Manhattan Theatre

This article should be divided into sections by topic, to make it more accessible. Please help by adding section headings in accordance with Wikipedia's style guidelines. (October 2009)

The Manhattan Theatre, directly across from Greeley Square at Sixth Avenue and 33rd Street, was located at 102 West 33rd Street, in New York, NY. It was a 1100-seat theatre which opened in 1875 as the Eagle Variety Theatre, and then, later, re-named the Standard Theatre in 1878. All but destroyed by a fire in 1883, it was re-built in a more modern style and re-opened in December, 1884. In 1898, the Standard was re-furbished by architect Howard Constable and re-named the Manhattan.^[1]

During its first two decades of existence, it played host to many of the finest plays of the times, enjoying performances on its stage by Marie Fedor, Emily Stevens, Actress and Tyrone Power, Sr. Among these many productions was Lover's Lane, a 1901 production on rural life, that starred Lillian Lee in the role of Mrs. Jennings. The Manhattan Theatre also enjoyed theatrical performances by Minnie Maddern Fiske, one of the most famous actresses of the 1890s and early 1900s, renowned for her performances in Ibsen’s plays. Mrs. Fiske also co-managed and directed plays for the Manhattan Theatre. Among Mrs. Fiske's many performances was the leading role in Miranda Of The Balcony, a play written by Anne Crawford Flexner, based on the novel by A.E.W. Mason. Produced at the Manhattan Theatre on September 24, 1901, it starred Mrs. Fiske, J.E. Dodson, Emily Stevens,actress, Max Figman, Frank McCormack, Bessie Harris and Mary Maddern. It was directed by Mrs. Fiske and Max Figman. The New York Times review of the opening said: "The opening of the Manhattan Theatre under the management of Harrison Grey Fiske was effected last night, and a new drama entitled "Miranda of the Balcony" was performed for the first time on any stage. The occasion was one which may possibly prove to be significant. The new manager defines his policy in the programme, and the definition is attractive." ^[2][3]

Under Harrison Grey Fiske's management (assisted quite regularly by Mrs. Fiske), the Manhattan Theatre enjoyed its most productive years. Starting with Miranda Of the Balcony, it produced many great dramas. In Miranda Of the Balcony, Emily Stevens had the part of Lady Ethel Mickleham, while Mrs. Fiske played Miranda Warriner, a role for which she was praised for her interpretation of the principal character. In November, 1901, the company of Mrs. Fiske staged The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch at the Manhattan Theatre. The author of the play is either Constance Cary Harrison or David Belasco. The theme of the work has to do with a woman who becomes a social outcast because of marital problems. Emily Stevens played the role of Gladys Lorimer.

In May, 1902, Mrs. Fiske put on a revival of Tess of the D'Urbervilles at the Manhattan Theatre. Emily Stevens was among the players in a recreation of this production of Mrs. Fiske first staged in 1897. Stevens became a permanent member of the company of Mrs. Fiske in 1904, following three seasons on stage. Emily Stevens acted the role of Miriam for all 105 performances of Mary of Magdala in 1904. In that same production, which was written by William Winter, Tyrone Power, Sr. played the role of Judas Iscariot. Conflicting records claim that this production was staged either in November, 1902 or in 1904.

The Manhattan Theatre presented Becky Sharp in September, 1904. Based on Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackery, the comedy in four acts, was written by Langdon Mitchell. Mrs. Fiske and the Manhattan Company brought it before audiences with Stevens and George Arliss as cast principals.

A revival of Hedda Gabler was staged in November, 1904 with Mrs. Fiske in the title role and Emily Stevens as Berta. The Henrik Ibsen work played for one week in 1903 with near capacity attendance for each performance. Leah Kleschna was written especially for Mrs. Fiske by C.M.S. McClellan (Hugh Morton). The Manhattan Theatre presented the play about the daughter of a thief in December, 1904. The production marked the first original role Fiske had depicted in two years. Stevens, George Arliss, John Mason, and Marie Fedor were among the players.

The Fiske company would manage the Manhattan Theatre for eight years, essentially until 1907 when the theatre switched to vaudeville and motion pictures.

Possibly the Manhattan Theatre's biggest coup was the world premiere of Way Down East, the melodramatic stage play written by Charlotte Blair Parker, which proved to be the biggest stage success of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Opening on February 7, 1898, the play ran for 152 performances, ending in June, 1898.

later, in 1905, the Manhattan Theatre produced The Proud Laird, a comedy by Charles Cartwright and Cosmo Hamilton. It starred Robert Loraine, Hubert Hassard-Short, J.H. Bunny, Sydney Smith, Ida Vernon and Dorothy Donnelly. Interestingly, it was directed by Harrison Grey Fiske, husband of Minnie Maddern Fiske.^[3]

By 1907, the Manhattan Theatre was no longer in demand as a playhouse, so a new owner switched to showing movies instead. The theatre had just one screen, and to justify a 10-cent admission charge, several acts of vaudeville were added to the programs. This was reportedly the first time that a New York theatre had shown movies as the main attraction. Previously, movies had just been supplements to vaudeville.

In 1909, the Manhattan was demolished to make way for Gimbel's department store, a structure that still stands today but has been converted into a shopping mall.

Chronology of Theatrical Productions at The Manhattan

Footnotes

References

• Richter's Wife : "A Drama" by Julie Herne. Produced at the Manhattan Theatre (NYC - 1905) starring John E. Kellerd, William Humphrey, Frank Lamb, William Abbott, Julie Herne, etc.
• Rose O' Plymouth -Town, A : "A Romantic Comedy" by Beulah Marie Dix and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland. Produced at the Manhattan Theatre (NYC - 1902) starring Minnie Dupree, Cornelia Bedford, Edith Wright, Douglas Fairbanks (Portrayed by Kevin Kline in the 1992 biopic, "Chaplin"), Guy Bates Post, Augustus Cook, etc. Directed by W.H. Post.

• "THE MANHATTAN THEATRE.; Mrs. Fiske in "Miranda of the Balcony" Is Received with Favor". New York Times. September 25, 1901. p. 8. 
• "Mrs. Fiske's New Play At The Manhattan". New York Times. 15. 
• "Mrs. Fiske To Revive Tess". New York Times. May 4, 1902. p. 11. 
• "Dixey In Paretic Farce". New York Times. May 22, 1903. p. 5. 
• "Notes of the Theatres". New York Times. July 14, 1904. p. 7. 
• "Amusements". New York Times. September 11, 1904. p. 9. 
• "No Title". New York Times. November 13, 1904. p. SMA3. 
• "No Title". New York Times. December 11, 1904. p. SMA3.