Aldrich Bowker

Aldrich Bowker (January 1, 1875 – March 21, 1947) was an American stage and film actor. Bowker was born in Ashby, Massachusetts. He graduated from Fitchburg High School. His debut came in Boston in a stage adaptation of The Christian, by Hall Caine.He was a long-time stage performer in Chicago and Cincinnati, and in summer stock at amusement park Whalom Park in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. Bowker was a pioneer in "open air" theatre at Whalom Park and at his summer home in Ashburnham, where other performers were frequent guests, including Ainsworth Arnold and Bette Davis.Between 1912 and 1938 he was active on Broadway. Notable stage plays he performed in were The High Road (1912), A Night in Avignon (1919), You Can't Take It With You (1936) and 200 Were Chosen (1936).Between 1939 and 1942 he appeared in about 25 films, including Ball of Fire (1941).Bowker died at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, California, from arteriosclerosis and senility.