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Junius Brutus Booth, Sr. and Mary Ann Holmes married in 1821 and settled with their children in Harford County, Maryland. But there was a serious problem with this. What was it?

Junius Brutus Booth, Sr. still had a wife and child in England. Junius Brutus Booth, Sr. and Mary Ann Holmes were not legally married since he already had a wife in England. He kept his first wife in the dark about his second wife for 25 years. Thus, all ten of their children were illegitimate. Booth did have a drinking problem, but never laid a hand on his wife or any of his children. Nobody had to spread any rumors about Junius Brutus Booth,Sr. His reputation was his own worst enemy.

One member of the Booth family wrote a threatening letter to the President of the United States. One of the sentences in the letter was "I will cut your throat whilst you are sleeping." Which Booth wrote this letter?

Junius, Sr.. Junius Sr.'s authorship of this letter has been verified by handwriting analysis and hotel receipts. He wrote the letter and mailed it to President Andrew Jackson (president from 1829 to 1837) when he was drunk. He later apologized.

Junius Brutus Booth, Sr. had four sons. Three of them followed him to the stage and had successful acting careers. The fourth became a doctor in New York. Which of his four sons did not become an actor?

Joseph. After the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, it would not have been wise for Joseph to become an actor.

One member of the Booth family saved the life of President Abraham Lincoln's son Robert. Which one was it?

Edwin. Robert Lincoln told the story of being saved from falling under a train in late 1864 or early 1865. Robert Lincoln recognized Edwin Booth, who many consider to have been the most famous actor of his day. It was several years later when Edwin Booth found out who it was he had rescued.

Three of the Booth brothers did a benefit performance of "Julius Caesar" in New York in November, 1864, in order to purchase a statue of William Shakespeare, which still stands in Central Park today. Which of the brothers did not participate in this performance?

Joseph. This was the only time the three brothers performed on stage together.

One of the Booth brothers, Junius, Jr. became a theater manager in California. Although he had a successful career as an actor, several of his relatives had acting careers that overshadowed his. Which of these relatives did *not* have an acting career that overshadowed that of Junius Brutus Booth, Jr.?

His sister Asia. Agnes Booth married Junius Brutus Booth, Jr. in 1867 when he was manager of the Boston Theater.In the late 1870s she was leading lady at the Park Theater, and in the 1880s she was leading lady at the Madison Square Theater.

When Junius Brutus Booth, Sr. left England, he left a brother there named Algernon Sydney Booth. What English actor who has appeared in TV and films regularly in England since the 1960s is the great-great-grandson of Algernon Sydney Booth and the father of a barrister who is married to a prominent English politician? This actor has appeared in shows like "Holly City", "The Bill", and "Mersey Beat".

Tony Booth. I hope the Brits got this one more easily than us Americans!

One great-great-great granddaughter of Algernon Sydney Booth is a barrister who married a prominent English politician and is the daughter of actor Tony Booth. Who did she marry?

Tony Blair. I hope the Brits got this one more easily than us Americans. Cherie Blair, also known as Cherie Booth QC is a first cousin four times removed to the children of Junius Brutus Booth, Sr. Is that close enough for Christmas cards?

One grandson of Junius Brutus Booth, Sr., was acting in films in the 1910s. Which of the Booth brothers was his father?

Junius, Jr.. Sydney Booth played D'Artagnon in the "Three Musketeers" parts 1 and 2 in 1911. He also played Lord Nelson in "The Battle of Trafalgar" in 1911.

In the late 1800s one of the Booth brothers founded a social club called The Players to bring actors into contact with writers, industrialists, and other creative artists. Which brother founded the club?

Edwin. The Players club exists today as a social club along with being a repository for British and American theater history, memorabilia, and theatrical artifacts. It is still located at 16 Gramercy Park in New York City (it was purchased in May 1888). Edwin Booth was its first president.