Little Lord Fauntleroy Actors: Ray Maskell


Figure 1.--Ray Maskel was a popular child actor who often played Little Lord Fauntleroy before the turn of the century.

No information available at this Ray Maskell. He appears to have been a very popular child actor on the American stage. I know he performed in New York, he may have appeare in other cities as well. I'm not positive about the years, but it looks to be the late 1880s or 1890s. One image was known to be date 1889. He presumably played a variety of rolls. Given the popularity of Little Lord Fauntleroy, it may have been one of his primary roles. Available images show him in a variety of Little Lord Fauntleroy costumes at different ages, suggesting he played in many productions during his career as a child actor. The costumes were always quite elaborate.

Biography

HBC has no biographic information on Ray at this time. We know that he was American and believe he was born about 1880.

Career

He appears to have been a very popular child actor on the American stage. I know he performed in New York, he may have appeare in other cities as well. The Macauley Theater Collection has an image from Chicago. HBC has since acquire a portrait taken in Chicago. So Ray appears to have played a national circuit.

Ray presumably played a variety of rolls. Given the popularity of Little Lord Fauntleroy, it may have been one of his primary roles. Available images show him in a variety of Little Lord Fauntleroy costumes at different ages, suggesting he played in many productions during his career as a child actor.

Chronolgy

I'm not positive about the years, but it looks to be the late 1880s or 1890s. One image in the Macauley Theater Collectionwas known to been datee 1889. HBC does not have access to the image, however, so we do not know how old Ray was at this time an to what age he playe the Fauntleroy role.


Figure 2.--This portrait of Ray was taken by a Chicago photographer. Note the similarity of the costume with figure 1. The principal difference appears to be the lace collar.

Costuming

The costumes in 19th century productions of Little Lord Fauntleroy were always quite elaborate. Much more so than 20th century movie productions. Ray's costumes do not appear to have been greatly different than the Fauntleroy outfits actually worn by boys--with a few exceptions.

Cap

The principal part of Ray's costume that seems more elaborate than the ones actually worn by is his cap. I'm not sure just what kind of cap it was. It seems ti be some kind of gigantic tam--with a feather at the front. HBC has noted noted a portrait of an American boy ever wearing such a cap. Of course most boys were photographed with such a cap. Granted boys usually had their portrait taken indoors with caps and hats. The hats were, however, placed in the portrait. Wie brimmed sailor hats were much more common.

Lace Collar

Rays wears what appears to be a large pin-on lace collar. The collars in both figures 1 and 2 are both pin on collars, but with different designs.

Jacket

Ray's small velvet jacket appears to a have been a very standard one. The jacket is cut away so the elaborate blouse can be seen.

Blouse

Ray wears a fancy blouse even though the lace collar is pinned on. Strangely there appears to be a fringe at the waist as the collar must been very plain.

Kneepants

The velvet kneepants also seem fairly standard.

Sash

Boy doing Little Lodr Fauntleroy almost always wore sashes. Sashes were less common with actual boys.

Stockings

Ray wears dark long over the knee stockings. This was also common in the late 19th century, although his appear to be lighter weight ones, presumably silk. Boys more commonly wore wool or cotton stockings.

Shoes

It is difficult to assess the shoes. HBC has not noted actual boys wearing a similar style.







Christopher Wagner






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Created: April 27, 2001
Last updated: April 27, 2001