Background
Ball, Robert Hamilton was born on May 21, 1902 in New York City. Son of George Martin and Flora Cristene (Hill) Ball.
( In 1899, when film projection was barely three years ol...)
In 1899, when film projection was barely three years old, Herbert Beerbohm Tree was filmed as King John. In his highly entertaining history, Robert Hamilton Ball traces in detail the fate of Shakespeare on silent films from Tree’s first effort until the establishment of sound in 1929. The silent films brought Shakespeare to a wide public who had never had the chance to see his plays in the theatre. And Shakespeare gave the film makers an air of respectability that was badly needed by a medium with a reputation for frivolity. This work, first published in 1968, brings history to life with excerpts from scenarios, from reviews and from contemporary film journals, and with reproduction of stills and frames from the films themselves, including unusual shots of leading screen actors. This is a valuable source book for film experts, enhanced by full notes, bibliography and indexes; a fresh approach for Shakespeareans; and a vivid sketch of a world that has passed for all.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415832101/?tag=2022091-20
theatre historian author English educator
Ball, Robert Hamilton was born on May 21, 1902 in New York City. Son of George Martin and Flora Cristene (Hill) Ball.
AB, Princeton University, 1923; AM, Princeton University, 1924; Doctor of Philosophy, Princeton University, 1928.
Instructor English and dramatic art, Princeton (New Jersey) U., 1927-1931; assistant professor, Princeton (New Jersey) U., 1931-1939; curator William Seymour Theatre Collection, Princeton (New Jersey) U., 1936-1939; assistant Professor of English, Queen's College, Flushing, New York, 1939-1943; associate, professor, Queen's College, Flushing, New York, 1944-1951; professor, Queen's College, Flushing, New York, 1951-1971, emeritus, from 1971; department chairman, Queen's College, Flushing, New York, 1941-1947, 60-64; chairman arts division, Queen's College, Flushing, New York, 1949-1955. Established chair, 1st professor of America Literature, U. Ankara, Turkey, 1955-1956;visiting professor U. Colorado, New York University, University of California at Los Angeles.
( In 1899, when film projection was barely three years ol...)
(Book by Walter Parker Bowman, Robert Hamilton Ball)
Member arts advisory council Port Washington (New York ) Public Library. Advisory council Folger Shakespeare Library. Past director public relations Port Washington Civil Defense.
Past member executive board Port Washington branch American Red Cross. Member Modern Language Association, Shakespeare Association American, Modern Humanities Research Association, Theatre Library Association (former chairman theatre documents board, former executive board), American Association of University Professors (past chapter president), American Society Theatre Research (executive committee), International Federation Theatre Research.
Married Esther Marshall Smith, June 26, 1928. 1 child, Marcia M. Ball Weatherstone.