Edward Litt Laman Blanchard
Edward Litt Leman Blanchard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age 28 Great Queen Street, London, England |
| Died | September 4, 1889 (aged 68) Albert Mansions, Victoria Street, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Playwright, drama critic |
| Years active | 1830s–1889 |
| Known for | Contributions to pantomimes at Drury Lane; drama critic for The Daily Telegraph |
Edward Litt Leman Blanchard, commonly referred to as E. L. Blanchard (11 December 1820 – 4 September 1889), was a distinguished English playwright, particularly celebrated for his contributions to the pantomimes at Drury Lane. Following the death of his father, Blanchard began crafting plays and literary works during his teenage years to support himself financially. Under the alias Francisco Frost, he provided pantomime scripts to several smaller theatres, establishing a reputation for creative and original theatrical compositions. Over time, Blanchard became a prolific dramatist, earning critical praise, serving as a drama critic for newspapers, and guiding aspiring writers.
Early life
Edward was born at 28 Great Queen Street, London, as the second son of Sarah, the second wife of actor William Blanchard. His family circle included half-siblings such as the actress Elizabeth Blanchard. His education took place in Brixton, Ealing, and Lichfield. In 1831, he accompanied his father to New York, where Elizabeth's husband, Thomas Hamblin, managed the Bowery theatre.
After returning to England and following his father's passing in 1835 when Edward was just 14, he left formal schooling and joined a travelling exhibition featuring an "OxyHydrogen microscope," occasionally delivering public lectures. This enterprise failed financially; stranded in southwestern England, he borrowed half a crown from a Bristol scene-painter and then walked back to London over three days.
Once back in London, Blanchard embarked on his literary journey, authoring more than 30 plays by the age of 20 under the pen name Francisco Frost. Initially receiving only £2 per play, he supplemented his earnings by composing business advertisements and humorous songs for clowns.
At 17, shortly after the launch of Renton Nicholson's The Town in 1837, Blanchard began contributing social essays and theatre reviews, continuing this work for two years. His early writings exposed illicit gambling activities in Leicester Square, which led to police intervention. Later in life, Blanchard defended Nicholson’s reputation by emphasizing his generosity and significant impact on journalism.
Career
In 1841, Blanchard secured a position with the Olympic Theatre as a regular playwright. By 1845, one of his works was produced at the Surrey Theatre for the first time. During the early 1840s, he also contributed as a writer and editor for publications such as Punch and The New London Magazine, and took on editorial duties for a prominent work about William Shakespeare authored by Samuel Phelps.
Throughout the 1840s, Blanchard undertook extensive travels to compile guides including Bradshaw's Guide and Descriptive Guide to the Great Western Railway, Part II.
His most notable achievement was his long-term involvement with the Drury Lane pantomimes, writing for them over a span of 37 years. He was acclaimed for his adaptability across genres like drama, farce, and burlesque, often praised for incorporating tasteful moral messages alongside imaginative storytelling.
Beginning in 1858, he contributed to The Daily Telegraph, eventually becoming its drama critic and mentoring his eventual successor Clement Scott. In 1859 he also wrote for the Birmingham Daily Gazette.
Later life
From 1876 until 1889, Blanchard resided at Adelphi Terrace. He fathered four children and often faced financial difficulties due to the modest earnings from his literary work. His spouse, Caroline, was actively involved with Louisa Hubbard's Women's Emigration Society, aiding young women relocating from London to destinations such as Australia and Canada.
Blanchard passed away on 4 September 1889 at Albert Mansions on Victoria Street, London, following a prolonged illness referred to as "creeping paralysis." He was laid to rest at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Cemetery, Hanwell.
In 1891, The Life and Reminiscences of E. L. Blanchard was released in a two-volume set, edited by Clement Scott and Cecil Howard and published by Hutchinson. This biography details his persistent hardships and modest remuneration, depicting him as a warm and amiable personality reminiscent of Charles Lamb.
Popular culture
Lyrics penned by Mr. Blanchard have been incorporated into musical works available on IMSLP [1].
Works
Published under the alias Francisco Frost:
- The Old Woman and her Three Sons; or, Harlequin and the Wizard of Wokey Hole (1839)
- Pat-A-Cake Pat-A-Cake; or, Harlequin and the Baker's Man! (1839)
- The World of Wonders; or, Harlequin Caxton, and the Origin of Printing (1847)
- Eyes, Nose, and Mouth; or, Harlequin Prince Perfect, and the Birth of Beauty (1847)
- The Pets of the Ballet, a song (1847)
- William the Conqueror and Harlequin Harold; or, The Sack of the Saxons (1848)
- Belphegore the Itinerant (1851)
- Sir John Barleycorn; or, Harlequin Champagne and the Fairies of the Hop and Vine (1852)
Under the name E L Blanchard:
- Arcadia; or, The Shepherd and Shepherdess (1841)
- Heads and Tales of Travellers and Travelling (1847)
- Harlequin Lord Lovell; or, Lady Nancy Bell and the Fairies of the Silver Oak (1848)
- Little Goody Two Shoes; or, Harlequin Cock Robin (1862)
- Number Nip; or, Harlequin and the Gnome King of the Giant Mountain (1866)
- Sinbad (1882)
References
- Knight, John Joseph. "Blanchard, Edward Litt Laman," Dictionary of National Biography Supplement.
- Blanchard, Edward. Notes and Queries, 1871.
- Scott, Clement & Howard, Cecil. The Life and Reminiscences of E. L. Blanchard, 1891.
- Brereton, Austin. The Literary History of the Adelphi and Its Neighborhood, 1908.
- Scott, Clement. The Drama of Yesterday & To-Day, 1899.
- The Spectator. "The Biography of a Playwright," 1891.
- Wilman, George. Sketches of Living Celebrities, 1882.
External links
- 1820 births
- 1889 deaths
- 19th-century English journalists
- 19th-century English dramatists and playwrights
- 19th-century English male writers
- 19th-century English memoirists
- British theatre critics
- People from Covent Garden
- English male journalists
- English male dramatists and playwrights
- English male non-fiction writers
- Writers from the London Borough of Camden
- Writers from the City of Westminster
- The Daily Telegraph people