Wednesday, October 17, 2018

The Actor's Home West New Brighton Staten Island (building)1877-1938






The Actor's Homes West New Brighton Staten Island (building)1877-1938 - Home 1877- 1902 Col. Richard Penn Smith estate - Actor's Home 1902-1928. Approximate location Martling Ave. and Clove Road. 


Thursday, August 23, 2018

Brooklyn Theatre Fire Ground Plan, Menu - New York Times December 7, 1876






Theatre fires and panics: their causes and prevention. By William Paul Gerhard, 1896



Colonel John A McCaull, Father of American Comic Opera 1845-1894


The Press (NY) 25 Nov 1894



NY Herald Tribune 15 Nov 1894




From The Press (NY) 15 Nov 1894:

Colonel McCaull's Remarkable Life.

The late John A McCaull was the father of comic opera
in this country. He made a large fortune in
certain of these productions, but lost it by the failure of others, and died in comparative poverty.
Throughout a period of many years he was the summer lessee of Palmer's, at which house we
became acquainted with "The Black Husser," "Clover" and other successful pieces.

During his prosperous management of the Casino he gave us "Falks," "The Merry War," "The Begger Student" and "Die Fledermaus." He was the author of much of the fame now possessed by DeWolf Hopper, Francis Wilson, Lily Post, Mme Cottrelly, William Carleton, Annie Meyers, Signor Perugini and Lillian Russell. He once thrashed Rudolph Aronson, and at another time had four comic opera companies on the road. He began life as a Scotchman, the a regiment in the war, studied for the priesthood, became a lawyer, was a member of the Virginia Legislature, and developed into a comic opera impresario. Under his excellent management light music became enormously popular, and if his health continued John A. McCaull would probably have died a millionaire. 




Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Park Theatre - 381-383 Fulton Street - Circa 1890


NYPL Digital Collection



Brooklyn Union 9 June 1896



Excerpts - Brooklyn Union Standard 28 Sept 1896






NY Dramatic Mirror 19 Aug 1899 and:







Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Billy Lester ( Alfred Manasse ) 1853 - 1893 - Half or Vaudeville Minstrel Team of Lester and Allen




Billy Lester ( Albert Manasse )
Half of the vaudeville Minstrel Team known as Lester and Allen. First formed around 1875 with fellow performer Paul Allen. Born in London. Died in Fair Haven New Jersey July 11, 1893, age 40.


New York Evening World 14 July 1893



New York Herald 12 July 1893