Al Lee

Al Lee
Born
Albert Lee Cunningham

(1891-10-25)October 25, 1891
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedNovember 8, 1945(1945-11-08) (aged 54)
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
OccupationsActor & producer
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1914; div. 1921)​

Al Lee (born Albert Lee Cunningham; October 25, 1891 – November 8, 1945) was an American actor, producer and manager in vaudeville and silent films. He served for 12 years as manager for George White's Scandals and was later the company manager for the Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

Early life

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Lee was the son of Georgia Lee and Albert Deering Cunningham.

Personal life

In 1914, Lee married actress Lilyan Tashman, whom he had met while working on a double act with Eddie Cantor, but the couple divorced in 1921. In 1933, Lee married the daughter of "a prominent New York family," the 25-year-old Elizabeth Hopkins, daughter of the "once wealthy Angus Hopkins".

Following a brief illness, Lee died at Manhattan's Roosevelt Hospital on November 8, 1945, at age 54.

Manager/producer

References

  1. ↑ "Repertoire of Olympic Opera Week Announced; 'Lakme' Will Be the Novelty of the Boston Company's St. Louis Season". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 2, 1910. p. 23. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  2. ↑ Goldman, Herbert (1997). Banjo Eyes: Eddie Cantor and the Birth of Modern Stardom. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 43. ISBN 9780195074024.
  3. ↑ "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6JC-2N9 : 30 June 2024), Albert Lee Cunningham, 1917-1918.
  4. ↑ "United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3X5-432 : Fri Feb 23 21:31:18 UTC 2024), Entry for Al Lee Cunningham, 1942.
  5. 1 2 "United States, Census, 1900", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3DZ-SWW : Sun Oct 27 17:59:33 UTC 2024), Entry for Albert D Cunningham and Georgia Cunningham, 1900.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "ALBERT LEE: Theatre Manager and Former Vaudeville Actor Dies at 53". New York Times. November 9, 1945. p. 15. ProQuest 107253763. Albert Lee, theatre manager and former vaudeville actor, died yesterday in Roosevelt Hospital, after a brief illness. His age was 53. Born in St. Louis, Mr. Lee spent most of his life in New York, appearing in variety with Eddie Cantor, Eds Wynn and Jim Hussey. Later he served as manager for George White's 'Scandals' for twelve years and recently was associated with the production of 'The Glass Menagerie.' He leaves a widow, the former Elizabeth Hopkins. His first marriage, that to Lilyan Tashman, was terminated by divorce.
  7. 1 2 "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WY9-5B4 : 3 June 2020), Al Lee, 1945.
  8. ↑ Marquis, Albert Nelson; Leonard, John W., ed. (1906). The Book of St. Louisans: A Biographical Dictionary of the Leading Living Men of the City of St. Louis. St. Louis: The St. Louis Republic. p. 141. OCLC 4440303.
  9. 1 2 Golden, Eve (August 1997). "Lilyan Tashman, Showgirl in Hollywood". Classic Images. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Obituary: Mrs Rose Tashman". The Brooklyn Daily Times. December 14, 1914. p. 10. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Producer Stages 'Elopement' and Stars Girl of 25". New York Daily News. p. 3. Retrieved December 26, 2024.