The Brothers Booth [podcast 5 min 17 sec]
Edwin Booth is the brother of John Wilkes Booth, and they are members of the acclaimed Booth acting family. Their father is regarded as one of the best Shakespearean actors in the world. Therefore, the night in which President Lincoln and his wife go to see a play a Ford’s Theater, John Wilkes Booth can roam the halls freely without being questioned. After all, everyone recognizes him as the actor.
Edwin Booth made his acting debut at the age of sixteen in Boston as a supporting actor in a play with his father. However, he was not very successful and his father told him to stop acting – he didn’t want his name to be tainted by his son’s poor acting ability. Edwin began to follow his father around making sure he was never late to a curtain. However, his father passed away and Edwin began to act again, traveling through the Sierra Nevada’s and to what is now Hawaii, and when he returns, he becomes the most famous actor in America, and possibly the best Hamlet in the world. His father, therefore, becomes remembered as Edwin’s father, rather than for his own acting abilities, and John Wilkes Booth becomes jealous of his brother.
Then one night, John Wilkes booth shoots President Lincoln in the back of the head as he is trying to take in a play with his wife. As a result, Edwin Booth stops acting; he had instantly become over shadowed by his brother. However, several years later, he made a final appearance on Broadway acting as a Hamlet. He was nervous, and expected the crowd to boo him off the stage, but instead he received a standing ovation.
Read entire article at HNN Summary of the story told on The Memory Palace
Edwin Booth made his acting debut at the age of sixteen in Boston as a supporting actor in a play with his father. However, he was not very successful and his father told him to stop acting – he didn’t want his name to be tainted by his son’s poor acting ability. Edwin began to follow his father around making sure he was never late to a curtain. However, his father passed away and Edwin began to act again, traveling through the Sierra Nevada’s and to what is now Hawaii, and when he returns, he becomes the most famous actor in America, and possibly the best Hamlet in the world. His father, therefore, becomes remembered as Edwin’s father, rather than for his own acting abilities, and John Wilkes Booth becomes jealous of his brother.
Then one night, John Wilkes booth shoots President Lincoln in the back of the head as he is trying to take in a play with his wife. As a result, Edwin Booth stops acting; he had instantly become over shadowed by his brother. However, several years later, he made a final appearance on Broadway acting as a Hamlet. He was nervous, and expected the crowd to boo him off the stage, but instead he received a standing ovation.