“Bruce McRae, one of the biggest favorites among Denver audiences, returned to Elitch as the leading man after an absence of five years. He had just completed an entire season run with Blanche Bates in Nobody’s Widow in New York’s Hudson Theater. The leading woman was Jane Grey…. Robert Morris was the director for the season.”
[Borrillo, T. A. (2012). Denver’s historic Elitch Theatre: A nostalgic journey (a history of its times). Colorado. p. 97-98.]
Bruce McRae was born in India, a nephew of the renowned British comic actor, Charles Wyndham. Prior to his first appearance at Elitch in 1904, McRae had played significant roles on Broadway. For example, in 1899, he was the original Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes and later portrayed Charles Brandon in When Knighthood Was in Flower. He was particularly honored to be selected by Mary Elitch to be the leading man for the 1914 Silver Jubilee.
McRae’s love for Elitch Gardens, and especially for his friend Mary Elitch Long, was clear when Mary’s leading man for the summer of 1914 was unable to appear at the last minute, so she contacted McRae. In her biography, Mary recounted: “I wired Mr. McRae a very urgent plea to come to my rescue. He was a prime favorite in Denver and I knew him to be broadminded enough to waive formalities. I knew he would help me out if it were possible. His answering telegram proved the man. My message was received the day before he expected to sail for a much needed vacation in Europe. I received his answer at once: ‘Of course I will come. There is no other spot on earth that would lure me from my vacation in Europe. I consider it a privilege to play at the Gardens because I love the place, and all actors feel as I do.'”
In the lengthy obituary that appeared in The Elitch Gardener, the following comments were included:
The Elitch Gardens mourns the death of Bruce McRae, leading man here for several seasons and one of the most beloved actors who ever played at the Gardens.
A fine actor, a man who numbered his friends by the hundreds, McRae’s death, which occurred in May after several months of illness, will be felt almost more than that of any player on the American stage… He had a great affection for the Elitch Gardens and no matter where he was playing never failed to send a wire of congratulation on the opening night. Last summer J. M. Mulvihill received the following message from McRae: “My heartiest greetings and all best wishes to dear Mrs. Long, to Mr. Burke, to all the members of the company and to the technical staff of the Elitch Gardens Theatre and may this be the happiest and most successful season of the most famous of all summer stock companies.”
[Borrillo, T. A. (2012). Denver’s historic Elitch Theatre: A nostalgic journey (a history of its times). Colorado. p. 146.]
Seasons at the Theatre:
Productions/Roles:
- 1905: Pretty Peggy with May Buckley.
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
Elitch Theatre Connections:
Wikipedia Link:
