Boston was blessed with two Ben Franklins. The first was the original Ben, the Eighteenth century Philosopher, Diplomat, Politician, Scientist, and Inventor.--The second Ben Franlin was Actor Bill Meikle, who crafted himself into one of Boston's most Historically, amusing and widely respected tourist attractions.--University Professor, Actor, and Jack of all trades. Bill was born in Medford Massachusetts. He left a potential career in Engineering and the church to discover the world of theater. Bill studied at Antioch College in Ohio, where he met his soulmate Barbara Abrams, whom he married a year after graduation. Meikle worked his way through Antioch with the help of three part time jobs and savings from Co-op jobs offered by the school. Meikle performed 58 roles while at Antioch, including Zeus in JB and Nicely, in Guys and Dolls. Bill later acted at the Yiddish Anderson Theater, one production was with Actor Hal Halbrook in Manhattan's east side. Bill and Barbara moved to Midland Texas where Bill managed several nearby theaters. While enrolled in a doctoral program at the university of Kansas, he taught improvisation, and completed his Phd coursework. The Meikles then moved to Topeka Kansas where Bill directed the Topeka Civic Theater. --In 1974, the Meikles and their two year old daughter moved to Arlington, Massachusetts. Six years later (1980) Bill Meikle was called upon to play Ben Frankin in a 45 minute film on the history of fire prevention in America. After numerous showings as Ben Franklin, the Meikles ran the business from their Arlington home which was called "Ben Franklin Alive/Historical Entertainments".
December 19, 2006, William "Bill" Meikle succumbed to cancer.