Did John Wilkes Booth ever perform in Detroit?

[L Verge]

Here's the very detailed response from Art Loux, author of the limited edition John Wilkes Booth Day by Day:



1861

November 11, Monday. DETROIT.

-Booth played Julian St. Pierre in The Wife at Mrs. H. A. Perry's Metropolitan Theatre. Booth's friend, John Albaugh, was in the cast.1

November 12, Tuesday. DETROIT.

-"A highly appreciative audience was present . . . to witness Mr. J. W. Booth's rendition of Macbeth, and we doubt whether an audience ever went away more thoroughly satisfied . . . It [the play] has been played, it has been played at, and it has been murdered. The first is what may be said of Mr. Booth's representation. The closing scene, the combat, was probably never excelled, if even equaled, in this city."

November 13, Wednesday. DETROIT.

-Booth played Othello.

November 14, Thursday. DETROIT.

-"Notwithstanding the unfavorable portent of the weather last evening, there was a goodly assemblage at the theatre to witness Mr. Booth's impersonation of Othello. The play was a most decided success. Mr. Booth fully sustained all that has previously been said of his superior qualities as an actor. Mr. Albaugh won new laurels by his masterly rendition of Iago, also did Mrs. Perry . . ."

November 15, Friday. DETROIT.

-Booth, in his benefit, played Richard III and appeared as Romeo Jaffier Jenkins in the afterpiece, Too Much for Good Nature. Albaugh portrayed Richmond. "The piece was admirably produced . . . the sword combat in the last act between Richard and Richmond being decidedly the best and most thrilling scene that has ever been produced on the stage of the Metropolitan."

November 16, Saturday. DETROIT.

-"To-night Mr. Booth concludes a highly successful engagement. The announcement that it is his last performance will be sufficient to pack the house. An admirable bill is presented in Hamlet . . . Mr. Booth during his short appearance has won a host of friends who will heartily welcome him to the boards of the Metropolitan again."

November 17, Sunday. DETROIT.

November 18, Monday. DETROIT.

-Kate Bateman could not appear on the first night of her engagement and Booth substituted with Richard III.

November 19, Tuesday. DETROIT.

-Booth's Russell House hotel bill listed charges of $1.00 for `Segars', $5.50 bar and $1.00 for washing. Room charges for nine days totaled $14.38.2

November 20, Wednesday. DETROIT.

-Booth wrote an acrostic for a friend, "To Fanny, In the following initials you will

F ind a soul made up of truth,

A nd yet in mortal form.

N ot clouded by the vanities of youth

N or shaded by pride's fitful storm

Y es, she's one to serve, as instar omnium.

Yours with all respect. J. Wilkes Booth Detroit. Nov 20th/61"3



1. Detroit Free Press, November 13. Unless otherwise noted the sources of reviews and plays for this engagement are issues of the Detroit Free Press.



2. Account statement from Russell House in LASE 170.



3. Rhodehamel and Taper, eds., Right or Wrong, p. 74. JWB to Fanny, November 20, 1861.