Paula Moore

Matinee and Evening: the Story of Actors Abby Lewis and John Seymour Paula Moore

The touching love story of Abby Lewis, a beautiful, strong, and determined actress, and her husband, the charming, sophisticated actor John Seymour, spans more than five decades. They met in 1933 as they began a national tour with Walter Hampden's company, performing the plays of Shakespeare and other classics. Their years together fell in the afternoon (matinee) of Abby's life and the evening of John's. Regardless of the Depression, World War II, and pressures from their families, these two performers are devoted to each other, and they enjoy long, busy careers as actors. For the general public, except those few who listened carefully or studied the quick-rolling credits, their names might often have been lost in the crowd, but they were recognized and well-respected in the east-coast entertainment industry. Their story reads like a Who's Who of show business. John Seymour, who came from a long line of actors, grew up in Broadway theaters and, from a young age, was on a first-name basis with many of its brightest stars, including the famous Barrymore clan. Abby Lewis arrived in New York as an unknown, but she was unafraid, and determined to find success. Both she and John worked through the golden days of radio and made the transition to film and TV. By the 1960s, in addition to their always-preferred work on stages, both were in demand as models for print and television advertising. Much of the background for their story was gleaned from the stars' extensive collection of letters, journals, photographs, and other papers housed in the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation in Abby Lewis's home town of Mesilla Park, New Mexico. Their journey gives an insider's look into the trials and rewards of life as an actor in New York City. It paints a compelling portrait of a couple who "made it" in an extremely competitive field. And it adds reassurance that courage really can make some unlikely fantasies come to pass.