Background
Elizabeth Crocker Bowers was born on March 12, 1830, at Ridgefield, Connecticut. Her father, the Rev. William Crocker, was a Methodist clergyman.
Elizabeth Crocker Bowers was born on March 12, 1830, at Ridgefield, Connecticut. Her father, the Rev. William Crocker, was a Methodist clergyman.
Elizabeth made her first appearance on the stage as Amanthis in the Child of Nature, December 3, 1846. Her first appearance on the stage as Mrs. D. P. Bowers was at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, as Donna Victoria in A Bold Stroke for a Husband, March 11, 1847.
The following year, she acted at the Arch Street Theatre and in 1853, became a member of the stock company at that house, remaining several seasons and becoming an immense favorite. On the death of her husband in 1857, she retired temporarily from the stage, but on December 19, 1857, became lessee of the Walnut Street Theatre, opening it as the People's Theatre with London Assurance and remaining its manager until January 1859.
A few months later, she leased the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, for a short season. In 1861, she went to England, making her appearance at Sadler's Wells as Julia in The Hunchback and creating a very favorable impression. In 1863, she returned to this country and was seen at the Winter Garden, New York, playing the title role in Lady Audley's Secret, and Julia in The Hunchback to Lawrence Barrett's Sir Thomas Clifford.
A starring tour followed, after which she reappeared at the Winter Garden, October 15, 1866, in Lady Audley's Secret. On November 23 of the same year, she acted Romeo to the Juliet of her sister, Mrs. F. B. Conway. On December 16, 1867, she was seen at the Broadway Theatre (Wallack's) as Dora. After more starring tours, she again appeared in New York, at Booth's Theatre as Lady Macbeth to Booth's Macbeth.
During this engagement, she also acted Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Margaret in Richard III. In 1884, for the next few years retired from the stage, devoting her time to teaching elocution. Early in 1892, she took a benefit at Palmer's Theatre, New York, and on February 3, was seen at that house as Mme. d'Arcay in the first performance of The Broken Seal.
The following year, on February 5, she played the Duchess of Berwick in the first New York performance of Oscar Wilde's comedy Lady Windermere's Fan. On October 24 of the same year she appeared at the Empire Theatre, New York, as Mrs. Kirkland in David Belasco's play The Younger Son, and on December 11 played Lady Carolina in support of Rose Coghlan in Oscar Wilde's A Woman of No Importance. She was again seen at Palmer's on October 8, 1894, as Mrs. Woodville in A. W. Gattie's drama The Transgressor, the occasion being the American début of Olga Nethersole. On November 12 she played Lady Wargrave in the first American performance of Sidney Grundy's The New Woman. This was the last part she played in New York.
She died in Washington November 6, 1895.
Elizabeth Bowers gained her great recognition in New York City, while she played for a time at the Winter Garden (now demolished). Among her favorite roles were Juliet, Lady Macbeth, Marie Antoinette, and Lady Audley. Later she organized a new dramatic company called the Parkand Brookly Theatres in Brooklyn, and working under the management of Albert Marshman Palmer, who was universally known in the theatrical world, she visited the principal cities of the United States, playing many of her old and favorite characters.
In her religious affiliation Elizabeth Bowers was a Methodist.
Quotes from others about the person
"An actress of great distinction, she had beauty as well as talent, " says a contemporary critic, "a voice of fascinating sweetness, a refined manner and a cultivated mind. "
On March 4, 1847, Bowers married David P. Bowers, a well-known Philadelphia actor. He died in 1857. In 1859, she married Dr. Brown, a chemist of Baltimore, who died in 1867.
On January 20, 1883, Elizabeth married James C. McCollum
19 December 1790 - 17 February 1835
20 September 1792 - 27 June 1866
American theatrical manager
1 July 1833 - 28 April 1875
11 June 1827 - 3 August 1866
