Random
documents with unrelated content Scribd suggests to you:
3. 150th performance of “The Heart of Maryland.”
31. An extra performance of “The Heart of Maryland” was given at the Herald Square Theatre, for the benefit of the Hebrew Infant Asylum.
April.
18. 200th performance of “The Heart of Maryland,” and distribution of souvenirs at the Herald Square.
May.
16. End of the “run” of “The Heart of Maryland,” and close of the season at the Herald Square Theatre: 229 consecutive performances had been given of this fine melodrama.
June.
3. Trial of Belasco’s suit against N. K. Fairbank, to recover $65,000, losses, expenses, etc., incidental to instruction of Mrs. Carter and her tour in “The Ugly Duckling,” was begun before Justice Leonard Giegerich and a jury, in Part V., Supreme Court, State of New York. This suit was fought with extreme acrimony at every point.
23. The jury in Belasco’s suit against Fairbank returned a verdict for the Plaintiff, awarding him $16,000 and interest, for five years, at 5 per cent.
August.
20. “Under the Polar Star,” revision by Belasco
1897.
1898.
of play by Clay M. Greene, was produced at the Academy of Music, New York.
August.
16. Belasco presented “The Heart of Maryland” at the Baldwin Theatre, San Francisco.
October.
5. At the Manhattan (previously the Standard) Theatre Belasco, in partnership with Charles Frohman, presented, for the first time in New York, a tragedy of Chinese character entitled “The First Born,” by Francis Powers. It was produced under the stage management of Belasco, and Powers appeared in its principal part, Chan Wang: notable success. The tragedy was acted in association with a farce called “A Night Session,” derived from a French original by Georges Feydeau.
23. The theatrical company that acted “The First Born” in New York sailed for England,—a new company taking its place at the Manhattan.
November.
6. “The First Born” was acted at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London,—where it failed and was withdrawn after one week.
Last performance of “The First Born” at the Manhattan Theatre. Nov. 29.—Transferred to Garden Theatre, where it was acted until December 11.
1899.
—. Close of the third season of “The Heart of Maryland” at Springfield, Mass.
March.
30. Belasco, Mrs. Carter, and the company which had been acting in “The Heart of Maryland” sailed for England on SS. St. Paul.
April.
8. Belasco, in partnership with Charles Frohman, presented Mrs. Carter, at the Adelphi Theatre, London (her first appearance abroad), as Maryland Calvert, in “The Heart of Maryland.”
June.
25. End of the season of “The Heart of Maryland” in London.
September.
7. Belasco arrived in New York, from England, on board SS. Majestic.
December.
25. Belasco’s adaptation of “Zaza,” from a French play of that name, by MM. Pierre Berton and Charles Simon, was acted for the first time, at the Lafayette Square Opera House (now, 1917, the Belasco Theatre), Washington, D. C., Mrs. Leslie Carter appearing in its central part.
January.
9. “Zaza” was acted for the first time in New York, at the Garrick Theatre.
1900.
11. Death of Mrs. Humphrey Abraham Belasco, at 174 Clara Street, San Francisco, in her 69th year. Mrs. Belasco was buried at Hills of Eternity Cemetery, San Mateo, California.
June.
5. 150th performance of “Zaza,” observed by distribution of souvenirs during the evening.
17. End of “run” of “Zaza,” and close of the season at the Garrick: 164 performances had been given.
December.
25. Belasco’s “Naughty Anthony” was produced, first time, at the Columbia Theatre, Washington, D. C., with Blanche Bates and Frank Worthing in its principal parts.
January.
8. Belasco presented his farce of “Naughty Anthony,” for the first time in New York, at the Herald Square Theatre.
March.
5. At the Herald Square, first performance anywhere of the tragedy, in one act, by Belasco, entitled “Madame Butterfly,”—founded on a story of the same name by John Luther Long,—Blanche Bates acting in it as Cho-Cho-San and Frank Worthing as Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton.
21. Close of the Belasco season (“Naughty Anthony” and “Madame Butterfly”) at the
1901.
Herald Square Theatre.
April.
5. Belasco, Mrs. Carter, and the theatrical company to act “Zaza” sailed for England on SS. St. Paul.
16. Belasco, in partnership with Charles Frohman, presented Mrs. Carter in his play of “Zaza,” at the Garrick Theatre, London.
28. In association with Charles Frohman, Belasco presented “Madame Butterfly” at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London: memorable triumph.
May.
