Henry Vogel

Henry Vogel (June 15, 1863 – June 17, 1925) was an American actor and bass-baritone singer who originated several roles on the Broadway stage during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century.

Henry Vogel
Henry Vogel publicity shot from the play Princess Tra-La-La, 1916
Born(1863-06-15)June 15, 1863
Mindszent, Hungary
DiedJune 17, 1925(1925-06-17) (aged 62)
New York, NY, US
OccupationStage Actor
Years active1888–1920

Early life

Henry Vogel was born Heinrich Vogelhut in Mindszent, Hungary.[1] Ignoring his parents' wishes that he enter the clergy, he left Hungary for America in 1882.[2]

Career

After his arrival in America, he obtained US citizenship and attended the Balatka Academy of Musical Art, founded by Hans Balatka in Chicago during the late 1880s. There (as Henry Vogelhuth), he performed in several of its productions[3][4][5] before moving to New York City.[6] In 1890 (as Henry Vogel) he appeared in an English-language version of Jacques Offenbach's The Brigands starring Lillian Russell,[7] and in 1903, he landed a role in the Broadway production of Nancy Brown.[8][9] Other productions followed, including Paris by Night (1904),[10] Miss Dolly Dollars (1905),[11] and Victor Herbert’s The Wizard of the Nile (1908).[12]

Vogel (right) in The Melting Pot with Walker Whiteside (middle) and unidentified actress (left)

It was announced in the press in 1907 that Byron Ongley (co-author of Brewster’s Millions)[13] had written a vaudeville skit for him, Vogel, the Boy Detective, and His Shadow, Nearly – the shadow to be played by a midget.[14][15]

Back on the Broadway stage in 1909, he played Herr Pappelmeister to Walker Whiteside’s David Quixano in the original 1909 production of Israel Zangwill’s play, The Melting Pot.[16] His turn as Pappelmeister received acclaim, and the production itself was favorably reviewed by then US president Theodore Roosevelt.[17]

Vogel (left) as General Klaus and Fay Bainter (right) as Ruth Sherwood, in Arms and the Girl, 1916

Vogel went on to prominent roles in several other Broadway plays and operettas, including The Firefly (1912),[18] Marie-Odile (1915),[19] and Arms and the Girl (1916).[20] Health issues caused him to move to California to pursue work in films, including The Spanish Dancer (1923) as Olivares,[21] but continued ill health forced his retirement and return to New York.[22]

Family

Henry Vogel was the son of David Vogelhut and Eleanora "Leni" Vogelhut (née Propper)[1] and was Jewish.[23]

Death

Henry Vogel died in New York City two days after his 62nd birthday, following a heart attack.[22][24]

Vogel and Emma Trentini in The Firefly, 1912

Selected plays

References
  1. Birth register of the town of Hunfalu, p. 158b, record number 4
  2. The Pittsburgh Press, March 5, 1916, Theatrical Section, p. 2
  3. Chicago Tribune, June 8, 1888, p. 5, as part of a column titled, The Theatres; referred to as Henry Vogelhuth.
  4. Chicago Daily Tribune, June 8, 1888, pp. 5 and 8
  5. The Inter Ocean, March 23, 1888, p. 4
  6. Variety, "Correspondence," May 4, 1917, p 34
  7. McVicker’s Theatre program, November 4, 1889 image from Chicago Public Library
  8. Internet Broadway Database Nancy at Brown IBDB
  9. Detroit Free Press, 1/17/1904, p. C7
  10. The Billboard, July 16, 1904, p. 5
  11. A Theatrical Life: Victor Herbert, by Neil Gould, 2008
  12. The Washington Post, May 5, 1908, p. 5
  13. "Byron Ongley". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  14. Variety, August 1907
  15. New York Dramatic Mirror, August 24, 1907
  16. Internet Broadway Database The Melting Pot at IBDB
  17. Joe Kraus. "How the Melting Pot Stirred America: The Reception of Zangwill's Play and Theater's Role in the American Assimilation Experience", MELUS, Vol. 24, No. 3, Varieties of Ethnic Criticism (Autumn, 1999), pp. 3–19
  18. Internet Broadway Database The Firefly at IBDB
  19. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 27, 1915, p. 9
  20. Arms and the Girl at the Internet Broadway Database
  21. "The Spanish Dancer (1923 film)". IMDB.
  22. Variety, June 24, 1925, p. 89
  23. The Jewish Chronicle, November 27, 1908
  24. Broadway World Henry Vogel entry at Broadway World
  25. Internet Broadway Database, Henry Vogel
  26. The Baltimore Sun, April 28, 1908, p 9
  27. The Washington Times, May 10, 1908, p. 2
  28. The New York Clipper, January 16, 1918 Image from University of Illinois digital library
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