Introduction
Lee F. Harvey was born in Philadelphia around 1891. He started acting with stock theater companies at the age of 16, and toured the nation in that capacity. In Camden, he played with the Chester Devonde stock company alongside Francis X. Bushman, who went on to fame as one of the leading actors in silent films prior to World War I. Mr. Bushman is also known as being the first actor to play Tarzan on film. Chester Devonde was nationally known as a playwright and producer, and at least one of his plays, “Kongo,” was made into a movie. Lee Harvey also appeared in movies, as a player for the Lubin Motion Picture Company in Philadelphia.
After serving with the Army in World War I, Lee Harvey worked producing stage productions and managing theaters. In Camden he produced plays at the Lyceum Theater, which stood on Broadway and Federal Street. He managed theaters all over the tri-state area for the Stanley and Savar theater chains, including the Century Theater in Audubon NJ, where he was working in the late 1930s. In 1940 he was assigned to manage the Towers Theatre in Camden, which he managed until his death on April 20, 1950. He is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia PA.
Lee F. Harvey, 55, Towers Manager, Theatre Vet Dies
Camden Courier-Post —
Lee F. Harvey, 55, manager of the Towers theatre for the last 10 years and for many years associated with the theatre in Camden and through the country, died in Jefferson hospital, Philadelphia, Thursday, following an operation. He resided at 247 Edgewood avenue, Audubon.
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Harvey started playing with stock companies when he was 16 and toured all parts of the nation. Here in Camden he played with the old Chester Devonde stock company with which Francis X. Bushman was leading man, and which presented plays at the old Broadway theatre on Broadway, near Sycamore street, north of Kaighn avenue.
Mr. Harvey became a matinee idol of his era.
In Camden he produced shows for the Lyceum players who presented them in the old Lyceum at Broadway and Federal street. Among the plays presented by those players were “The Taylor Made Man,” and “Cheating Cheaters.”
When the Savar Amusement Co. bought the Century theatre in Audubon, Mr. Harvey was manager there and the Savar interests retained him, later moving him to the Towers when that theatre was taken over by the Savar company 10 years ago.
Mr. Harvey also played in the silent films with the old Lubin Motion Picture Co., in Philadelphia, which had studios on Market street west of Ninth street, and which burned in a spectacular fire in the winter of 1911. The studios were in the rear of the old Philadelphia post office.
He also was associated with Marcus Benn, who operated a string of theatres in West Philadelphia years ago. He served in the army in War I and after his discharge he went with Thomas E. Mitten, then president of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co., now the Philadelphia Transportation Co. With the PRT, Mr. Harvey produced stage productions for the employes.
Mr. Harvey also was associated with the Stanley Co. in Philadelphia, and had been a manager in the Stanley theatre, Nineteenth and Market streets. He also operated the following theatres as manager for the Stanley Co.; the Orient and Queen in Philadelphia; the Parker, in Darby; the Arcadia, Wilmington, Del.; and the Embassy, in Baltimore.
He is survived by a son, Lee Jr.; a daughter, Joan, both at home; two brothers, Paul Harvey, manager of the York, Pa., theatre of the Stanley-Warner Co., and William Harvey, associated with the John B. Stetson Co., Philadelphia; a sister, Mrs. Madeline Buck, Philadelphia, and Mrs. Marie Kelly Verdiglione, of Camden, a cousin.
Requiem high Mass will be celebrated Monday at 9 a. m. in St. Rose of Lima R. C. Church, Haddon Heights. Relatives and friends will meet at 8 a. m. in the residence, where friends may call Sunday night. Burial will be in New Cathedral cemetery, Philadelphia, under the direction of Robert J. Blake, Camden funeral director.
The Towers Theatre
1950
Towers
Camden Courier-Post —
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