May Buckley’s private life was often in newspaper headlines, especially in 1901, when a man who claimed to be her husband shot at her in a hotel dining room, wounding one of her dining companions. (See the article below — the man is described as a ‘hopeless mental wreck.”)
May Buckley was one of the most popular leading ladies to appear at Elitch Theatre. This was her fourth appearance at Elitch (in 1908), the earlier seasons being 1904, 1905 and 1906. In the first play, The Girl of the Golden West by David Belasco, she was favorably compared with Blanche Bates, who created the role of Minnie Falconer, the frontier tavern owner, in the original Broadway production at the Belasco Theater.
After appearing in the first four plays, Miss Buckley announced her impending marriage, which was a surprise to Mr. Bellows and to the cast, and perhaps to Miss Buckley as well. The prior winter, when creating the role of Rosalie in The Right of Way, May Buckley met Martin Sabine, an English actor who was a member of the company. “It was a case of love at first sight,” Miss Buckley assured a friend to whom she opened her heart and announced that Mr. Sabine was coming to Denver to claim her in marriage. There was to be a honeymoon of two weeks in the mountains, then a visit to San Francisco and back to New York. The announcement resulted in concerns to the Elitch management as to the impact it would have on the future plays of the season in which she was to appear. [Borrillo, p. 81]
In 1912, Buckley was sued for alienation of affections by John Halliday‘s wife, Camille Personi. “‘May Buckley has broken up my home and ruined my life,’ Mrs. Halliday said, ‘and I am determined that she shall suffer.’”
[“Moving Picture Actress is Sued for Alienation”. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 11 May 1912. p. 2. See article below.]
Seasons at the Theatre
Elitch Theatre Productions/Roles:
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
Elitch Theatre Connections:
- May’s father’s friend, actor and playwright Dion Boucicault, gave her the stage name “May Buckley” when she was a child actor. Boucicault’s son, Aubrey Boucicault, would be the leading may for the Elitch Theatre summer season in 1903.
Wikipedia Link:
