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FeedMeet the Franklins
This month marks the 304th birthday of our most colorful founding father—and, rest assured, at least two local Bens will be busy celebrating.
Photos by Jared Castaldi Published December 18, 2009 at 01:34 PM
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Four years ago, during what was Ben Franklin’s tercentenary birthday celebration, U.S. Airways Magazine proclaimed that his many impersonators were nothing less than a cottage industry. The article highlighted 11 historic interpreters of Dr. Franklin in and around the City of Brotherly Love. Among them are locals Ralph Archbold (pictured right) and Rob Carroll.
Here, there and everywhere, these Bens share a passion for the past and for performance. But they also share the responsibility for representing perhaps America’s finest founding father. Media’s Archbold appears regularly at Franklin’s former home and in a “Breakfast with Ben” program at the Independence Visitor Center. He’s been on all the major networks, plus the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, ESPN, CNN, the Disney Channel and many other outlets. He’s been honored as the official Franklin portrayer for Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia, the “Franklin 200” and “We the People 200” celebrations, and the Franklin Institute.
Carroll, who resides in Newtown Square, works as a guide for American Heritage Tours. In 2003, he joined the staff at Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge as an instructor for its “Revolution in the Middle Atlantic States” graduate course. He’s appeared on Good Morning America, and you can also find him—as Rob—on stage with his band, ZootSuit.
In honor of Ben’s birthday on Jan. 17, Archbold and Carroll take our questions.
MLT: How do you train for your role?
RA: An extensive study of Franklin books and Franklin’s papers, but no formal training in acting. I spent eight years of interpretative training at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Mich., under Joseph French.
RC: I first appeared on stage at the age of 5, but I’ve been a professional musician for nearly 30 years and a historic tour guide for 12 years.
MLT: How did you get your start as Franklin?
RA: At Greenfield Village in 1973. I did over 350 performances a year.
RC: I’ve worked with [fellow Franklin impersonator] Dean Bennett and Ralph for over 10 years, and told each of them my interest in taking up the Franklin mantle when they retire. Both encouraged me to start right then; they’ve been extremely supportive these couple of years.
MLT: What personal affinity do you have with Franklin?
RA: Ben and I actually share the same birthday (Jan. 17).
RC: We’re both products of self-education—Ben with his two years of education, and me with my 12. We both have the same love of reading.
MLT: Do you play any other characters?
RA: I don’t. Although, in the past, I did a number of characters in a dinner theater in Detroit. I married Linda Wilde, who often plays Betsy Ross, on July 3, 2008—we were both booked solid July 4. The event made international news.
RC: I’ve portrayed William Penn.
