Kiralfy Brothers Pioneers of Spectacular Vaudeville
The Kiralfy brothers Imre Bolossy and Arnold helped shape early American spectacle theater. Arnold, the youngest, has died in New York. The family rose from Polish Jewish roots to dominate lavish stage productions and ballets later influencing vaudeville and musical spectacles in New York and London.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montgomery Phister
Kiralfy
Kiralfys
Europe
Imre
Bolossy
Arnold
New York
London
Gerson
Alexander Hermann
Hermann
Old
National Theater
Sycamore Street
Fourth
Forrest
Booth
Charlotte Cushman
Edwin Booth
Keen
Harry Sargent
Sargent
Modjeska
Rhea
England
Kirafly
Kirally
Kiralfy Brothers
Borossy
Grand vaudeville to run all summer at 15 cent admission
Audiences applauded as the Grand prepares a permanent summer vaudeville setup featuring daily shows from 1 to 10 30 with acts like Swan's trained alligators Fitzgibbons and Lewis and Annie Goldie. The program includes singing dancing talking pictures and performances by Ford and Emmett and others with George minstrels later.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Swan
Fitzgibbons
Lewis
Brogers
Kingman
Annie Goldie
Georgia
Ford
Emmett
Jack and Jill
Hughes
Suily
Maris Beaugarde
Mary
Fay Templeton
Boston
Kiralfy Brothers Dramatic Spectacles Shaped Early American Stage
The Kiralfy brothers built a dominant American touring opera ballet empire through rivalrous, lavish productions. Imre Kiralfy partnered with James Bailey to stage Nero and other outdoor wonders, influencing Barnum and Bailey shows. They brought famed dancers to the U S and shaped major fairs' spectacle in St Louis and Jamestown, while aging yet active entrepreneurs guided the company through a changing stage landscape.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
David Henderson
Chicago
Marchetti
Imre
James A. Bailey
Rome
Nero
Réme
Cincinnati
Bolossy
Solomon
St. Louis
Kiralfys
Philadelphia
Kirally
Jamestown
de Rose
Bonfanti
Mile
Paris
Taglioni
Kiralfy
Darktown Brigade Fire Show At Coney Island Starts June 7
A burlesque outdoor spectacle titled Fighting the Flames to be staged at Coney Island by a company of over a hundred performers led by Billy Kersan. The production features a realistic yet comic portrayal and highlights a large cast in the amusement world event.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Darktown Brigade
Coney Island
Billy Kersan
Dance as the grand opera influence on stage tradition
A clipped reflection on the enduring impact of dance within grand opera and performances noted for beauty and movement. The text emphasizes spectacle and brilliancy that historically drew audience fascination.
The Thief at Lyceum: a moral comedy of love and vanity
The Lyceum Theatre presented The Thief on September 9, a witty study of marital love, vanity, and social appetite. The review praises the play’s construction and performance, urging public attention to Frohman’s production and noting its concise set needs and powerful emotional core.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lyceum Theater
Charles Churchill
Churchill
Byron
the Lyceum
Charles Frohman
Chester Beach Opens With 300 Extra Rooms and New Swimming Machine
Chester today opens its bathing beach with 300 additional rooms and extended dressing facilities. Water will be fresh from the Water Works promising fine bathing. Ladies must join a ladies club to bathe, while a new children's swimming machine is introduced to teach kids to swim safely.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chester
Grand's Continuous Vaudeville and Pictures Feature
Gratifying success reported at the Grand with continuous vaudeville and talking pictures. The house was full on several occasions, drawing large crowds and lively attendance last week.
Coney Island Opens With New Attractions and Steamers
Coney Island begins its season with the Queen and Princess steamers sailing from Broadway. The resort expands daily with larger programs, new attractions like the Japanese tea garden the Giggler and Whirlpool, and ongoing performances from May through June. Vaudeville shows run at 4:30 and 8 p.m. daily, with ticket offices at Straus Fifth and Walnut. Steamers depart Broadway at 9:30, 11, 1, 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7, and 8 p.m.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Coney Island
Broadway
Calliopes
Coney
Lake Como
Straus
Fifth
Walnut Streets
Queen City Bathing Beach Opens After Overhaul
The Queen City Bathing Beach in Ohio reopens on May 30 after a thorough overhaul. High winter and spring waters leave a wide sandy beach and the river will be patrolled by expert guards for safety. Manager Kroger returns to lead the seventh season with promises of new attractions and first class arrangements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Queen City
Ohio
Kroger
Dramatic critics caricatured as toy steamboats in air
Frank Moore Colby argues that American drama critics operate as idle engines, revolving on hollow analyses of commercial stage fare. He claims critics rarely enjoy writing and instead grind away at punctilious, superficial judgments of Belasco Fitch and other figures, dulling the reader with procedural critique.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frank Moore Colby
Belasco
Thomas
Clyde Fitch
Doing the Lord's Work Sermon on Stage Attracting Church
Rev. Frank Oliver Hall speaks at the New York Unitarian Club annual dinner musing that sermons may move to the stage. He argues theater-like church appeal could draw more people, noting the world is better now than in churchs strongest era.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Weber
Theodore Thomas
St. Louis
Buffalo
Mr. Weber
Blanche B. Mehaffey
Kne
Zoo
Frank Oliver Hall
Church of the Divine Paternity
Behind the Scenes: The Theater Producer’s Hidden Craft
The producer shapes a play from the writer’s idea guiding rehearsals and refining the work. He remains unseen by the audience yet bears the praise or blame for a show’s success or failure.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Posen
M. B. Curtis
Sam’l. of
John T. Raymond
Mulberry Sellers
Sothern
Lord Dundreary
European
America
Jarrett
Palmer
Carl Barrus
Niblo’s Garden
Jarrett and Palmer
Stanley
Nut College
Cairo Skating Rink
Battle Royal
Dolores
John Malone
Eleanor Bland
Samuel Colville
Michae Strogof
the Thief
Ororomom Oronororororomororomo
William Winter
Queen City Beach
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!