Joseph M. Field
Joseph M. Field was a multifaceted individual known for his contributions to the performing arts and literature in the 19th century. Born into a family of Irish exiles, he moved to the United States in 1816 and initially pursued law while working as a journalist. Field launched his acting career in Boston in 1827 and became notable for his comedic roles, joining various theatrical companies, including Sol Smith's Acting Company in Montgomery, Alabama. He also made significant strides as a theater manager, opening the Royal Street Theater in Mobile and managing the St. Louis Varieties Theater.
In addition to his stage work, Field was a prolific playwright, with his first play, "Tourists in America," debuting in New Orleans in 1833. He co-founded the St. Louis Reveille in 1844, where he served as editor for six years, and published a collection of short stories showcasing Southwestern humor. Field's life was marked by both successes and challenges, particularly his struggle with health issues and financial difficulties later in his career. His legacy encompasses a blend of acting, writing, and theater management, reflecting his dedication to the arts throughout his life.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Joseph M. Field
Writer
- Born: 1810
- Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland, or London, England
- Died: January 28, 1856
- Place of death: United States
Biography
Joseph M. Field was a man of many talents, and he put them to use as an actor, playwright, theater manager, writer, and editor. He wrote countless plays, but his most memorable occupation was as the editor of the St. Louis Reveille. Field was one of six children born to Irish exiles; the family moved to the United States in 1816. In New York, Field studied law and worked as a stringer for the New York Evening Post as a teenager. He started his acting career in 1827 in Boston, Massachusetts, and within two years, he had moved from small to supporting roles. By 1834, Field was a member of Sol Smith’s Acting Company in Montgomery, Alabama. Although Field played numerous serious characters, he was most successful as a comic. In 1850, Field opened Royal Street Theater in Mobile, Alabama, and managed St. Louis Varieties Theater in St. Louis, Missouri.
Field continued to write plays throughout his acting career; his first was Tourists in America, presented in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1833. He and his brother, Matthew Field, established the St. Louis Reveille in 1844, and for the following six years, Field devoted his life to its editorship. In 1847, Field published his first and only collection of short stories, “The Drama in Pokerville,” “The Bench and Bar of Jurytown,” and Other Stories; these stories secured his place as a writer of Southwestern humor.
Field married Eliza Riddle, a leading actress who was part of Field’s acting company, in 1837. His most successful year was 1853, when both theaters brought in more money than they had in their history. By 1855, Field had fallen ill with a bronchial infection and was in debt, mainly because of low attendance at his St. Louis theater. It hard to say whether Field was more successful in one field than another. He devoted his life to his work and made sure to focus all of his energy on whatever interested him at the moment. Field’s three separate careers—as actor and playwright, newspaper editor and writer, and theater manager—all flourished in their own ways.