Mystery Photo

Los Angeles Times file photo Update: This is David Warfield, one of the most noted figures of the American theater in the early 20th century. Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday. To keep the mystery photo from getting lost in the other entries, I move it from Monday to Tuesday to Wednesday, etc., adding a photo every day. I have to approve all comments, so if you're wrong your guess will be posted. If you're right, you'll have to wait until Friday. There's no need to submit your guess five times. Once is enough. The only prize is bragging rights.

Los Angeles Times file photo Here's another photo of our mystery fellow in one of his most famous roles. Notice that I didn't title this post *Movie Star* Mystery Photo. This man was a major star, but he never appeared in a film -- although he made some screen tests. Update: David Warfield in David Belasco's "The Return of Peter Grimm," which ran for 231 performances in 1911-12 and has not been seen on Broadway since 1921.  Los Angeles Times file photo At left, a third photo of our mystery fellow, in one of his most famous roles. Above, our mystery guest is greeted in Los Angeles by several entertainment figures, including Sid Grauman, right. Update: From left, Fred Niblo, David Warfield, Leon Errol and Sid Grauman. David Warfield as Shylock in "Merchant of Venice, produced in 1924, the year he retired from acting.

Los Angeles Times file photo Here's another photo of our mystery fellow. He has been correctly identified by Claire Lockhart, Eve Golden, William, Zapgun and Dru Duniway. Congratulations! Please also congratulate Dewey Webb, Richard Heft and Sam. Update: Another picture of Warfield as Shylock. David Warfield appeared in Los Angeles several times, including performances in 1913. David Warfield ... and a flea circus, a Times reporter strolls Los Angeles, 1909.

Los Angeles Times file photo Above, an undated photo. At left, David Warfield died in 1951, 26 years after retiring from the stage. Check back next week for another mystery photo!

Comments

[Dewey Webb]

Mack Sennett

[jany]

Hal Holbrook

[william]

Harry Langdon

[Arye Michael Bender]

This is a long-shot guess assuming a very early era, and that this is a studio founder, rather than an actor. Uncle Carl Laemmle, founder of Universal?

[Meredith Wright]

Thomas Ince?

[Nathan]

Dwight Frye?

[Mary Mallory]

Alexander Pantages?

[Carol Gwenn]

George M. Cohan?

[Arye Michael Bender]

A shot in the dark: Jacob Adler, patriarch of the first family of Yiddish Theater?

[Mary Mallory]

Edwin Booth.

[Cold in PHX]

Eddie Foy?

[Claire Lockhart]

David Warfield

[Eve]

David Warfield! Major theatre star, ca. 1900. Did a lot of work with Weber & Fields. And kinda cute, too!

[MIKE SCANLON]

Thomas Edison???

[NedS]

Scottish comedian Harry Lauter?

[Arye Michael Bender]

Still stumped. But whoever the Shylock is, he appears to have a sixteen inch waist and a very funny left leg.

Oh how they could have used Photoshop way back when.

[william]

david warfield

[zapgun]

David Warfield

[Dru Duniway]

David Warfield

[Dewey Webb]

David Warfield

[Sandy]

Well, since he was never in a film, this is obviously wrong. But when I first saw pic #4, I was sure it was Ron Moody, who played Fagin in "Oliver." But, Ron Moody, obviously, was in a film. So it's not him.

[Richard Heft]

I believe it's David Warfield.

[Sam]

David Warfield

[Arye Michael Bender]

Big time fun! Warfield was a name known to me, but did not have a face. Here in San Francisco we have the venerable Warfield Theater on Market Street. Now I can connect the big man with small shoulders to the structure when I next ride by on a vintage streetcar.

Many thanks.