Autographed pen and ink drawing, with watercolor background, of Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth (1833-1893) in the role of Hamlet. Booth performed in ‘Hamlet’ at The Academy of Music in Scranton in 1886. He was widely recognized as the leading tragedian of his era. Dimensions: 9 x 17 in.

Autographed pen and ink drawing, with watercolor background, of renowned Shakespearean actor, Edwin Booth (1833-1893), in the lead role of Cardinal Richelieu in the play 'Richelieu,' staged in Scranton (PA) in 1882.  Booth, son of actor Junius Brutus Booth (1796-1852), played Hamlet at The Academy of Music in 1886. He was widely recognized as the leading tragedian of his era. Dimensions: 7 x 12 in. Owner: Attorney John (Barry) Beemer.

Pen and ink drawing of Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth (1833-1893).  The drawing is one of several original pieces by artist P. W. Costello that are part of the New York Public Library's Horace Healey Collection.  The portrait was published in ‘The Penman’s Art Journal,’ March 1905, New York, Vol. 29, No. 7, page 222. Dimensions: 8 x 10 in. Owner: New York Public Library.

Pen and ink drawing of English-born actor Junius Brutus Booth (1796-1852) as Richard III, his signature Shakespearean role. Booth was the father of Edwin Booth, foremost tragedian of the late 1800s; John Wilkes Booth, actor, assassin of President Abraham Lincoln; and Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., actor and theatre manager.  Dimensions: 7 x 11 in. 

Autographed pen and ink portrait, with watercolor background, of American actress Maude Adams (1872-1953) in her most popular role as Peter Pan, which she first performed in 1905 at the Empire Theatre in New York City. Her income reached one million dollars that year. Adams also played the role at the Lyceum Theatre (Scranton, Pa.) in December 1912.  Dimensions: 8 x 10 in. 

Autographed pen and ink portrait of American actress Maude Adams (1872-1953) as Phoebe Throssell in J. M. Barrie's 'Quality Street,' a role she played at the Lyceum Theatre (Scranton, Pa.) in 1901. Adams autographed the drawing itself in December 1912, indicating that artist P. W. Costello met the actress when she was in Scranton for two performances of 'Peter Pan' at the Lyceum.  Dimensions:  11 x 17 in.

Pen and ink portrait of Joseph Jefferson (1829-1905),  famed 19th Century American comedic actor (Rip Van Winkle, Asa Trenchard in Our American Cousin,  as Bob Acres in Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s popular comedy of manners, The Rivals).  

This drawing has a uniquely soft, warm look. P. W. Costello usually cross-hatched his portraits using black waterproof ink and various sized pen nibs.  Here he used a fine pen and lighter-colored ink for the entire drawing.  For the semi-circular section above the portrait, he drew thousands of tiny squares, giving it the look of fabric.  He did something similar with Jefferson’s hair, face, coat and bowed tie. Mr. Costello had great affection for Joseph Jefferson, reflected in the many times he made him the subject of his portraits.  Certainly, he watched him perform on Scranton stages. Of his numerous Jefferson portraits, this is one of his best.  Dimensions:  12 x 16 in.

Joseph Jefferson (1829 –1905)  was a famed 19th Century American comedic actor whose signature stage roles came in Rip Van Winkle (title role), Our American Cousin (Asa Trenchard) at Laura Keene’s Theatre in New York City,  and Sheridan’s, The Rivals (Bob Acres).  Jefferson performed in Scranton theaters multiple times between 1879 and 1904 (Klein’s Opera House, Frothingham Theatre, Academy of Music). Dimensions: 12 x 16 in.

Autographed pen and ink drawing with watercolor background, of renowned comedic actor Joseph Jefferson (1829-1905) as Rip Van Winkle, the role he played for over forty years, including at Klein's Opera House during his first Scranton (PA) appearance in 1874. The role was written for him by Irish playwright Dion Boucicault.  Dimensions:  6 x 14 in.

Pen and ink drawing of American stage, screen and radio actor John Barrymore (1882-1942), son of Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana (Georgie) Emma Drew. He began his stage career in light comedy, then drama, where he established a reputation as a leading American tragedian. Barrymore is best remembered for his performances of Justice (1916), Richard III (1920) and Hamlet (1922). Before moving into film, John Barrymore appeared on stage in Scranton at the Lyceum in three light comedies: ‘The Dictator’ (1905);  ‘Alice Sit by the Fire (1906), with his sister, Ethel; ‘The Boys of Co. B’ (1907). Dimensions: 6 x 11 in.

