American Yiddish Theatre
He emigrated to American in 1886 and began his career here. There he acted under Jacob Adler in Jacob Gordin's first play "Siberia" in 1891. He appeared in other Gordin plays, "God, Man, and Devil". Others of his outstanding roles were in Sholem Asch's "God of Vengeance", David Pinski's "Yankel the Smith", and Leon Kobrin's "Yankel Boile".
He appeared in all the principal "Lower East Side" theatres: the Thalia Theatre; the People's Theatre; and the Windsor Theatre.
In 1899 he was awarded the Thalia Theatre in a divorce settlement from his wife Jennie. Kessler's Thalia Theatre was located at 46-48 Bowery between Bayard and Canal Streets, across the street from the Windsor Theatre in Manhattan. He was listed as being the Lessee and Manager; Sigmund Mogulesko is the Regisseur and B. Young is the theatre manager.
In 1913 he established the David Kessler Theater, which ranked equally with Adler's and Thomashefsky's theaters, and produced many plays by the leading Yiddish writers.
In 1918 he starred in Mish Mash with Nellie Casman at Edelstein's People's Theater.
The New York Times called him, "One of the leading Yiddish actors in the United States . . ."
He was the manager of Kessler's Second Avenue Theatre.
His acting roles were many and varied.
He was married to Rachel (nee Wilner) Kessler. She owned the "Wilner Full Dress Parlor" on the Lower East Side.
Read more about this topic: David Kessler (actor)
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