Fred Marsden (1842– May 19, 1888) was an American playwright. [1]
Born William A. Silver in Baltimore, Maryland, Marsden was the son of Abraham Silver. [1] He was educated as a lawyer in Philadelphia and began his career as a lawyer in that city prior to working as a playwright. [2] He wrote his first play in 1872 at which time he changed his name to Fred Marsden. [1] He penned both melodramas and farces; usually writing for the specific talents of well known performers of the second half of the 19th century. For Lotta Crabtree he wrote the plays Zip (1874), [2] Musette (1876), [2] and Bob (188?) [3] and for the actress Annie Pixley he wrote Zara (1883) and Elly (1885). [1] For the Irish comedian Joseph Murphy he wrote Cheek (1883) and Humbug (1886), and for William J. Scanlan he wrote the farce The Irish Minstrel (1886). [2]
Marsden committed suicide on May 19, 1888 at his home in Manhattan following a quarrel with his daughter. [1]
Fred Marsden (1842– May 19, 1888) was an American playwright. [1]
Born William A. Silver in Baltimore, Maryland, Marsden was the son of Abraham Silver. [1] He was educated as a lawyer in Philadelphia and began his career as a lawyer in that city prior to working as a playwright. [2] He wrote his first play in 1872 at which time he changed his name to Fred Marsden. [1] He penned both melodramas and farces; usually writing for the specific talents of well known performers of the second half of the 19th century. For Lotta Crabtree he wrote the plays Zip (1874), [2] Musette (1876), [2] and Bob (188?) [3] and for the actress Annie Pixley he wrote Zara (1883) and Elly (1885). [1] For the Irish comedian Joseph Murphy he wrote Cheek (1883) and Humbug (1886), and for William J. Scanlan he wrote the farce The Irish Minstrel (1886). [2]
Marsden committed suicide on May 19, 1888 at his home in Manhattan following a quarrel with his daughter. [1]