Edward Siedle
| Edward Siedle | |
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Siedle in 1918
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| Technical director of the Metropolitan Opera | |
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In office circa 1905 – 1925 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 30, 1858 Dulwich, England |
| Died | March 30, 1925 (aged 66) Port Chester, New York |
Edward Siedle (May 30, 1858 - March 30, 1925) (pronounced Seed-el) was an American property master and technical director who worked mainly at the Metropolitan Opera. During his tenure at The Met, he was directly in charge of all technical elements through one of its most innovative eras.
Siedle was born in Dulwich, England on May 30, 1858. His parents were both German. He emigrated to the United States in 1878. In 1883, he married Caroline Siedle, a costume designer for theatre. They had a son named Edward Vincent Siedle who was born around 1888. The 1900 US Census lists their residence as Westchester. By 1907, they were living in Ludlow Park, Yonkers. Caroline died in 1907. Siedle remarried.
Siedle's sister, Philippine Siedle, an opera singer, was married to composer Julian Edwards. His son, Edward Vincent Siedle, served on the Mexican border in 1916 and in France as a captain in the 369th United States Infantry. He received the Croix de Guerre.
Siedle was described as "a man large in frame, stooped, with a big cigar drooping from the corner of his mouth... He looked a bit like the Winston Churchill of today." He was rarely seen without a black fedora hat and a cigar in his mouth. His office was described as "cluttered with books, papers, boxes, wigs, and full of a truly startling and heterogeneous collection of furniture, hangings, materials, and odds and ends."
Siedle was a member of St. Cecile Lodge 568, F. & A. M. He had four dogs of various breeds which he frequently brought to his office.
He died on March 30, 1925 at his home in Port Chester, New York. He had become ill, stayed home for a few weeks, and died. His funeral was held in the Grand Lodge Room of the Masonic Hall on West Twenty-third street. Most of the staff of the Metropolitan Opera attended, including Gatti-Casazza and Edward Ziegler, as well as representatives of the Theatrical Protective Union and the Theatrical Mechanics' Association. His honorary pallbearers included Jefferson de Angelis, William D. Lang, Philip Crispano, John Nash and Gustave A. Weldhaas. The Masonic Quartet sang The Long Day Closes. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. Siedle was replaced by Walter Jagemann, one of his long-time assistants.
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