de Walden, Thomas Blades (1811-1873) Actor, Playwright. Born in England in 1811, Thomas Blades (Bladies) de Walden made his first appearance on the English stage in 1841, then traveled to New York for his premier on the American stage at Park theatre in 1844 (Wilson and Fiske 158). Identified by William Winter as a regular at Pfaff’s during the Bohemian days, de Walden was active in the New York stage community as both an actor and a playwright (Old Friends 88). Mark Lause also labels de Walden as one of the frequent actors who inhabited the vault at Pfaff’s (60). Thomas Butler Gunn describes de Walden’s entrance into Pfaff’s one evening:"De Walden came in about midnight, with his white beard, and laying his gouty leg upon a chair, treated the party and talked Bohemianish about Addey's "Momus" enterprise, scoffing at that ill- advised ex-bagman and "the Almighty Newman" (14.35)
De Walden appears to have been most active professionally during the 1850s and 1860s. He is credited with supporting roles at the Bowery during the 1852-1853 and 1853-1854 theatrical seasons. In addition to acting, de Walden also worked as a playwright; his first play, The Upper Ten and the Lower Twenty was performed at Burton’s during the 1854-1855 season. George Odell calls this piece a "play of local interest" that was a "really notable success, destined to many repetitions" (6:351). De walden would be credited for writing over a hundred plays (Wilson and Fiske 158).
During the 1855-1856 season at Wallack’s Theater, de Walden enjoyed success with his three-act play Manifest Destiny. That same season he was also rumored to have adapted The Marble Heart for Burton’s, titling his version Vice and Virtue, or, a Woman’s Heart. Because of this, de Walden gained a reputation as a "play carpenter of the Gayler-Taylor variety" (Odell VI:523). He wrote several new plays in the 1860s, including The Monkey Boy and Toodles a Father, which were performed during Laura Keene’s 1860-1861 season (Odell 7:309, 310). During the 1861-1862 season, de Walden was again seen on the stage and his play The Man of Destiny debuted at the Bowery (407). His Luck, or, The Gentleman of Nature opened at the Winter Garden in the 1862-1863 season and Ada Clifton was a member of the original cast. The play’s three acts span fifteen years, with the first act taking place in 1779 while the second and third acts are set in 1794 (480). De Walden’s dramatization of the J. T. Trowbridge’s novel, Cudjo’s Cave titled Pomp of Cudjo’s Cave debuted at the New Bowery the next season (567).
During the 1865-1866 season de Walden had "an astonishing hit" with Sam, a comedy that Odell describes as "another apple from the Dundreary tree, representing the return of Brother Sam from America, and his foiling all the villainous influences that grow so thickly in the garden of melodrama" (8:33). De Walden was also a member of the production’s original cast, playing the role of "Bill Crocket" (8:33). He reprised the role during the 1869-1870 season (8:292). There was some debate in the press over de Walden’s authorship of The Balloon Wedding, which Henry Clapp referred to as an example of necessary "low comedy" (T. Miller 30). De Walden refused to take credit for the final version of the play; in a "card" in the Tribune he admitted the play had begun with him, but that he had not finished the piece. The play appears to have been a failure (Odell 8:77).
Theatre, it seems, was not de Walden’s only career. In 1857 de Walden left the stage and writing behind to begin “mercantile pursuits,” but quickly failed and returned to writing. During the war, de Walden also voluntarily served as a chaplain. All of these pursuits led back to the theatre and playwriting. De Walden died on September 26th, 1873 in New York (Wilson and Fiske 158).
References & Biographical Resources
Bateman, H. L. "The Bateman-Daly Controversy." New-York Saturday Press. 28 Apr. 1866: 4, 5.
[pages:5]
Belphegor. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 12 Dec. 1865: 280-281.
[pages:281]
C. B. S. [Seymour, Charles Bailey]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 23 Dec. 1865: 328-329.
In a note after the Fueilleton, C.B.S. announces that there will be a benefit for De Walden next Friday.C.B.S. mentions that De Walden and House have prepared a piece especially for the occasion (329).
[pages:329]
C. B. S. [Seymour, Charles Bailey]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 30 Dec. 1865: 344-345.
C.B.S. makes a passing mention of De Walden's new play in a note after the Feuilleton (345)
[pages:345]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 12 Sep. 1865: 72-73.
Figaro reports that De Walden has finished his new play, Sam, and is headed to Indianapolis with Frank Chanfrau to try it out (73).
[pages:73]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 13 Feb. 1866: 72-73.
Figaro mentions de Walden when discussing his appreciation for drama that isn't necessarily "High Art" (72).Figaro also mentions that de Walden has returned from Philadelphia and the production of Sam (73).
[pages:72,73]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 13 Jan. 1866: 24-25.
Figaro discusses a conversation he has had with the man who claims to be the "joint author" of De Walden's new "sensation play" (24).
[pages:24]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 14 Oct. 1865: 168-169.
Figaro claims that he was present at De Walden's "tragedy" of Sam at the Broadway and then corrects himself, mentioning that it is a comedy.He settles on the term "comic drama" to describe the play (168).Figaro also discusses the role De Walden wrote for himself, "Billy Crockett," and De Walden's performance.Figaro also mentions that De Walden was once an army chaplain (169).
[pages:168,169]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 16 Jan. 1866: 8-9.
