Fun Facts Friday: Arthur Wing Pinero

Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (24 May, 1855 – 23 November, 1943) was a playwright from England.  At the time, he was considered one of the leading playwrights and made important contributions to the theater.

Picture by Bernard Partridge
pencil, chalk and wash, published in Punch 28 September 1927
NPG 3675
© National Portrait Gallery, London

Works by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero*

Fun Facts about Sir Arthur Wing Pinero:

1. Arthur Wing Pinero was born in London, England. He was the second child of three, to John Daniel Pinero, a solicitor) and Lucy Pinero.
2. The Pinero family were a prominent Jewish family who rose in status in Portugal before the inquisition. Once in England, his grandfather converted to Christianity.
3. In 1871, John Daniel Pinero died leaving the family with little money. Arthur, the only son, worked as a solicitor’s clerk earning £1 per week while going to school.
4. When Mr. Pinero and his fellow students put on several plays, he fell in love with the theater. By 1874, Arthur Wing Pinero left his legal studies and joined the Theatre Royal at Edinburgh as an actor.
5. John Daiel Pinero “general utility” actor made his debut performance in a small role in an adaptation of The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.
6. He spent several years doing small roles but discovered that writing plays is where his strength is. During the 1880s he wrote comedies which brought him some fame. However, his later dramas brought him prominence.
7. His plays revolved around Victorian women battling society, exposing the ills and hypocrisy of London society. His plays were successful but caused scandal as well.
8. Mr. Pinero become Sir Arthur in 1909 for his contributions to the theater. Among them are chairing the Royal General Theatrical Fund and being on the Council of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for 20 years.
9. During the First World War, Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was the chair of the First Battalion of the United Arts Rifles of the volunteer Central London Regiment. After the war, however, his plays were not as popular due to the change in taste of the audience, pointing to more vulgarity.
10. Sir Arthur’s plays were adapted to silent films, talking movies, and television until 1962.

    Works by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero*

Zohar – Man of la Book
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account, the money is usually spent on books

Sources:

Arthur Wing Pinero | Encyclopedia.com

Arthur Wing Pinero | Wikipedia