Manhattan Theatre
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Manhattan Theatre | |
---|---|
General information | |
Location | Manhattan, New York City |
Opened | 1875 |
Renovated | 1883–1884, 1898 |
Demolished | 1909 |
The Manhattan Theatre was located at 102 West 33rd Street in
Early history
During its first two decades of existence, the theatre played host to many of the finest plays and works of musical theatre of the times, including several of the authorized American premieres of the
In 1898,
Fiske years
The Manhattan Theatre became a frequent venue for the theatrical performances of
Under Harrison Grey Fiske's management (assisted quite regularly by Mrs. Fiske), the Manhattan Theatre enjoyed its most productive years. Starting with Miranda of the Balcony, it produced many great dramas. In Miranda of the Balcony, Emily Stevens had the part of Lady Ethel Mickleham, while Mrs. Fiske played Miranda Warriner, a role for which she was praised for her interpretation of the principal character. In November 1901, the company of Mrs. Fiske staged The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch at the Manhattan Theatre. The author of the play is either Constance Cary Harrison or David Belasco. The theme of the work has to do with a woman who becomes a social outcast because of marital problems. Emily Stevens played the role of Gladys Lorimer.
In May 1902, Mrs. Fiske put on a revival of
The Manhattan Theatre presented
Last years
By 1907, the Manhattan Theatre was no longer in demand as a playhouse, so a new owner, Willaim Gane, switched to showing movies instead. The theatre had just one screen, and to justify a 10-cent admission charge, several acts of vaudeville were added to the programs. This was reportedly the first time that a New York theatre had shown movies as the main attraction. Previously, movies had just been supplements to vaudeville.
In 1909, the Manhattan was demolished to make way for Gimbels department store, a structure that still stands today but has been converted into a shopping mall, Manhattan Mall.
Footnotes
- ^ Cinema Treasures - Manhattan Theatre
- ^ "BroadwayWorld International Theatre DB".
- ^ Brown, Thomas Allston (1903). A history of the New York stage from the first performance in 1732 to 1901. New York: Dodd, Mead and company. p. 246. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ "The Manhattan Theatre; Mrs. Fiske in "Miranda of the Balcony" Is Received with Favor", The New York Times, September 25, 1901, p. 8
- ^ a b Belknap Playbill and Program Collection
References
- Richter's Wife : "A Drama" by Julie Herne. Produced at the Manhattan Theatre (NYC - 1905) starring John E. Kellerd, William Humphrey, Frank Lamb, William Abbott, Julie Herne, etc.
- Rose O' Plymouth -Town, A : "A Romantic Comedy" by Beulah Marie Dix and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland. Produced at the Manhattan Theatre (NYC - 1902) starring Minnie Dupree, Cornelia Bedford, Edith Wright, Douglas Fairbanks (Portrayed by Kevin Kline in the 1992 biopic, "Chaplin"), Guy Bates Post, Augustus Cook, etc. Directed by W.H. Post.
- "THE MANHATTAN THEATRE.; Mrs. Fiske in "Miranda of the Balcony" Is Received with Favor". New York Times. September 25, 1901. p. 8.
- "Mrs. Fiske's New Play At The Manhattan". New York Times. November 24, 1901. p. 15.
- "Mrs. Fiske To Revive Tess". New York Times. May 4, 1902. p. 11.
- "Dixey In Paretic Farce". New York Times. May 22, 1903. p. 5.
- "Notes of the Theatres". New York Times. July 14, 1904. p. 7.
- "Amusements". New York Times. September 11, 1904. p. 9.
- "No Title". New York Times. November 13, 1904. p. SMA3.
- "No Title". New York Times. December 11, 1904. p. SMA3.