Perry Askam

Perry Askam (1898–1961) was an American actor and baritone singer from Seattle, Washington, whose career spanned Broadway, opera, film, and concert performance, with particular prominence in the San Francisco area.

Askam was born in 1898 to Oliver and Helena Askam. His mother was the daughter of Henry Rengstorff, a ferryman and land magnate. Orphaned at a young age, Askam went to live with his maternal aunt, Elisa Haag, whom he came to regard as a second mother. The two eventually moved into Rengstorff House with his grandmother Christina Rengstorff, the widow of Henry. On that property, Askam worked the ranch, tending cattle and laboring in the grain fields while attending local school. He later studied music at Santa Clara University.

During World War I, Askam enlisted in the French army. When the United States entered the conflict on the side of the Allies, he transferred to the American Ambulance Corps. Following the war, he relocated to New York, where he appeared on Broadway between 1920 and 1921. His Broadway credits include the musical Blossom Time and The Passing Show of 1912.

Askam subsequently built a substantial career in West Coast musical theatre and opera. In 1927 he appeared in the San Francisco production of Castles in the Air, and in 1928 he performed in The Desert Song at the Curran Theatre. His involvement in the Los Angeles production of The New Moon led to a recording of two songs from that musical, "Stouthearted Men" and "Lover Come Back to Me," released on Victor Records 22317. Music historian Joel Whitburn estimates the recording would have qualified as a best seller had the Billboard Hot 100 existed at the time.

In 1930, Askam appeared in the Warner Brothers musical film Sweet Kitty Bellairs, playing Captain O'Hara and singing lead in several numbers. He was the only professional singer in the cast. He later appeared in the 1935 film The Crusades in the role of a soldier.

Askam spent two seasons with the San Francisco Opera. In 1936 he performed the role of Count Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. During the 1937 season he took on two roles in works by Charles Gounod, portraying Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette and Valentin in Faust. In 1941 he joined the New York-based New Opera Company for a production of Mozart's Così fan tutte, a work that was rarely performed at the time. He also made regular concert appearances with the San Francisco Symphony.

In 1945, Askam and his wife Frances returned to Rengstorff House to care for his aunt Elise. He continued to live at the property until 1959. Askam died in 1961.