This is a picture of John Wilkes. I was named after him! He was a British politician and journalist. He was well-known for being a radical. He stood up for injustice and fought for the good of the people. My parents probably named me after him because I was there favorite from the start. I often played powerful roles that remind me of John Wilkes.
Photo: "John Wilkes - Portrait. English Politician, Journalist and Radical...." Getty Images. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
Caption: Giblin, James. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of
Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. New York: Clarion, 2005. Print.
Kauffman, Michael W. American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies. New York: Random House, 2004. Print.
2.
This is an image of my older brother, Edwin. Edwin was also an actor. When we were both fairly young, he set off to go on theatrical tours with my father. I have to admit I was a bit jealous of him at that point. My father was always a larger than life figure to me. However, we were always good friends, I'd say. He was very supportive of my career in the theatre. He publicly announced it once!
Photo: "Edwin Thomas Booth." Geni_family_tree. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
Caption: Giblin, James. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of
Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. New York: Clarion, 2005. Print.
Kauffman, Michael W. American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies. New York: Random House, 2004. Print.
3.
This is the script for William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. I was always a huge Shakespeare fan, even as a boy! I would memorize long passages and recite them to my sister, Asia. Once, Edwin and I both performed in a production of Hamlet in Richmond. Edwin was Hamlet and I was Horatio, Hamlet's companion. This production reminds me of my family.
Photo: "Architecture of Ideas." 'Architecture of Ideas' Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
Caption: Giblin, James. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. New York: Clarion, 2005. Print.
Clarke, Asia Booth, and Terry Alford. John Wilkes Booth a Sister's Memoir. Jackson: U of Mississippi, 1999. Print.
4.
This is the script for the historical opera Lucrezia Borgia. This show marks one of my biggest flukes in the history of my career! When I was just starting out, I would get horrible stage fright. When I get stage fright, I can't seem to form words! I was supposed to say, "Madame, I am Petruchio Pandolfo." Instead all I could say was, "Dammit! Who am I?" Which seemed to give the audience a good laugh, but I didn't think it was particularly funny. I decided to laugh along with them anyway. What else can you do?
Photo: "Donizetti's Opera L'elisire D'amore : Containing the Italian Text, with and English Translation and the Music of All the Principal Airs : Donizetti, Gaetano, 1797-1848 : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive." Internet Archive. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
Caption: Giblin, James. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. New York: Clarion, 2005. Print.
5.
This is Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. I performed at this theater many times while I was an actor. Once, President and Mrs. Lincoln came to see me. It was during a production of The Marble Heart. I was playing a lead role. Since I was never a fan of Lincoln, I decided to make it the worst performance of my life. My only minor regret is that there were plenty of my fans in the audience expecting my best!
Photo: "Ford's Theatre (Washington DC, DC): Hours, Address, Tickets & Tours, Theater Reviews - TripAdvisor." Ford's Theatre (Washington DC, DC): Hours, Address, Tickets & Tours, Theater Reviews - TripAdvisor. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
Caption: Kauffman, Michael W. American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies. New York: Random House, 2004. Print.
6.
This is my sister, Asia Booth Clarke. She was one of my closest companions during my childhood. She was my biggest supporter from the start, even when we were kids. I would recite Shakespeare in her presence and play Christopher Columbus together. Whenever I felt like I wasn't good enough to be on stage, Asia was there to encourage me. She constantly complimented me and helped me through life. Asia was one of the most inspirational people of my childhood.
Photo: http://boothiebarn.com/picture-galleries/booth-family/asia/
Caption: Clarke, Asia Booth, and Terry Alford. John Wilkes Booth a Sister's Memoir. Jackson: U of Mississippi, 1999. Print.
This is a newspaper article, talking of John Brown's death sentence. John Brown was a problem causer! He started a slave uprising and killed some white people! I was always horrified with his attempts and was a southern boy at heart. When I was outside of a theater I was rehearsing in, I saw a militia lining up outside. They were going to guard John Brown before his execution. I saw this as my chance to show my dedication to the south. I managed to convince the leader of the militia to let me join, and set off with them on the train.
Photo: Gugliotta, Guy. "A Speech Lost in Digital Translation." The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Caption: Giblin, James. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. New York: Clarion, 2005. Print.
8.
This is an image of Tudor Hall. Tudor Hall was my boyhood home where I lived with my family. My father purchased the estate when I was young. Tudor Hall is located in the countryside of Maryland, near the city of Bel Air. It's one-hundred and fifty acres of farmland and woods. We children would do lots of chores, but my father would also play with us when we lived in Tudor Hall.
Photo: http://www.surrattmuseum.org/booths-boyhood-home-tudor-hall
Caption: Giblin, James. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. New York: Clarion, 2005. Print.
9.
This is a newspaper notice from November 9th, 1863. It features one of the most amazing actors of the time: me! This advertises me starring in "The Marble Heart." It took place at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C., a lovely venue! I worked a lot there during my time as an actor. I especially like how my name is big and bold. It's probably because I am such a phenomenal actor!
Photo: "John Wilkes Booth's Acting Career (1863) - Click Americana." Click Americana RSS. 5 Apr. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
Caption: Kauffman, Michael W. American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies. New York: Random House, 2004. Print.
10.
This is a portrait of me. Many critics have described me as being tall and handsome. Even though I am a very talented actor and chivalrous man, my good looks have helped me win fans. I was the first actor to ever have my clothes ripped off by fans. When I came out of the theater my manager would have to tell fans to back away. I think my looks helped me to play a variety of roles, from dark, brooding roles to romantic, soft ones.
Photo: "La Salle University Digital Commons." Site. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. <http://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/philadelphia_civil_war_2/14/>.
Caption: "Who Was John Wilkes Booth Before He Became Lincoln's Assassin?" NPR. NPR. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. <http://www.npr.org/2015/04/15/399579416/historian-john-wilkes-booth-not-a-deranged-lone-madman>.