[pages:8]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton."New York Saturday Press. 17 Oct. 1865: 152-153.
Figaro claims that he wanted to say something special about De Walden's Sam, but feels now that he should see the play when it debuts next week before commenting (153).
[pages:153]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 19 Aug. 1865: 40-41.
Figaro reports that De Walden and Chanfrau will be at the Broadway after the Keans engagement (41).
[pages:41]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 20 Jan. 1866: 40-41.
Figaro refers to De Walden and The Balloon Wedding.Figaro writes that he agrees with the opinion that De Walden is a "reckless dramatist" and that The Balloon Wedding "is just the recklessest piece that he had ever put on stage" (40).
[pages:40]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 21 Oct. 1865: 184-185.
Figaro discusses De Walden and his playwriting.Figaro claims that Charles Lamb would call him a "curs'd ninth of a dramatist" (185).
[pages:185]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 23 Sep. 1865: 120-121.
Figaro reports that Frank Chanfrau is set to star in the debut of De Walden's Sam at the Broadway after M'me Celeste's engagement.The play has had a successful run in Indianapolis (121).
[pages:121]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 24 Feb. 1866: 120-121.
Figaro mentions that De Walden's Sam is selling out nightly in Philadelphia (121).
[pages:121]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 27 Jan. 1866: 56-57.
Figaro reprints De Walden's letter to the Saturday Press about his legal proceedings against George Wood in regards to Balloon Wedding. De Walden claims he refuses to comment further on the performance until the case has been settled (57).
[pages:57]
Figaro [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton."New York Saturday Press. 30 Sep. 1865: 136-137.
Figaro reports that De Walden's sam will debut at the Broadway after the end of next week (137).
[pages:137]
Gunn, Thomas Butler. Diaries, Vol. 7. Missouri History Museum, 1855.
[pages:197, 200]
Gunn, Thomas Butler. Diaries, Vol. 14. Missouri History Museum, 1860.
Gunn details De Walden's entrance, "De Walden came in about midnight, with his white beard, and laying his gouty leg upon a chair, treated the party and talked Bohemianish about Addey's "Momus" enterprise, scoffing at that ill- advised ex-bagman and "the Almighty Newman."
[pages:35]
Lause, Mark A. The Antebellum Crisis and America's First Bohemians. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 2009.
De Walden is noted as an actor who was present at Pfaff's.
[pages:60]
Miller, Tice L. Bohemians and Critics: American Theatre Criticism in the Nineteenth Century. Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press, 1981.
de Walden's The Balloon Wedding is recommended by Henry Clapp as an example of necessary "low comedy."
[pages:30]
Odell, George C.D. Annals of the New York Stage: Volume VIII (1865-1870). New York:Columbia University Press, 1936.
[pages:33,77,292,391,601]
Odell, George Clinton. Annals of the New York Stage: Volume VI (1850-1857). New York: Columbia University Press, 1931.
[pages:221,315-6,351,357, 358,442,523]
Odell, George Clinton. Annals of the New York Stage: Volume VII (1857-1865). New York: Columbia University Press, 1931.
He is referred to "as a relic from the past" by Odell for unexplained reasons.
The was a benefit held for him March 8, 1865.
[pages:309,310,394,407,480,567,661]
Quelqu'un [Winter, William]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. 11 Dec. 1860: 3.
Quelqu'un announces de Walden's Seven Diabolical Sisters at Laura Keene's Theatre (3). The reference to the "sardonic dramatist of Miss Laura Keene" in the article on Edwin Booth may refer to de Walden (3).
[pages:3]
Quelqu'un [Winter, William]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. 13 Oct. 1860: 3.
Quelqu'un addresses the complaints of "a young man of a dramatic turn" who takes issue with Quelqu'un's claim that de Walden's Aileen Aroon "was the best play that had been produced this season" (3).
[pages:3]
Quelqu'un [Winter, William]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. 15 Sep. 1860: 3.
Quelqu'un notes that de Walden adapted The Monkey Boy for Laura Keene's Theatre (3).
[pages:3]
Quelqu'un [Winter, William]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. 16 Oct. 1860: 2-3.
Quelqu'un discusses de Walden's Aileen Aroon, or the Lady of Glanmire at Laura Keene's Theatre (2).
[pages:2]
Watson, J. W. "Notes and Comments: How Artemus Ward Became a Great Lecturer." North American Review. 01 Apr. 1889: 521-522.
Watson claims that he convinced de Walden to manage Artemus Ward's initial public lectures, relating that "I knew an actor, and sometimes manager, by the name of De Walden, then part of the old Wallack company, who had some money, and I managed to get him interested. He took Niblo's saloon, now the dining-room of the Metropolitan Hotel, for one night, with the privilege of six. The first night, with the help of the press, who were all friends of Artemus, was a triumph, and he ran the week, clearing for himself and his manager $4,200."
[pages:522]
Wilson, James Grant and John Fiske, eds. Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume II, Crane-Grimshaw. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888.
During the Civil War, de Walden served as a chaplain in the army.
[pages:158]
Winter, William. Old Friends; Being Literary Recollections of Other Days. New York: Moffat, Yard and Company, 1909.
He is listed by Winter as one of the Bohemians who frequented Pfaff's Cave (88).
[pages:88]