Looking for ANY family info on a CHARLOTTE BEHRENS, b. in Brooklyn, NY circa 1866, but her family base was from the San Francisco area, & Charlotte received her theatrical start in San Fran. She was a prominent actress in her time, & her 2nd marriage was to ROBERT B. MANTELL, well-known Shakespearean/early motion picture actor. Would like any info on her, particularly her family (parents: C. Behrens & Dina, or Dora, Hurst Behrens)--they were prominent in San Francisco. What did they do? How did they get into the theatre? Also would like to know anything about her 1st marriage to theatre manager E(dwin) E(ugene) HUHN, who also went by the professional name of E. E. HUME. At one point he had a partner named Castine, & they went by the name Hume & Castine. Huhn/Hume was from Baltimore, but probably met Charlotte in San Francisco, & was probably older than she. Charlotte died a tragic, before-her-time death @ the age of approx. 32--after a 2-yr marriage to Mantell, & an affair w/him that lastest about 10 yrs. She was touted publicly as an "anti-Victorian" woman. ANY help/info greatly appreciated. I'm a professional writer doing a book on her intriguing life. Thx! -- Linda Alexander

-- Linda Alexander (peachy2@prodigy.net), January 20, 2002

Answers

As I have read thousands of books in my long life, I have come across some of these names before but I just can't pinpoint them though I will give you a couple of things that pop up right away. There was a famous newspaper editor by the name of Charles Behrens in 1892 up in Shasta California who might be related. They had a son who became political editor of the San Francisco journal and San Francisco Chronicle. That was about in the late teens or early 1920s.-- Now interesting that you mentioned HUME because the Hume I have read about long ago, was a theater executive. I believe his name was John. John Hume, yes, that's it. That was also in the early 1920s. Their entire family has always been in theater work so I think it was just handed down from generation to generation. They have relatives scattered all over the place. Some in Sacramento, some in Downey. I believe that descendants ran a theater in Sacramento and in Downey and Los Angeles. But also, they have been on TV. -- I hope that this helps give you a lead. If I remember anything else, I'll let you know.

-- Harry Murphy (harrymurphy@my-deja.com), January 21, 2002.

As I have read thousands of books in my long life, I have come across some of these names before but I just can't pinpoint them though I will give you a couple of things that pop up right away. There was a famous newspaper editor by the name of Charles Behrens in 1892 up in Shasta California who might be related. They had a son who became political editor of the San Francisco journal and San Francisco Chronicle. That was about in the late teens or early 1920s.-- Now interesting that you mentioned HUME because the Hume I have read about long ago, was a theater executive. I believe his name was John. John Hume, yes, that's it. That was also in the early 1920s. Their entire family has always been in theater work so I think it was just handed down from generation to generation. They have relatives scattered all over the place. Some in Sacramento, some in Downey. I believe that descendants ran a theater in Sacramento and in Downey and Los Angeles. But also, they have been on TV. -- I hope that this helps give you a lead. If I remember anything else, I'll let you know. -- harrymurphy@bigmailbox.net* remove * to email

-- Harry Murphy (harrymurphy@bigmailbox.net*), January 21, 2002.

Mr. Murphy:

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my query. I do appreciate it! You've given me some interesting leads & I'll be sure to try & follow up on them. If you do come up w/any other ideas, I'd love to hear from you again.

-- Linda Alexander, peachy2@prodigy.net

-- Linda Alexander (peachy2@prodigy.net), January 21, 2002.

Oops, forgot to mention that John Hume ran a theater in Oakland too back in the early 1920s.

-- Harry Murphy (harrymurphy@bigmailbox.net*), January 21, 2002.