Early Acting and Pantomime - The Delsarte System
Francois Delsarte (1811-1871) was a French teacher of acting
and voice. He devised a system of aesthetic rules for acting which
made their way to America in the 1880's when Edgar S. Werner &
Co. published Delsarte's System of Oratory. This treatise became
extremely popular and went through several editions. The acting
in early films like the Birth of A Nation utilized the Delsarte
method. Fans of the classic musical comedy, The Music Man can
readily remember Eulalie, the wife of the mayor leading her friends
in a variation of the Delsarte method.. Edgar S Werner & Co.
published several pamphlets of poses and pantomime in the Delsarte
manner.
At The Golden Gates. Illustrated Pantomimed Song. Edgar
S. Werner & Co.. 1904. Words by Father Ryan. Music by Sumner
Salter. Pantomimed by and Posed under Direction of Helen Merci
Schuster. 16 pages. 9.5" x 11.75". Some toning, spine
is splitting. (Stock number 003werner1) $50.00 SOLD
Illustrated Society Monologue. Molly's Prenuptial Flirtation.
Poems by George A. Baker. Poses by Cozette Keller. Edgar S. Werner
& Co. 1907. 16 pages. 9.5" x 12". Some toning, otherwise
excellent. (Stock number 003werner2) $50.00 SOLD
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