Max Figman (March 9, 1866 – February 13, 1952), born in

Vienna, Austria Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

, and Lolita Robertson (March 7, 1888 – May 1, 1959) born in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

, were a husband and wife acting duo who appeared on Broadway and in silent films together. Max was also a director and writer in his stage career. Max was 22 years Lolita's senior but the couple was long married and devoted to each other until Max's death in 1952. Max died on February 13, 1952, in a nursing home in Bayside, Queens, called Edgewater Rest, at the age of 85. They had two children, Max Jr. and Lolita Figman. Max and Lolita appeared in a hit play ''Fine Feathers'' in 1913 co-starring Wilton Lackaye and

Robert Edeson Robert Edeson (June 3, 1868 – March 24, 1931) was an American film and stage actor of the silent era and a vaudeville performer. Life and career Edeson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of manager and actor George R. Edeson. After ...

. They made a few films with the short-lived Masterpiece Film Manufacturing Company. The couple sat in on the formation of The Lasky Company in 1914, later to be

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

. In silent pictures, the husband and wife often appeared together.

Max stage career

Max made his stage debut at 17 in ''A Scrap of Paper'' (1883). He later joined the company of

Willie Edouin Willie Edouin (1 January 1846Edouin's ''New York Times'' obituary says 1841 – 14 April 1908) was an English comedian, actor, dancer, singer, writer, director and theatre manager. After performing as a child in England, Australia and elsewher ...

in ''Fun in a Photographic Gallery'' and appeared in four plays with

Mrs. Fiske Minnie Maddern Fiske (born Marie Augusta Davey; December 19, 1865 – February 15, 1932), but often billed simply as Mrs. Fiske, was one of the leading American actresses of the late 19th and early 20th century. She also spearheaded the fig ...

: '' Miranda of the Balcony'', ''

A Doll's House ''A Doll's House'' (Danish language, Danish and ; also translated as ''A Doll House'') is a three-act Play (theatre), play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 De ...

'', ''

Hedda Gabler ''Hedda Gabler'' () is a play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The world premiere was staged on 31 January 1891 at the Residenztheater in Munich. Ibsen himself was in attendance, although he remained back-stage.Meyer, Michael Lever ...

'' and ''

Mary of Magdala Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and resurr ...

''. In 1905–06, he supported

Florence Roberts Florence Roberts (March 16, 1861/1864 – June 6, 1940(photo included) was an American actress of the stage and in motion pictures. Stock company actress Born in New York City, she began acting onstage there. Her career began at the Brooklyn ...

in ''Ann La Mont'' and ''The Strength of the Weak''. He became a star in the play version of ''The Man on the Box'', filmed in 1914 by

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American filmmaker and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema and the most co ...

. From 1909 to 1910, he toured in ''Mary Jane's Pa'' and in February 1912 was at Daly's Theatre New York in ''The Truth Wagon''. He began his relationship with Lolita Robertson while in the play '' Fine Feathers'', first at the Cort Theatre, Chicago, in August 1912, and finally in New York at the Astor Theatre in January 1913. His final performance before his death was ''The DuBarry'' on Broadway in 1932, playing the role of

Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defi ...

Lolita stage career

When the originally cast actress in '' Fine Feathers'', Alice Stone, fell sick, Lolita was offered her role of Jane Reynolds.

Eugene Walter Eugene Ferdinand Walter, Jr. (November 30, 1921 – March 29, 1998) was an American screenwriter, poet, short-story author, actor, puppeteer, gourmet chef, cryptographer, translator, editor, costume designer and well-known raconteur. During his y ...

asked her to read Alice's part during rehearsal and she was later offered the role. At the time, Max and Lolita had a two-month-old infant, so she initially turned down the offer. After spending time reading the part during rehearsals, she took the role.

Filmography

Max Figman *''

The Man on the Box ''The Man on the Box'' is a 1914 American silent comedy-drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this ki ...

'' (1914) *''

What's His Name ''What's His Name?'' is a 1914 American comedy-drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. A 35mm print of this film exists in the George Eastman House film archive. Plot A baker’s daughter, Nellie Duluth, marries a soda fountain operator, H ...

'' (1914) *''The Hoosier Schoolmaster'' (1914) *''The Truth Wagon'' (1914) *''

Jack Chanty Jack Chanty is a 1915 silent film drama directed by and starring Max Figman and co-starring his wife Lolita Robertson. It was written for the screen by Elliott J. Clawson, a writer later associated with MGM. The production was filmed in various ...

'' (1915) *''My Best Girl'' (1915) *'' The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford'' (1915, short) *''The Bungalow Bungle'' (1915, short) *''Three Rings and a Goat'' (1915, short) *''A Rheumatic Joint'' (1915, short) *''The Master Stroke'' (1915, short) *''The Lilac Splash'' (1915, short) *''A Trap for Trapp'' (1915, short) *''A Bang Sun Engine'' (1915, short) *''A Transaction in Summer Boarders'' (1915, short) *''Detective Blackie'' (1915, short) *''Apples and Eggbeaters'' (1915, short) *''A Stony Deal'' (1915, short) *''Buying a Bank with Bunk'' (1915, short) *''The Missing Heir'' (1915, short) *''Lord Southpaugh'' (1916, short) *''He Wouldn't Wear Glasses'' (1916, short) *''Monomania'' (1917, short) *''

Old Home Week Old Home Week or Old Home Day is a practice that originated in the New England region of the United States similar to a harvest holiday or festival. In its beginning in the 19th–20th century it involved a municipal effort to invite former resid ...

'' (1925) *''It Happened in Paris'' (1932) Lolita Robertson *''

'' (1914) *''

'' (1914) *''The Hoosier Schoolmaster'' (1914) *''The Truth Wagon'' (1914) *''

'' (1915) *'' The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford'' (1915, short) *''The Bungalow Bungle'' (1915, short) *''Three Rings and a Goat'' (1915, short) *''A Rheumatic Joint'' (1915, short) *''The Master Stroke'' (1915, short) *''The Lilac Splash'' (1915, short) *''A Trap for Trapp'' (1915, short) *''A Bang Sun Engine'' (1915, short) *''A Transaction in Summer Boarders'' (1915, short) *''Detective Blackie'' (1915, short) *''Apples and Eggbeaters'' (1915, short) *''A Stony Deal'' (1915, short) *''Buying a Bank with Bunk'' (1915, short) *''The Missing Heir'' (1915, short) *''Lord Southpaugh'' (1916, short) *''No Mother to Guide Her'' (1923)

References

External links

* * * *
Lolita portrait gallery
(University of Washington, Sayre collection)
Max Figman portrait gallery
(University of Washington, Sayre collection)
Lolita Robertson portrait
(University of Louisville, Macauley Theatre collection)
Max Figman
when he was under the management of John Cort
Max and Lolita
in a scene from the film ''What's His Name'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Figman, Max and Robertson, Lolita Married couples Entertainer duos