—. Belasco fell on stairs of the Garrick Theatre, London, and was seriously injured.
July.
28. End of the London engagement of Mrs. Carter, in Belasco’s “Zaza.”
August.
—. Belasco and Mrs. Carter sailed for New York on board SS. ——-.
—. They landed in New York.
February.
5. Belasco, in partnership with Charles Frohman, presented at the Garden Theatre, for the first time on any stage, a dramatization of Ouida’s novel, “Under Two Flags,” by Mr. Paul M. Potter,—revised by Belasco.
Blanche Bates, making her first appearance in New York as a star, acted in it as Cigarette. Stage direction of Belasco.
June.
1. 133rd performance of “Under Two Flags” at the Garden Theatre, and close of the season there.
September.
9. At the Hyperion Theatre, New Haven, Conn., Belasco presented David Warfield as a star, in “The Auctioneer,”—then first acted on any stage,—a play built on suggestions by Belasco, by Charles Klein and Lee Arthur, and amended by Belasco.
23. Belasco presented Warfield in “The Auctioneer,” for the first time in New York, at the Bijou Theatre.
December.
12. At the New National Theatre, Washington, D. C., Belasco, for the first time anywhere, presented his play of “Du Barry,” with Mrs. Carter in the central part.
“Du Barry” was to have been given on Monday, the 9th inst., but difficulty in handling the elaborate and heavy stage settings and the need of additional rehearsals delayed it till the 12th.
25. First performance of “Du Barry” in New York occurred, at the Criterion Theatre. 1902.
January.
1. A silver loving cup was presented to Belasco, on the stage of the Criterion Theatre, by Mrs. Carter and all the other members of the “Du Barry” company: Mr. Charles A. Stevenson made the presentation speech, and Mr. Belasco replied.
14. Belasco, by lease, secured control of the Republic Theatre, New York.
25. Belasco was sued by M. Jean Richepin, demanding an accounting for the receipts from representations of “Du Barry,”—on the ground, as alleged, that Belasco’s “Du Barry” is, in fact, Richepin’s play of the same name.
March.
13. Judge John J. Freedman, in the Supreme Court, New York, denied a motion by attorneys of M. Jean Richepin to strike out essential clauses from Belasco’s answer in Richepin’s suit against him, alleging plagiarism in the play of “Du Barry.”
The Plaintiff never proceeded in this case, and it was formally discontinued, in January, 1908.
17. Belasco was severely injured by the fall of a heavy piece of scenery, during representation of “Du Barry,” at the Criterion Theatre: he was struck on the head, badly cut, and rendered unconscious for a quarter of an hour.
April.
19. Work of reconstruction of the Republic Theatre was begun: the whole interior of that theatre was torn out and rebuilt,—a sub-stage chamber, twenty-five feet deep, being excavated (which entailed much blasting of solid rock), a perpetual spring of water being incidentally tapped, which it was extremely difficult to dam.
May.
31. 165th performance of “Du Barry” at the Criterion, and close of that theatre for the season.
September.
29. Belasco opened the first Belasco Theatre, New York (previously the Republic), presenting Mrs. Carter, in a revival of “Du Barry.”
November.
17. The first performance, anywhere, of “The Darling of the Gods,” a tragedy of Japanese life by Belasco and John Luther Long, occurred at the National Theatre, Washington, D. C., under the management and stage direction of Belasco: Blanche Bates, George Arliss, and Robert Haines acted the chief parts in it.
December.
2. Suit for $20,000 damages for malicious libel was entered by Belasco against the writer known as Onoto Watanna (Mrs. Bertrand W. Babcock), in the Supreme Court, New York, before Judge James J.
1903.
Fitzgerald.
3. First New York presentment of “The Darling of the Gods,” at the first Belasco Theatre.
January.
—. Belasco entered into a contract with Henrietta Crosman for her appearance as a star in a dramatization of the novel by Agnes and Egerton Castle, called “The Bath Comedy.”
February.
6. Order for the arrest of Onoto Watanna (Mrs. Babcock), obtained by Belasco, in his suit against her claiming $20,000 damage for malicious libel, was vacated by Judge David Leventritt,—defendant, in effect, withdrawing the libel: appeal against vacation of the order of arrest entered by Belasco’s lawyers.
May.
30. “The Darling of the Gods” was withdrawn at the Belasco Theatre and that house was closed for the season,—186 performances having been given.
June.
