Mother Hubbard

Event Information

Venue(s):
Wallack's Theatre

Proprietor / Lessee:
Lester Wallack

Manager / Director:
Theodore Moss
Alexander [manager] Henderson

Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
8 November 2019

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

14 Jun 1869, Evening
15 Jun 1869, Evening
16 Jun 1869, Evening
17 Jun 1869, Evening
18 Jun 1869, Evening
19 Jun 1869, Evening
19 Jun 1869, 2:00 PM

Program Details

Alexander Henderson seems to have joined the management of Wallack’s this week, although on which day, or in what capacity, is unclear. Henderson was with Lydia Thompson and the Lydia Thompson Company previously, but he seems to have moved to Wallack’s following a terrible episode in the press. For more on this, see event entries of 06/07/69: Sinbad the sailor and 06/05/69: Article on management and altercation at Niblo’s Garden.

Performers and/or Works Performed

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 14 June 1869, 9.

Two advertisements on one page; one is specifically for the Saturday matinee. “New music, novel dances, and an unusually powerful cast of characters, introducing a large and splendid ballet.”

2)
Review: New York Herald, 14 June 1869, 9.

“Manager Moss has made a decided hit with the burlesque pantomime of ‘Mother Hubbard’ at Wallack’s. Crowded houses are the rule, and, what is more, the audiences are apparently well satisfied with the entertainment. The piece is superbly mounted, and the ballet is one of the best at present upon the stage in this city.” Continues to negatively review the Lauri troupe for being “extremely English;” no mention of music.

3)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 14 June 1869, 7.

Two advertisements on one page; one is specifically for the Saturday matinee.

4)
Advertisement: New-York Daily Tribune, 14 June 1869, 7.

Two advertisements on one page; one is specifically for the Saturday matinee.

5)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 17 June 1869, 4.

Positive review; no mention of music.

6)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 19 June 1869, 86.

"Henderson is said to be one of the managers of the ‘Mother Hubbard’ at Wallack’s. This rolling stone, it would appear from that, has gathered some moss.” This announcement alludes to the controversy at Niblo’s Garden; see event entry of 06/07/69: Sinbad the Sailor.

7)
Review: New York Clipper, 26 June 1869, 94.

English Pantomime has proved a greater failure at Wallack’s than it did at Wood’s Museum. ‘Mother Hubabrd’ attracted two good, but not crowded audiences the first two nights at the Wallackian Temple, since which time the attendance has been growing so beautifully small that we doubt if the actual nightly salary list has been counted up from the receipts at the box office. As a pantomime, it is a poor affair, while its burlesque opening is about the flattest that has been presented to a New York audience for some time. One or two clever performers cannot expect to redeem so bad a piece, and notwithstanding the united efforts of Effie Germon and John Lauri to please, the whole affair falls flat upon the audience. The probabilities are that Messrs. Moss and Henderson will be considerably out of pocket by this speculation.”