Otto F. Andrle
Otto Francis Andrle, founder and president of the Otto F. Andrle Stained Glass and Art Institute, Inc., was born and educated in Buffalo, New York. He was a student of Lars G. Sellstedt, the noted Buffalo artist.
Early in his youth, he completed an apprenticeship with Florian Feyl, frescoing, and studied stained glass painting in the studios of Booth and Riester, later the Buffalo Stained Glass Works, the pioneer craftsmen of the art in Buffalo.
From about 1893 until 1902 he operated his own painting and decorating business, Andrle & Co. at 222-224 Genesee Street in Buffalo. The Teck and Star theaters were among the many Buffalo homes, schools and churches that exhibited his work.
He was interested in music also. At the age of eight, he conducted an orchestra composed of sons of former pupils of his father Francis Andrle, the oldest of whom were 12 or 14 years old. He was a member of the Buffalo Orpheus for 14 years and sang in the choir of St. Louis Church as well. His musical composition "Lullaby, Little Blue Eyes Close" was published in 1901.
After the destruction of St. Louis Church at Main and Edward Streets in Buffalo in a spectacular 1885 fire, Otto F. Andrle helped organize the St. Louis Dramatic Circle for the purpose of raising funds to assist in the reconstruction of the church.
Their first production was "The Legend of the Catskills" in 1885 with Otto F. Andrle as stage manager. In 1887 "Hamlet" was produced with Otto F. Andrle in the lead role. Among their many other successful productions were "Paul Revere" in 1905, "At the Picket Line" in 1914, "The County Chairman" in 1929 and "The Dictator" in 1935.
At its 50th anniversary in 1935, the St. Louis Dramatic Circle was the oldest amateur dramatic society in continuous existence in the country, and the remaining members celebrated its 75th anniversary at a dinner in 1960.
Otto F. Andrle made his professional acting debut in 1892 with Frank Mayo at the Star and Niblo's theaters in New York City, using the stage name Robert Saturn.
In September 1903, Edwin Holt opened his season in "The Cardinal" at the National Theater in Rochester under the management of J.R. Stirling and Dr. P.C. Cornell of Buffalo with Otto F. Andrle as Andrea Strozzi, the Florentine outlaw. The Buffalo Times said "Mr. Otto F. Andrle of Buffalo, a leading member of the company, made a decidedly favorable impression by his splendid acting."
Being devoted to the art of painting and music he at times designed productions, painted scenery, composed songs and incidental music, and arranged and directed entire productions for the stage.
He became a leading man in Shakespearean roles with such famous names of the stage as James O'Neil, Robert Mantell, Louis James, Frank Mayo and Charles Hanford, and played in dozens of cities from the East to the West coast.
Upon his retirement from the stage, Otto F. Andrle organized the stained glass studio which bore his name. Often seen wearing a hat and cape and carrying a cane, he was a fixture at Buffalo concerts and plays for many years. His stained glass art work sometimes contained references to his dramatic career. The sharp-eyed may spot a top hat and cane hidden in one of his windows.