Edward Franklin Albee II (October 8, 1857 – March 11, 1930) was a vaudeville impresario, and the adoptive grandfather of Edward Franklin Albee III, the playwright. October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (282nd in leap years). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in Leap year). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Vaudeville is a style of multi-act theatre which flourished in North America from the 1880s through the 1920s. ...

He was born in Machias, Maine to Edward Franklin Albee I. He toured with P.T. Barnum as a ticket collector, then in 1885 he partnered with Benjamin Franklin Keith in operating the Boston Bijou Theatre in Boston. In 1885 Reed married Lora S., and he had the following children: Reed A. Albee (1886–1961); and Ethel Albee (1890-?). With the success of their business, it grew into the Keith-Albee theatre circuit of vaudeville theatres. Albee gradually took managerial control of Keith's theatrical circuit. They were the first to introduce moving pictures in the US. Albee was president of the United Bookings Office from its formation in 1900 or 1906. Albee had most of the major vaudeville circuits give him control of their bookings. They charged acts a 5% commission for bookings. Acts Albee disliked were not booked. When performers tried to form a union, he set up National Vaudeville Artists and made membership in it a requirement for booking through his company. His partner Kieth died in Palm Beach, Florida in 1914. Albee made several misjudgments in the 1920s. He built lavish new theaters, and created extravagant shows, at a time when movies were becoming a low cost alternative to the shows. The Keith-Albee-Orpheum (KAO) corporation was formed in Delaware on January 28, 1928. Joseph P. Kennedy partnered with Albee then took full control of the company. The newly formed RKO turned the Orpheum vaudeville circuit into a chain of movie houses. Machias is a town located in Washington County, Maine. ... Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891), American showman who is best remembered for his entertaining hoaxes and for founding the circus that eventually became Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. ... Boston is a town and small port c. ... Palm Beachs skyline, as seen from Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. ... The Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation was the owner of a chain of vaudeville and motion picture theatres. ... Sucks ... Joseph Joe Patrick Kennedy, Sr. ... RKO could stand for: RKO Pictures The R.K.O. - finishing manoever (and initials) of WWE professional wrestler Randy Orton. ...

Death

He died on March 11, 1930 in Palm Beach, Florida. March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in Leap year). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Palm Beachs skyline, as seen from Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. ...

See also

• 1900 US Census with Albees in Manhattan

The Borough of Manhattan, highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ...

References

• New York Times; March 12, 1930. E.F. ALBEE DIES AT PALM BEACH; Retired Head of B.F. Keith Vaudeville Circuit Heart Disease Victim. CONTROLLED 700 THEATRES 15,000 Performers Under Management of His Company, Largestin the World. Called a Great Organizer. A Native of Maine. Introduced the "Mikado." First Theatre in Boston. The Big Vaudeville Merger. PALM BEACH, Fla.--Edward F. Albee, who became associated with the late B.F. Keith in the vaudeville business forty-five years ago, died here suddenly tonight in his room at the Breakers Hotel from...
• New York Times; March 16, 1930. THRONG AT FUNERAL OF EDWARD F. ALBEE; Notables of Stage and Other Fields at Services in Cathedral of St. John.BISHOP MANNING PRESIDES Cathedral Clergy Assist in Impressive Requlem -- 700 Theatres Pay Tribute to Former Head. The Honorary Pallbearers. Some of Those Present. Tribute at 700 Theatres.. Vaudeville stars, old-time luminaries of the stage, vaudeville executives from cities far West as Chicago, people connected in every conceivable way with the stage and many others paid homage yesterday morning to Edward F. Albee, former ...
• New York Times; March 23, 1930. E.F. ALBEE: CO-FOUNDER OF VAUDEVILLE; Long Head of a Large Amusement Enterprise, He Was Among the Most Untheatrical of Managers. The late Edward Franklin Albee, co-founder of vaudeville. As an American amusement institution and for half a century a manager, was, without doubt, one or the most untheatrical of the theatre's overlords. His funeral services ...
• Time; March 24, 1930. "Died. Edward Franklin Albee, 73, Manhattan theatrical manager; at Palm Beach; of angina pectoris. As a boy he ran away from his native Machias, Maine, to join a wagon show. Working for the late, great Phineas Taylor ("P. T.") Barnum. he met Benjamin Franklin Keith. Together they built theatres, organized a vaudeville circuit which ultimately became $67.000,000 Keith-Albee-Orpheum, bought by Radio Corp. two years ago."
• Time; June 8, 1931. Bu the [National Variety Artists' Club in West 46th Street in Manhattan] club has always run an annual deficit. For years Edward Franklin Albee variety tycoon (Keith-Albee), footed the losses until his death in 1930."