Mystery Photo

Posted on February 20, 2009 by lmharnisch


2009_0216_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. 

2009_0217_mystery_photo
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. 

2009_0218_mystery_photo
Los Angeles Times file photo		 2009_0218_mystery_photo_02

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.

2009_0219_mystery_photo 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.

1913_0216_warfield
David Warfield appeared in Los Angeles several times, including performances in 1913.

1909_1228_warfield_2
David Warfield … and a flea circus, a Times reporter strolls Los Angeles, 1909.

1951_0628_warfield David_warfield_crop 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!

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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24 Responses to Mystery Photo

  2. jany's avatar jany says:
    February 16, 2009 at 9:19 am

    Hal Holbrook

    Like

  3. william's avatar william says:
    February 16, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Harry Langdon

    Like

  4. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    February 16, 2009 at 10:19 am

    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?

    Like

  5. Meredith Wright's avatar Meredith Wright says:
    February 16, 2009 at 10:57 am

    Thomas Ince?

    Like

  6. Nathan's avatar Nathan says:
    February 16, 2009 at 11:02 am

    Dwight Frye?

    Like

  7. Mary Mallory's avatar Mary Mallory says:
    February 16, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    Alexander Pantages?

    Like

  8. Carol Gwenn's avatar Carol Gwenn says:
    February 17, 2009 at 9:23 am

    George M. Cohan?

    Like

  9. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    February 17, 2009 at 9:38 am

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

    Like

  10. Mary Mallory's avatar Mary Mallory says:
    February 17, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    Edwin Booth.

    Like

  11. Cold in PHX's avatar Cold in PHX says:
    February 18, 2009 at 8:28 am

    Eddie Foy?

    Like

  12. Claire Lockhart's avatar Claire Lockhart says:
    February 18, 2009 at 9:18 am

    David Warfield

    Like

  13. Eve's avatar Eve says:
    February 18, 2009 at 10:40 am

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

    Like

  14. MIKE SCANLON's avatar MIKE SCANLON says:
    February 18, 2009 at 10:59 am

    Thomas Edison???

    Like

  15. NedS's avatar NedS says:
    February 18, 2009 at 11:17 am

    Scottish comedian Harry Lauter?

    Like

  16. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    February 18, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    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.

    Like

  17. william's avatar william says:
    February 18, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    david warfield

    Like

  18. zapgun's avatar zapgun says:
    February 18, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    David Warfield

    Like

  19. Dru Duniway's avatar Dru Duniway says:
    February 19, 2009 at 2:26 am

    David Warfield

    Like

  21. Sandy's avatar Sandy says:
    February 19, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    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.

    Like

  22. Richard Heft's avatar Richard Heft says:
    February 19, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    I believe it’s David Warfield.

    Like

  23. Sam's avatar Sam says:
    February 19, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    David Warfield

    Like

  24. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    February 20, 2009 at 9:49 am

    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.

    Like

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