Boris Karloff.27s connection Regina Cyclone

boris karloff during later hollywood stardom

english actor william henry pratt, better known stage name boris karloff, in regina @ time of tornado member of jeanne russell players, struggling company of actors , singers. theatre reviews appearing in @ least 4 western canadian newspapers in 1912 prove had started using stage name boris karloff time. jeanne russell players disbanded in regina day before tornado struck, leaving karloff stranded , broke. following tornado, worked clearing debris twenty cents hour , later employed in regina dominion express company. remained in regina until october 1912 when joined harry st. clair players in prince albert. in 1958, karloff appeared on talk , game show front page challenge featured not because of fame hollywood actor, because of association regina cyclone of 1912.

american stage actress henrietta crosman, later went on hollywood, in regina @ time of disaster , toured devastation members of troupe. company staged benefit performance of catherine chisholm cushing s comedy real thing @ regina theatre (12th avenue , hamilton street, on site of old hudson s bay department store, opened in 1910) on july 4, 1912, portion of proceeds going tornado relief fund.

over years, historians have mistakenly placed karloff member of crosman s company or member of vaudevillian albini-avolos company, third theatrical troupe in regina @ time of 1912 tornado. albini-avolos staged benefit performances tornado victims @ regina theatre on july 1 , 2.