6. End of tour, under Belasco’s direction, of Mrs. Carter and a company of 147 other players, presenting “Du Barry,” at Minneapolis, Minn.: it had lasted thirty-eight weeks.
10. Belasco gave a brilliant reception in honor
September.
of Mrs. Carter, on the stage of the Belasco Theatre, New York,—which was attended by several hundred persons of varied social and artistic distinction.
16. The Belasco Theatre was reopened with a revival of “The Darling of the Gods.”
28. Beginning of Warfield’s third tour in “The Auctioneer,” at the Harlem Opera House, New York.
November.
14. Last performance of “The Darling of the Gods” at the Belasco Theatre.
16. A contemptible outrage was perpetrated at the Belasco Theatre, New York, when, during representation of the First Act of “Zaza,” a process server, employed and instructed by Mr. A. Hummel, leaped upon the stage and handed to Mrs. Leslie Carter notice of an action brought by Miss Eugenie Blair and Mr. Henry Gressit, against David Belasco, praying for an injunction to stop the latter presenting “Zaza”! The plaintiffs alleged rights of ownership of the play by Charles Frohman. Hummel (firm of Howe & Hummel) was attorney for C. Frohman as well as for Miss Blair and Gressit.
23. Belasco produced, for the first time anywhere, at the Lafayette Square Opera House (now, 1917, Belasco Theatre), Washington, D. C., his stage version of “The Bath Comedy,” entitled “Sweet Kitty Bellairs.”
1904.
24. Suit was brought by Joseph Brooks, in the Supreme Court, New York, against Belasco, in an endeavor to establish that he, Brooks, was a copartner with Belasco in management and presentation of David Warfield, in the play of “The Auctioneer.”
December.
8. First performance of “Sweet Kitty Bellairs” in New York,—at the first Belasco Theatre.
11. Judge Scott denied application, by Miss Blair and Mr. Gressit, for an injunction to stop Belasco’s presentation of “Zaza.”
23. By arrangement with Belasco Herbert Beerbohm-Tree presented “The Darling of the Gods” at His Majesty’s Theatre, London, appearing in it as Zakkuri, with George Relph as Kara and Miss Marie Löhr as Yo-San.
January.
8. Publication, in the newspaper press, of letter by David Warfield repudiating Joseph Brooks’ assertion of partnership with Belasco in the management and presentation of Warfield, in “The Auctioneer.”
10. Warfield’s tour in “The Auctioneer” was abruptly ended at New Orleans.
25. Judge David Leventritt, in the Supreme Court, New York (First District), refused to
issue a mandatory order, prayed for by Joseph Brooks, directing David Warfield to continue to act in “The Auctioneer.”
February.
3. Legal action was brought in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York by Grace B. Hughes (otherwise known as Mary Montagu) to restrain Belasco, Maurice Campbell, and Henrietta Crosman from further presenting Belasco’s play of “Sweet Kitty Bellairs,”—Plaintiff alleging that Belasco’s play was, in fact, an infringement of one by her, entitled “Sweet Jasmine.”
February.
14. Hon. W. M. K. Olcott was appointed as Receiver for the play of “The Auctioneer” (as represented with Warfield in the central part), in the Brooks-Belasco “partnership” suit.
March.
18. The application by Grace B. Hughes for an injunction against Belasco, et al., as above, was argued before Judge E. Henry Lacombe.
26. Judge Lacombe denied the motion for an injunction as prayed for by Grace B. Hughes, holding that there was no plagiarism by Belasco. This case was finally stricken from the Calendar, without trial, March 3, 1913.
June.
4. End of the first New York run of “Sweet
Kitty Bellairs,” at the Belasco Theatre.
July.
31. Belasco presented “The Darling of the Gods,” with Blanche Bates and the original New York company, at the Imperial Theatre, St. Louis, thus incurring the bitter, active animosity of the Theatrical Syndicate,—the Imperial Theatre not being under the control of that organization.
September.
12. Belasco produced, for the first time anywhere, at the Young’s Pier Theatre, Atlantic City, N. J., Charles Klein’s play of “The Music Master,” revised by Belasco—David Warfield acting in it, as Herr Anton von Barwig.
September.
16. The Belasco Theatre was reopened with a revival of “The Darling of the Gods.”
28. At the Montauk Theatre, Brooklyn, Mrs. Carter’s “Farewell Tour” in “Du Barry” began, under Belasco’s direction.
26. First presentation of “The Music Master” in New York,—at the first Belasco Theatre.
December.
