Did John Wilkes Booth ever perform in Detroit?

[LincolnMan]

I got the book Lust for Fame: The Stage Career of John Wilkes Booth by Gordon Samples in the mail today and have been going through it. It is a great book. It, of course, lists all of his appearances. It's neat to see where JWB traveled for his performances. He only played Detroit once, apparently. According to the book he was well received. I did a little cross checking to see what was going on at that time (Nov. 1861) with Lincoln. While Booth was doing his gig at the Metropolitan Theater in Detroit-Lincoln experienced that snub by General McClellan at his residence. I believe Lincoln was accompanied to the General's house by John Hay. So while Booth was acting -McClellan was acting up-and Lincoln refused to act on the snub.

[LincolnMan]

And contrary to what some might think, Booth was everywhere! Some may think he played mostly in Southern venues but that is not the case. He was all over the North-not just Detroit. He played in such places as Boston, Cleveland, and Providence. Of course, he was frequently in various locales in New York State. JWB had it going!

[JMadonna]

Bill,
Being from Michigan myself, I'm curious if you ever checked out the Museum in Plymouth Mi? It houses one of the largest private Lincoln collections in the country.

[LincolnMan]

I didn't know you from Michigan! Yes, I'm very familiar with the museum. I had communicated with Dr. Pets in the past. Sadly, he passed away last year. You're right, there is some neat Lincoln stuff there.

[DETROIT GUY]

I found information that Mr. Booth was in Detroit in 1864 to perform at the Athenaeum. The name of the play was "The Romance of a Poor Young Man". He wound up getting typhoid fever and at one point was near death. He was laid up in a home on Jefferson Ave. for three months.

While in Detroit he had a portrait of himself painted and this painting was found in 1899 and was the subject of a story which included the story of his sickness. I cannot find in the Free Press any mention of him during 1864 so I am beginning to wonder if they were wrong in the dates and maybe it should have been 1861.

He was not at the Athenaeum in 1861 so it still could be quite possible the 1864 dates are accurate.

If the 1864 dates are accurate then it is more than likely he had a long period of time to think about his plans for Lincoln as it was in the fall of 1864 he started his plot.

[Laurie Verge]

Art Loux and his wonderful research on John Wilkes Booth Day by Day may be able to sort things out here.

[LincolnMan]

Detroit Guy: do you live in Michigan? I live in Sterling Heights. Two of my sources report Booth as having performed in 1864 in Detroit at the Metropolitan Theater. Is that the same theater as the Athenaeum? If not, where in Detroit was it located? Also, very interesting story about Booth's illness and re-cooperation at a home on Jefferson Avenue. I imagine it was the residence of a wealthy family or person. Does anyone have info on the painting?

[RJNorton]

Mike (Detroit Guy) sent me a file of the Detroit Free Press article from 1899. I uploaded it to my server, and it can be viewed here.

[DETROIT GUY]

I finally found tonight where the Athenaeum was in Detroit - it was on the northeast corner of Randolph and Congress.

I still cannot find any direct reference to Booth playing there other than the article that I sent in from 1899.

And yes I still live in the Detroit area.

[LincolnMan]

Roger: I will view the article from the link you provided when I get home to my PC. Thanks for doing that! So the theater was right in downtown Detroit. It must have been grand! Glad to say that the downtown area still has an active theater district. Next week my daughter and I will be attending an opera at the Detroit Opera House.

[LincolnMan]

Using the book that I referenced in one of the earlier posts of this thread (Lust For Life), I see JWB with no engagements in Detroit in 1864. I don't also find where he played in the performance mentioned in the article at all in 1861 or 1864. He did play at New York's Wintergarden for one night in 1864-the night of the terrorist attack, I believe. So, who knows? It's a very interesting article for more on what people thought of him and his acting ability. And it does clain that JWB got really ill while in Detroit-not New York.

[LincolnMan]

Very much indebted to Art Loux for the following inclusion in his book John Wilkes Booth: Day by Day for the following about JWB in Detroit:

"Booth next appeared in Detroit, Michigan, at the 1,200- seat Metropolitan Theater, where he reunited with his friend John Albaugh, then a member of the theater's stock company. Agnes Perry, wife of Harry A. Perry, manager of the theater, later became the third wife of Junius Brutus Booth, Jr. The terms of Booth's engagement gave him fifty percent of each night's proceeds after the first $60. Booth earned $116.92 for his seven performances, or $16.70 a performance. Maggie Mitchell, a more prominent star than Booth, had earned $22.67 a night at the same theater two weeks earlier." (p. 80).
Great stuff! Thank you Mr. Loux.

[L Verge]

I wish that Art could have lived to see his book in final print. There are a lot of us out there who were privileged to know Art and to have his help and friendship. This book will be to Lincoln assassination students what Lincoln Day By Day is to Lincoln people. I think that many people will also get a better appreciation for the talent that young Mr. Booth possessed.

[LincolnMan]

I have been looking into where JWB lodged during his engagement week in Detroit. He stayed at the Russell House Hotel- which was located in the heart of the downtown area. It was a magnificent building. It was torn down in the early 1900's. Many notables were guests there- including Edwin Booth.

[LincolnMan]

Since my last post (above) -I have been on the lookout for items related to Detroit's Russell House. I now own what I think is a toothpick holder (made of ceramic) with the Russell House brand on it. Also, I have a spoon with the branding too. It really must have been an elegant place to stay- suitable to Booth's tastes, I would say.