Marmorino, Luigi

Luigi Marmorino (1873-1940) was an Italian singer, comedian and actor. As a young soldier during the Italo-Ethiopan war he was captured at the First Battle of Adua, March 1, 1896, and spent many months as the prisoner first of an Ethiopian chief and later of Emperor Menelik II. He eventually acquired a servant and a wife, and started a small theatre for his fellow prisoners, before being released. Marmorino later published a book on his experiences. He came to the United States in 1902 and embarked on a stage career that lasted nearly forty years. In addition to his memoirs he wrote lyrics, scripts, songs and other pieces for the stage.