26. In Convention Hall (which, having been shut out of all theatres by the iniquitous Theatrical Syndicate, he had hired and converted into a theatre, for one week’s engagement) Belasco produced, for the first time anywhere, the tragedy, written by him in collaboration with John Luther Long, entitled
1905.
1906.
January.
“Adrea,”—Mrs. Leslie Carter acting the principal part in it.
11. First performance of “Adrea” in New York, at the first Belasco Theatre.
May.
4. End of the first run of “Adrea” and close of the Belasco Theatre for the season.
June.
—. Belasco went to London.
September.
20. Belasco reopened the Belasco Theatre with a revival of “Adrea.”
October.
3. At the new Belasco Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa., Belasco produced, for the first time anywhere, his play of “The Girl of the Golden West,”—Blanche Bates acting the central character and Frank Keenan and Robert Hilliard playing the chief supporting parts.
November.
14. First performance in New York of “The Girl of the Golden West,”—at the first Belasco Theatre.
June.
23. End of Mrs. Carter’s tour at Williamsport, Pa.,—in “Zaza”; her last performance under
1907.
November.
Belasco’s management.
12. Belasco produced his play “The Rose of the Rancho,”—based, in part, on an earlier one by Richard Walton Tully, called “Juanita,”—at the Majestic Theatre, Boston, Mass, (first time in this form), Frances Starr appearing in it as Juanita, that being her first venture as a star.
27. First New York presentation of “The Rose of the Rancho” occurred at the first Belasco Theatre.
December.
5. The corner-stone of Belasco’s Stuyvesant Theatre (1917, the Belasco) was laid by Blanche Bates. Bronson Howard made a brief address.
September.
23. Belasco produced, at the Hyperion Theatre, New Haven, Conn., for the first time anywhere, a play written by himself in conjunction with Misses Pauline Phelps and Marion Short, entitled “A Grand Army Man,”—David Warfield appearing in it as Wes’Bigelow.
October.
16. Belasco opened his Stuyvesant Theatre, New York,—now, 1917, the second Belasco Theatre,—presenting Warfield in “A Grand Army Man.”
November.
1908.
1909.
18. He presented Mr. William De Mille’s “The Warrens of Virginia,” first time, at the Lyric Theatre, Philadelphia.
December.
—. First New York performance of “The Warrens of Virginia,” Belasco Theatre.
February.
24. Belasco revived “The Music Master” at the Stuyvesant Theatre.
May.
2. Close of the season at the Stuyvesant,—performance of “A Grand Army Man.”
September.
7. William J. Hurlbut’s play of “The Fighting Hope” was produced by Belasco and under his stage direction (first time anywhere) at the Belasco Theatre, Washington, D. C., Blanche Bates and Charles Richman acting the principal parts.
22. First New York presentation of “The Fighting Hope,”—at the Stuyvesant Theatre.
December.
31. At the Parsons Theatre, Hartford, Conn., Belasco produced, for the first time anywhere, the repulsive play of “The Easiest Way,” by Mr. Eugene Walter—Miss Frances Starr playing the central part in it.
January.
19. Belasco presented “The Easiest Way,” for the first time in New York, at the Stuyvesant Theatre,—“The Fighting Hope” being transferred to the Belasco.
February.
7. Belasco left New York for San Francisco, to visit his father.
12. Arrived in San Francisco.
24. A dinner in honor of Belasco was given at Bismarck Café (now, 1917, the Hofbrau Café), San Francisco, by former schoolmates of his at the old Lincoln Grammar School of that city.
27. Festival at the Bohemian Club, San Francisco, in honor of Belasco.
March.
2. He left San Francisco.
7. He arrived in New York.
April.
29. Announcement made that H. G. Fiske and Belasco and the Theatrical Syndicate “will book in each others’ theatres when mutually agreeable.”
June.
1. Marriage of Belasco’s elder daughter, Reina Victoria Belasco, and Morris Gest, theatrical manager, at Sherry’s, New York.
August.
1910.
16. At the Savoy Theatre, Atlantic City, for the first time anywhere, Belasco produced “Is Matrimony a Failure?” (adapted by Leo Ditrichstein from “Die Thür Ins Frei” by Oscar Blumenthal and Gustav Kadelburg), Frank Worthing and Jane Cowl acting the chief parts.
23. First New York performance of “Is Matrimony a Failure?” at the first Belasco Theatre.
December.
