Emily Bancker (1861/62 – June 5, 1897) was a popular stage actress active on the North American stage over the balance of the 1880s and '90s. Sources disagree regarding her origins, with contemporary newsprint articles divided on whether she was English or American.

Career

By 1882 she was playing a juvenile role with comedian Gus Williams in the comedy ''One of the Finest'' and two years later in ''Le Pave de Paris''.A History of the New York Stage, Thomas Alston Brown, 1903, pg. 568 (Google Books) Bancker next joined the Sol Smith Russell Company where she played Sybil in the Cal Wallace 1887 farce '' Pa''. Bancker appeared in the 1888 Hanlon Brothers’ production of ''Voyage en Suisse'', where she met her future husband, actor Thomas W. Ryley. She was a member of

Rosina Vokes Rosina Vokes (18 October 1854 – 27 January 1894) was a British music hall, pantomime and burlesque actress and dancer and a member of the Vokes Family troupe of entertainers before having a successful career in her own right in North Amer ...

’s company that opened at Daly’s Theatre on April 13, 1891, in productions of ''A Game of Cards'', ''Wig and Gown'', and ''The Rough Diamond''. and on May 1, 1891, as Lucy Preston in Grundy's ''

The Silver Shield ''The Silver Shield'' is a comedy in three acts by playwright Sydney Grundy that was first produced on May 19, 1885, under the direction of Amy Roselle at London’s Royal Strand Theatre.''The Theatre'', edited by Clement Scott, January 1885 p. 30 ...

''. Later in the year Bancker joined

Charles Frohman Charles Frohman (July 15, 1856 – May 7, 1915) was an American theater manager and producer, who discovered and promoted many stars of the American stage. Notably, he produced ''Peter Pan'', both in London and the US, the latter production ...

's comedy company playing one of the two widows (the other

Georgiana Drew Georgiana Emma Drew (July 11, 1856 – July 2, 1893), Georgie Drew Barrymore, was an American stage actress and comedian and a member of the Barrymore acting family. Life and career Born in Philadelphia, her family — parents John Drew and L ...

) in the Bisson-Carre-Gillette farce, ''

Mr. Wilkinson's Widows ''Mr. Wilkinson's Widows'' is a farce-comedy in Three Acts by William Gillette from the Alexandre Bisson play ''Feu Toupinel''. The play opened under the management of Charles Frohman on Monday, March 30, 1891 at Proctor's Theatre and continued ...

''. Afterward she performed roles in such plays as ''The Junior Partner'', ''His Wedding Day'', and ''Gloriana''. Emily Bancker 2

Bancker’s final appearance in New York City was in the play ''

Our Flat ''Our Flat'' is a farce-comedy by Mrs. H. Musgrave first produced as a matinee performance on June 13, 1889, at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The play made its New York premier on October 21, 1889 at the Lyceum Theatre. In the mid-1890s ''Our ...

'', staged at the Murray Hill Theatre on April 3, 1897.''Emily Bancker'', ''The New York Times'', June 5, 1897, pg. 7. She had over the mid-1890s achieved great success touring North America with own company in Mrs. Musgrove’s farce-comedy ''

'', originally produced in 1889 in London and New York.

Death

A few days later Emily Bancker fell ill while visiting an aunt in Albany, N.Y., and as her condition worsened she was rushed to the local hospital, where she died on June 5, 1897, after a failed operation. The cause of death was reportedly the result of complications from

peritonitis Peritonitis is inflammation of the localized or generalized peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and cover of the abdominal organs. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling of the abdomen, fever, or weight loss. One part or ...

. Her husband, by then also her business manager, was at her bedside when she died. Thomas W. Ryley went on to have a long career as a manager and Broadway producer. Prior to her illness Bancker had been touring

Upstate New York Upstate New York is a geographic region consisting of the area of New York State that lies north and northwest of the New York City metropolitan area. Although the precise boundary is debated, Upstate New York excludes New York City and Long ...

in the play ''A Divorce Cure'' by

Victorien Sardou Victorien Sardou ( , ; 5 September 18318 November 1908) was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play. He also wrote several plays that were made into popular 19th-centu ...

. Emily Bancker’s many obituaries have her either born in New York or coming to America from England with Rosina Vokes’ company. Most publications agreed that she was in her mid-thirties at the time of her death.Werner's Magazine: a Magazine of Expression, Volume 19 By Music Teachers National Association January–August, 1897, pg. 658

References

External links

Emily Bancker
photos at

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress) ...

Digital Gallery {{DEFAULTSORT:Bancker, Emily 1860s births 1897 deaths 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses Actresses from New York City Year of birth unknown