Fayette Lodawick Robinson

Robinson, Fayette Lodawick (1818–84), actor and manager. Known popularly as “Yankee” Robinson, but not to be confused with San Francisco's David G. Robinson, who often was given the same nickname, he was born near Avon Mineral Springs, New York. He began his career in 1835 when he joined a small traveling tent show, later establishing his own tent troupe, which he called Robinson's Athenaeum. His versions of The Drunkard and similar shows proved exceedingly popular with rural and small‐town audiences. Robinson also established a circus with which, according to his obituaries, he “gained a reputation second only to Barnum.” He was a rather homely, balding man with a huge goatee.