Frederick D. Losey

Frederick Douglas Losey (November 6, 1866 – June 5, 1932) was an American Shakespearian scholar and elocutionist. He was the head of rhetoric and public speaking at Syracuse University and also taught at the University of Alabama. He was considered "America's greatest interpreter of Shakespeare." During the 1920s, he was also "as well known as the celebrities of the professional stage."

Early life and education Losey was born in Conesus, New York, the son of Elizabeth Frances (née Knapp) and Jesse Bradford Losey, a doctor who was a cavalry surgeon during the American Civil War. There, he was a member of the Fraternity of Delta Psi (St. Anthony Hall) and Phi Beta Kappa. He was also president of this class. He then took classes at the National School of Oratory in Philadelphia. He then attended Harvard University, receiving a Master of Arts degree in English, graduating in 1899. This was followed by another year of advanced study at Harvard. During this period, his performances included poetry and short stories such as "Spellin' Down the Master" by Edward Eggleston, "A Man's a Man for A' That" by Robert Burns paired with "A Man's A Man For A' That" by Charles Mackay, and "The Defense of the Bride" by Anna Katherine Greene. He also performed the chariot race from the novel Ben-Hur and Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, which was divided into acts. In November 1892, Losey and his wife taught a course at the Camden, New York Chautauqua. The local newspaper said, "Mr. and Mrs. Losey are both artists and their entertainment was in our opinion the best ever given in Camden." He also was presenter for the Louisiana Chautauqua Society in July 1893 and the San Marcus Chautauqua in July 1894 in Texas. The latter reported, "Frederick D. Losey of New York carried his audiences by storm today...and is pronounced the greatest impersonator that has ever appeared on the Chautauqua platform in the state." The newspaper said, "Mr. Losey is an artist. His versatility is something wonderful. The interest which he sustained in this intensely dramatic play, alone and without costume or scenery, testified to his power."

Teacher In October 1892, Losey and his wife started giving classes and private lessons in elocution and physical culture two days a week in the studio in the Cox Building in Rochester. By February 1895, he had moved his studio to the Granite Building. He was promoted to associate professor of English, a position he had for three years.

While at Syracuse, he managed the University Debating Union and founded the Boar's Head Dramatic Society. In April 1904, he directed the dramatic society's first production, King Lear, and also performed the title role. For the production, Losey called upon modern Shakespearian scholarship and restored a few pages of the play that Edwin Booth admitted. The play was performed in Auburn, at The Lyceum in Rochester and the Wieting Opera House in Syracuse. However, in May 1904, the New York Dramatic Mirror noted that Syracuse was a Methodist institution, and the Methodist Church's Book of Discipline prohibits attending the theater. In November 1904, Losey put out a casting call for a production of Julius Caesar. He also directed The Taming of the Shrew and around nine other plays.

In June 1906, it was reported that Losey had resigned from Syracuse University "due to the decision of the faculty to graduate a man whom he declared deficient in studies." A few days later, Losey released the letter he sent to Chancellor Day, accusing the chancellor of "reinstating students that had been dismissed for deficiency," giving degrees against faculty recommendations, allowing abuses in athletics, and taking away power from the faculty. Under such circumstances, Losey was "obliged to resign."

University of Nebraska In December 1906, Losey was appointed adjunct professor of rhetoric by the University of Nebraska, filling the remainder of the spring 1907 semester. There, he was in charge of courses in elocution and public speaking, and also taught English composition. Initially, he was the chair of a new department of public speaking. In 1908, he became an assistant professor of English, teaching English and elocution.

In 1907, he founded the student dramatic organization Blackfriars and served as its director. In 1908, the Blackfriars staged Macbeth, with Losey serving as director and performing the title role; Mrs. Losey played Lady Macbeth. In 1910, Blackfriars performed Twelfth Night under the direction of Losey who also took the role Sir Toby Belch. He directed the group in George Bernard Shaw's Candida in 1912. Blackfriars presented their shows in Tuscaloosa and in cities such as Birmingham, Huntsville, Meridian, Mobile, Montgomery, and Selma, becoming "a powerful force for amateur dramatics in the state." Denny cited "temperamental unfitness" and also mentioned friction between Losey and Charles H. Barnwell, head of the English department. In response, Losey brought charges against Denny to the university's board in January 1916, maintaining he was being terminated because of personal animosity resulting from his questioning Denny about report cards, not because of his performance. Ultimately, the board sustained Denny and asked Losey to resign.

Columbia University Losey taught summer school at Columbia University in 1915. He taught two class—interpretation of literature and methods of debate.

Losey traveled to every state in the union, performing dramatic readings and lectures for hundreds of audiences consisting of students, high school teachers, literary clubs, college professors, and the general public. He spoke at churches, colleges, opera houses, schools, and YMCAs.

Losey's readings of Shakespeare included "a keen appreciation of dramatic effect...[with] sharply-chiseled portrayals." He also taught high school students about Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Macbeth.

Losey's last performance was given on April 27, 1932, at Colgate University. Losey wrote an introduction, biography, glossary, index to characters, and an interpretation to each play. It was also reissued in America in 1952.

A selection of his publications follows:

Losey Frederick D. "The New Scholarship, a Basis for Fraternal Relations." The Phi Beta Kappa Key. 1915; 2(8): 376–381. Shakespeare, William. Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Shakespeare, Losey, Frederick D., editor. Philadelphia: John C. Winston Company, 1926. She performed as Marie Hale-Losey on the bill with her husband, reciting stories. The couple resided in Rochester, New York, moving to Massachusetts while he attended Harvard. They then moved to Syracuse and Tuscaloosa for his work. At Syracuse University, Marie was an associate professor of public speaking. Losey performed in amateur theatrical productions on occasion. In April 1897, he played Timon in a production of Timon of Athens by the Rochester Shakespeare Society. In November 1899, he portrayed Martin Luther in The Story of the Reformation, or the Life of Luther at The Lyceum in Rochester.

In 1917, Losey started devoting half of his public speaking events in support of women's suffrage. He spoke on this topic at an open-air mass meeting in Hudson Falls, New York on October 27, 1917.

After being ill for several months from heart failure, he died at his home at 227 Riverside Drive in New York City at the age of 65 on June 5, 1932.