Always looking for more information. The following if from my blog at: http://congdonfamilies.blogspot.com/2009/02/walter-j-kingsle...

******************

Walter9 James Kingsley (George8 - Seth7 - Calvin6 - Nathan5 - Samuel4 - Samuel3 - Samuel2 - Stephen1)

(In the attached picture: It is believed that Walter is the one having his blood pressure taken - a publicity stunt)

Walter is a very interesting study. There are volumes of information out there about him as he was always closely aligned with the press. First as a journalist and then as a press representative for broadway and vaudeville. He is credited with coining the slogan "You Haven't Arrived Until You've Played the Palace!". He was born in western New York (either Holley or Batavia), got his first job working in Buffalo for his brother's local papers. Moved abroad and began writing for international papers covering among other things the Boer war and the Russo-Japanese conflict (more as a press agent for the Japanese image). He then came to Broadway and never left. He acted as press agent for many famous acts in Vaudeville and on Broadway. He pulled off many media coups to draw attention to his clients. He made claims of huge wagers on the America's Cup to draw attention to the underdog crew. He wrote letters to ethics boards about the scandalous nature of books and plays which peaked sales of novels and shows. He was well loved by the theatrical community and there were many op-eds and memorials written to him after his death.

Walter was married twice and had one female child with each wife. His first wife was Alma Hanlon, who was an up and coming silent movie star that had a very short career. They were married for 12 years (1905-1917) and their child was Dorothy Kingsley (b. 14 Oct 1909), who went on to a very successful screenwriting career. Walter then married Francesca Carmen (originally Francesca Sattler), a dancer from Budapest, Hungary. Their child was Gloria Kingsley, of which I have little information besides a birth month and year (Feb 1924).

Walter was found unconscious one day outside the New Amsterdam Theatre building, was taken to the New York Hospital, was thought to be recovering well but died 11 days later on 14 Feb 1929. Death was caused by cerebral spinal meningitis which was hastened by a recent attack of influenza. He was cremated and his wife cast his ashes from a plane flying over Broadway. His will was dated 3 years previous to his death and only mentioned his current wife. The total of the inheritance was $3000, which was considered a pittance for the lifestyle in which they lived.

Father: Kingsley, George
Mother: Kenney, Susan T.

Name: Kinglsey, Walter James [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]
Name: Kinglsey, Walter James [12]

Sex: Male

Birth: 12 Aug 1876 in Holley, Orleans, New York, USA [13]
Birth: 1876 in Holley, Orleans, New York, USA; or Batavia [3, 11, 14]

Census: 1880 in Sweden, Monroe, New York, USA [16]
Census: 1901 in Westminster, London, England; Journalist, 19 King Street, found
with a Charles E. Walker (journalist) [17]
Census: 1910 in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA [18]
Census: 1920 in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA; 200 54th Street (apartment) w/ housekeeper [15]

Occupation: 1890 in Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA; Newspaper work, with "brother" who
was the publisher of "The Review and The Enquirer" [3]
Occupation: Aft. 1895; The London Daily Express and other papers, covered the Boer War and the Russo-Japanese conflict [21]
Occupation: 1904 in Yokohama, Hiroshima, Japan; Correspondant [13]
Occupation: 1914 in New York, New York, New York, USA; Press agent to the theater, twice president of the Theatrical Press Representatives of America [3, 4]
Occupation: 12 Sep 1918 in New York, New York, New York, USA; Theatrical Manager
at the Palance Theatre [20]
Occupation: 01 May 1928 in New York, New York, New York, USA; Became Press representative for Florenz Ziegfeld; was press rep for the Keith-Albee vaudeville circuit [19]

Arrival: 15 Jan 1899 in New York, New York, New York, USA; from Southampton
England [22]
Arrival: 20 Apr 1904 in New York, New York, New York, USA; from Southampton
England [12]

Will Dated: Dec 1926 [4]

Event: 03 Feb 1929 in New York, New York, New York, USA; Found unconscious
outside the New Amsterdam Theatre building [3, 23, 24]

Death: 14 Feb 1929 in New York, New York, New York, USA; New York Hospital,
Death was caused by cerebral spinal meningitis and was hastened by a
recent attack of influenza [3, 6, 11]

Will Proved/Probate: 21 Feb 1929 in New York, New York, New York, USA; Wife Francesca
Carmen Kingsley sole beneficiary of total estate, $3000. [4]

Burial: 01 Mar 1929 in New York, New York, New York, USA; Cremated, Ashes
over Broadway [3, 11, 25, 26, 27]

Education: Broadport Normal College [3]


Shared Facts: Hanlon, Alma
Marriage: 26 Nov 1905 in New York, New York, New York, USA; Parents Home at 684 W. 138th Street - Rev. Minot J. Savage (Church of the Messiah) [2]
Divorce: 1917 [28]
Children: Kingsley, Dorothy

Shared Facts: Carmen, Francesca
Marriage: Abt. 1922 [29]
Children: Kingsley, Gloria