Autographed pen and ink drawing of famed British Shakespearean actor, Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905). The drawing was autographed by Irving in January 1904 when he performed as Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice' at the Lyceum Theatre in Scranton (Pa.). It was his last appearance in Scranton. He died in England about one year later following a performance as Becket at the Bradford Theatre. His last words on the stage were: 'Through night to light, Into thy hands, O Lord, Into thy hands.' Dimensions:  13 x 19 in.

Pen and ink drawing of famed British Shakespearean actor, Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905). He was recognized as one of the greatest actors in tragic roles in England and in the United States.  P. W. Costello gave this drawing, and 11 others,  to his friend, George Deckelnick, a former city treasurer,  who hung them in his restaurant in West Scranton.  Dimensions:  12 x 15 in. 

Autographed pen and ink drawing, of Polish-born actress Helena Modjeska (1840-1909) as Juliet. Modjeska was a leading figure in American theatre, best known for Shakespearean roles, primarily tragic heroines. The drawing captures the regal stature she projected on the stage. Modjeska appeared in Scranton, Pennsylvania, twice in 1911: 'Henry VIII' and 'The Merchant of Venice,' both with Louis James. She also performed as Lady Macbeth in Scranton in 1905. Dimensions:  12 x 16 in.

Autographed pen and ink drawing of English-born American actress Julia Marlowe (1865-1950) as Lady Macbeth, a role she played at Scranton, Pennsylvania's Lyceum Theater in January 1912. Marlowe favored Shakespearean heroine roles, often appearing in Scranton with her husband, E. H. Sothern. In 1912, an orchestra seat cost $2.00; balcony $.50. Dimensions:  8 x 15 in.

Autographed pen and ink portrait of John Drew, Jr. (1853-1927), an American stage actor known for his roles in Shakespearean comedy, society drama, and light comedy. He was associated with the companies of Augustin Daly and Charles Frohman, and their leading performers, Ada Rehan and Maude Adams. Drew was the eldest son of John Drew, Sr., and Louisa Lane Drew, who were also stage actors. He was the uncle of John, Ethel, and Lionel Barrymore, and also great-great-uncle of modern actress, Drew Barrymore. Dimensions: 12 x 16 in.

Pen and ink drawing, with watercolor background, of John Drew, Sr. (1827-1862) in the role of O'Bryan in 'The Irish Emigrant,' after a wood engraving by O. H. Bacher. Drew was an Irish-American stage actor and theatre manager who was best known for his Irish and comic characters. He managed the Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia, together with his wife, Louisa Lane, an actress. Their daughter Georgianna married Maurice Barrymore in 1876. John Drew is the great-great-grandfather of modern actress Drew Barrymore. Dimensions:  7 x 14 in.  Owner:  John Costello.

Autographed pen and ink portrait of American actor, stage manager and playwright, William Gillette (1853-1937), in the play 'The Private Secretary,' performed in Scranton (Pa.) in 1893. Gillette was best known for his lead role in 'Sherlock Holmes,' which he also played in Scranton (1899).  Dimensions:  6 x 14 in.

Autographed pen and ink drawing, with watercolor background, of Al Jolson (1886-1950), American actor, singer and comedian, in the play 'Bombo,' Jolson's creation and his first big theatrical hit on Broadway and throughout the country. Jolson is a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. Jolson appeared in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 'Robinson Crusoe, Jr.' in 1917.  Dimensions:  8 x 15 in.   Owner:  Attorney John (Barry) Beemer.

Autographed pen and ink drawing of William Penn Adair 'Will' Rogers (1879-1935), one of the most popular stage figures of the 1920s and 1930s. Rogers was born in Oklahoma, a cowboy with Native American heritage. He began his stage career in a 'Wild West Show' doing clever rope tricks, then turned to vaudeville in 1904. Rogers established a national reputation as a writer, humorist, and stage and film actor. He was famous for his folksy charm, quick wit and incisive social and political commentary. Rogers performed at the Poli in 1911 and returned in 1926. Rogers once said: 'I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.'  Dimensions:  8 x 14 in.  Owner:  John Leahey.

Autographed pen and ink drawing, with watercolor background, of George M. Cohan (1878-1942), American singer, dancer, playwright, composer and producer. 'Over There,' 'The Yankee Doodle Boy,' 'You're a Grand Old Flag' and 'Give My Regards to Broadway' were among his hundreds of popular compositions. In 1903, Cohen performed in Scranton with the ‘Four Cohens’ (himself, his sister and his parents) at the Lyceum, and returned in 1904 in ‘Little Johnny Jones’, also at the Lyceum. In 1930, Cohan performed in 'The Song and Dance Man,' a tribute to his father and to vaudeville. Dimensions:  7 x 15 in. Owner: John Leahy.