ACROSS THE RIVER FROM BROADWAY: ANNALS OF THE BROOKLYN STAGE (1898-1908): MARCH 1898

This site is currently under construction.

This blog is dedicated to preserving a curated record of theatre-related clippings drawn from the digitized pages of the four chief Brooklyn newspapers and one weekly magazine of 1898-1908. Those sources, as they were called during these years, are: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn Citizen, Brooklyn Standard Union, and Brooklyn Daily Times. At first, only Brooklyn Life printed photos; as time passed, the newspapers, beginning with the Citizen, abandoned photo-based etchings and line drawings for photos.

Each entry is devoted to one or two months during the decade. A list of the month’s offerings precedes the illustrations, most of which are identified within the original image. The performers include not only leading players but lesser ones, most of whose names are entirely forgotten today. Many depict burlesque and vaudeville acts that are often listed on the heading each weekly group of images.

The production lists designate titles of shows at the legitimate theatres only; burlesque and vaudeville theatres are listed only by name to show that they were active. If a theatre is missing it was either permanently or temporarily closed.

It is hoped that this blog will be a useful adjunct to a two-volume book I’m preparing for publication, ACROSS THE RIVER FROM BROADWAY: ANNALS OF THE BROOKLYN STAGE (1898-1908); Vol. I (1898-1903), Vol. II (1903-1908).

Samuel L. Leiter

Author: BROOKLYN TAKES THE STAGE: NINETEENTH-CENTURY THEATER IN THE CITY OF CHURCHES.

FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 5

February 28-March 5: Amphion: The Idol’s Eye, with Frank Daniels; Bijou: At Gay Coney Island, with Mathews and Bulger; Columbia: The Heart of Maryland, with Mrs. Leslie Carter; Gayety: A Hot Old Time, with Johnny and Emma Ray; Grand Opera House, An Irish Gentleman, with Andrew Mack; Montauk: Secret Service, with William Gillette; Park: The Land of the Living, with Lillian Washburn; Vaudeville/burlesque: Hyde & Behman’s, Brooklyn Music Hall, Empire, Star; March 7-12: Amphion: Under the Red Robe; Bijou: Sweet Inniscarra, with Chauncey Olcott; Columbia: Never Again; Gayety; At Gay Coney Island; Grand Opera House: A Milk White Flag; Montauk: Secret Service, with William Gillette; Park: The Man in the Iron Mask; Vaudeville/burlesque: Hyde & Behman’s, Brooklyn Music Hall, Empire, Star; March 14-19: Amphion: The Wedding Day, with Lillian Russell, Della Fox, Jeff De Angelis; Bijou: Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Columbia: The French Maid, with Olive Redpath, Saharet; Gayety: An Irish Gentleman, with Andrew Mack; Grand Opera House: The Prisoner of Zenda; Montauk: Secret Service, with William Gillette; Park: The Cruiskeen Lawn, with Dan McCarthy; Vaudeville/burlesque: Hyde & Behman’s, Brooklyn Music Hall, Empire, Star; March 21-March 26: Amphion: A Lady of Quality, with Julia Arthur; Bijou: Alone in London, with Cora Tanner; Columbia: The French Maid, with Saharet; Gayety: The Prisoner of Zenda; Grand Opera House: The Sporting Duchess; Montauk: The Moth and the Flame, with Effie Shannon and Herbert Kelcey; Park: A Bunch of Keys, with Ada Bothner; Vaudeville/burlesque: Hyde & Behman’s, Brooklyn Music Hall, Empire, Starz: March 28-April 2: Bijou: “Hermann the Great,” magic with Leon and Adelaide Hermann; Columbia: The Royal Box, with Charles Coghlan; Gayety: The Foundling, with Cissy Fitzgerald; Grand Opera House: The Sunshine of Paradise Alley; Montauk: The Telegraph Girl, with Louis Mann and Clara Lipman; Park: The Span of Life; Vaudeville/burlesque: Hyde & Behman’s, Brooklyn Music Hall, Empire, Star