6. First presentation of “The Lily” (adapted by Belasco from a French original by MM. Pierre Wolff and Gaston Leroux) was effected at the Belasco Theatre, Washington, D. C., Nance O’Neil and Charles Cartwright playing the principal parts.
23. Belasco presented “The Lily,” for the first time in New York, at the Stuyvesant Theatre.
January.
17. Belasco produced Mr. E. Walter’s play of “Just a Wife,” at the Colonial Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio.
January.
31. First New York performance of “Just a Wife,”—at the first Belasco Theatre.
July.
—. It was decided to restore to the theatre known since 1902 as the Belasco its former name of the Republic Theatre, and to change the name of Belasco’s Stuyvesant Theatre to
1911.
the Belasco Theatre.
August.
22. The Republic Theatre was reopened, under that name, with the first performance of Winchell Smith’s dramatization of the story of “Bobby Burnitt.”
September.
19. Under the management and stage direction of Belasco the first presentation in America was effected, at the Nixon Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa., of “The Concert,” adapted by Leo Ditrichstein from a German original by Herman Bahr,—Mr. Ditrichstein appearing in it as a star.
October.
10. First New York performance of “The Concert” occurred at the (second) Belasco Theatre.
24. Belasco produced Mr. Avery Hopwood’s farce of “Nobody’s Widow” (first time anywhere) at the Euclid Avenue Opera House, Cleveland, Ohio,—Blanche Bates acting the chief part in it.
November.
14. First New York presentation of “Nobody’s Widow” at the Hudson Theatre.
January.
2. First performance of Belasco’s play of “The Return of Peter Grimm,” at the Hollis Street Theatre, Boston. David Warfield appeared
in its principal part.
27. Marriage of Belasco’s younger daughter, Augusta Belasco, to William Elliott, actor, at the Hotel Marie Antoinette, New York.
February.
24. Mrs. Elliott, dangerously ill, taken by Belasco to Asheville, N. C.
April.
11. Death of Humphrey Abraham Belasco, at 1704 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California, in the 81st year of his age. Buried at Hills of Eternity Cemetery, San Mateo, California.
17. Belasco produced William C. De Mille’s play of “The Woman” (first time anywhere) at the New National Theatre, Washington, D. C.,—Helen Ware and William Courtleigh acting the principal parts in it.
May.
1. Belasco takes his daughter, Mrs. Elliott, to Colorado Springs, Col.
June.
5. Death of Augusta Belasco, Mrs. William Elliott, at Broadmoor, Colorado Springs.
9. Funeral of Mrs. Elliott at Temple Ahawath Chesed, New York. Buried at Ahawath Chesed Cemetery, Linden Hills, Long Island.
September.
19. First New York performance of “The
1912.
Woman” occurred at the present (1917) Republic Theatre.
October.
18. “The Return of Peter Grimm” was first presented in New York,—at the second Belasco Theatre.
30. Belasco presented Edward Locke’s play of “The Case of Becky,” for the first time anywhere, at the New National Theatre, Washington, D. C.,—Miss Frances Starr acting the central character.
December.
10. First performance on any stage of Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West,”—opera on Belasco’s play “The Girl of the Golden West,”—at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York,—stage direction of Belasco.
February.
19. Legal action was begun in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, by Abraham Goldknopf, praying for an injunction to restrain Belasco and William C. De Mille from further presentment of their play of “The Woman,” alleging that play to be, in fact, an infringement of Plaintiff’s play of “Tainted Philanthropy.” (See November, et seq.)
April.
20. 254th performance of “The Woman” at the Republic Theatre, and close of the season at that house.
29. Belasco produced (first time anywhere) “The Governor’s Lady,” written by himself in collaboration with Miss Alice Bradley, at the Broad Street Theatre, Philadelphia, Pa.
May.
4. End of the run of “The Return of Peter Grimm” in New York, and close of the Belasco Theatre for the season.
June.
25. Legal action was brought against Belasco by Amelia Bachman and George L. McKay, alleging plagiarism by him, in “The Case of Becky,” from their play of “Etelle.” (See May 13, 1913.)
July.
31. Trial of Goldknopf suit against Belasco was begun before Commissioner Gilchrist: continued, August 5, before Judge George C. Holt, in United States Circuit Court.
September.
9. First New York performance of “The Governor’s Lady” occurred at the present (1917) Republic Theatre.
October.
1. Belasco presented “The Case of Becky,” for the first time in New York, at the second Belasco Theatre.
November.
4. At the Empire, Syracuse, New York, Belasco produced (first time anywhere) the
