Lincoln and the theater, and theater in Lincoln's days

[RJNorton]

Laurie, I believe there is evidence Lincoln attended performances in Chicago at the McVickers Theater and North's Amphitheater, but I do not believe Mary was with him. I know Willie once accompanied his father to Chicago when he had legal business there, but I think Mary was in Springfield. There were plays presented in Springfield, but I have not read whether or not the Lincolns attended.

[Eva Elisabeth]

About the trip to Chicago, Willie wrote this to his friend Henry Remann on 3 June 1859 (he and his father stayed at the Tremont House):

"This town is a very beautiful place. Me and father went to two theatres the other night. Me and father have a nice little room to ourselves. We have two little pitcher[s] on a washstand. The smallest one for me the largest one for father. We have two little towels on top of both pitchers. The smallest one for me, the largest one for father. We have two little beds in the room. The smallest one for me, the largest one for father. We have two little wash basin[s]. The smallest one for me, the largest one for father. The weather is very very fine here in this town. Was this exhibition on Wednesday before last." (Harold Holzer: "Father Abraham and his Sons")

[Anita]

(01-24-2014 05:13 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Hi Anita. Yes, that is the incident. I asked whether others on the forum thought the incident (or at least parts of it) might be apocryphal. It appears Mike Kauffman agrees, based on what Eva and Dave found.

I also am unclear as to who was in the presidential party. Mary Clay is the source for the close-up finger pointing, "pretty sharp," etc. She says Sallie Clay was also with the presidential party. But, in his diary, John Hay says, "Spent the evening at the theater with President, Mrs. L., Mrs. Hunter, Cameron, and Nicolay. J Wilkes Booth was doing The Marble Heart." No mention of Mary Clay or Sallie Clay being with the group in the box.

Whether or not Mary Clay was there, her account is not credible. Mrs. Lincoln WAS there and she was fiercely protective of Lincoln. If Booth had behaved as Clay described there is no way Mary would allow the President to invite Booth to the box or the White House.

[Tom Bogar]

[quote='Eva Elisabeth' pid='29196' dateline='1390401462']
Lincoln and the theater, and theater in Lincoln's days, is an interesting topic to me. Now I come up with two questions which, I admit, are probably very specific, but nevertheless someone maybe could help (Dave? Mr. Bogar?)?!

First - do any pictures of James Lamb exist or any of one of his stage designs or backdrop paintings?



Eva, I have a picture of Lamb in my book, that I got from the Ford's Theatre archives. I wasn't able to locate any pictures (drawings or photos) of his backdrops, but from contemporary descriptions, and John Ford's generous compensation, I'd have to conclude they were pretty polished, quite detailed and impressive.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(02-23-2014 03:49 PM)Tom Bogar Wrote:  [quote='Eva Elisabeth' pid='29196' dateline='1390401462']
Lincoln and the theater, and theater in Lincoln's days, is an interesting topic to me. Now I come up with two questions which, I admit, are probably very specific, but nevertheless someone maybe could help (Dave? Mr. Bogar?)?!

First - do any pictures of James Lamb exist or any of one of his stage designs or backdrop paintings?



Eva, I have a picture of Lamb in my book, that I got from the Ford's Theatre archives. I wasn't able to locate any pictures (drawings or photos) of his backdrops, but from contemporary descriptions, and John Ford's generous compensation, I'd have to conclude they were pretty polished, quite detailed and impressive.

Many thanks for your reply! Seems Ford had quite a skilled team (I'm also especially thinking of Gifford, but of the others as well) that could have easily caught up with today's backstage crews and artists (whereas I think for the actors only used to declamatory style of acting it would be far more difficult to meet nowadays multiple demands).

[Tom Bogar]

Eva, I agree with you wholeheartedly. The scenic artists and technicians of the nineteenth century, who had no access to the kinds of massive computer-driven special effects available to theatrical designers today, created nevertheless beautiful, memorable, exciting visual displays for a wide range of comic and tragic productions. The drawings and photographs that I have seen of their work (in general) lead me to believe that they deserve a great deal of credit. And yes, John Ford was known for having a stable of first-rate theatrical technicians, especially as he moved into the production of operas in the 1870s.

[Eva Elisabeth]

It might be different in the US, and also for private theaters that present only one single musical production - and for those shows that feature pop stars, but at the opera/theater (at least in Germany) I think essentially not so much has changed. I think the main innovation is the lightening technology. And videos are used sometimes. Despite this, machinery mainly relieves labor and manpower, but most of the effects are actually quite old. Example: a hydraulic version of the revolving stage had already been constructed by Tommaso Francini for "Le ballet de la délivrance de Renaud" at the Palais du Louvre in 1617 (actually Leonardo da Vinci had already sketched such in 1490). Although it's now operated by electric power, the "effect" itself is old. And a great deal of the making of the scene sets and backdrops as well as of scene changings during a performance is still pure traditional handicraft done by carpenters, sculptors, painters, locksmiths and stagehands.
   

[Eva Elisabeth]

Here are two short videos of the Staatstheater Stuttgart that show the scene artists and sculptors at work:
http://www.staatstheater-stuttgart.de/se...hnenmaler/
http://www.staatstheater-stuttgart.de/se...plastiker/
(For mobile view go here:
http://mobil.staatstheater-stuttgart.de/...hnenmaler/
http://mobil.staatstheater-stuttgart.de/...plastiker/ )
[Extra credit question: What is the background music? Yes, La Traviata!]

I would think Lamb and his colleagues didn't work much differently.

[Tom Bogar]

(01-24-2014 06:56 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Is there any information on the Lincolns attending theater events in Illinois before his presidency?

Sorry I didn't see, and answer, this query sooner, Laurie. The research that I did for American Presidents Attend the Theatre only turned up several generalized references (with no specific dates) to Lincoln's attending (and heartily enjoying) various minstrel shows in Illinois. The only specific references to theatre attendance in Illinois were:
July 8, 1857 – William Burton in The Toodles and The Wandering Minstrel at North’s National Theatre in Chicago with Henry Clay Whitney [Source: Browning Diary vol. I, 294]
July 13, 1857 - William Burton in Dombey and Son at North’s National Theatre in Chicago with Henry Clay Whitney [Source: Browning Diary vol. I, 294]
March 23, 1860 - Hooley and Campbell’s Minstrels at Metropolitan Hall in Chicago [Source: Whitney 73, Weik 85-86, Mearns 119] [Note: While Whitney remembers the performers as Rumsey & Newcomb’s Minstrels, contemporary Chicago newspapers identify the troupe as Hooley and Campbell’s.]