09-24 . The Courier-Post . 8 . . 2023-01-21.
8. News: Mr. William Gillette, Gentleman and Actor of the Old School, Shows Just How a Polite Melodrama Should Be Handled . 1930-05-06 . The Pittsburgh Press . 40 . . 2023-01-21.
9. News: Delightful Play Revived . 1931-03-01 . The Evening Sun . 62 . . 2023-01-21.
10. News: Tea for Three Moves to Freeport . 1936-11-05 . Brooklyn Times Union . 14 . . 2023-01-21.
11. News: Grand . 1916-10-15 . The Pittsburgh Daily Sunday Post . 36 . . 2023-01-21.
12. News: Sherlock Holmes at New V.L.S.E. . 1916-06-19 . . 14 . . 2023-01-21.