American Theatre

Event Information

Venue(s):
Butler's American Theatre [444 Bdway--before 3/66]

Manager / Director:
Robert W. [manager] Butler

Conductor(s):
Fred Van Olker

Ballet Director / Choreographer:
Paul Brilliant

Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
11 May 2013

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

18 Jan 1864, Evening
19 Jan 1864, Evening
20 Jan 1864, Evening
21 Jan 1864, Evening
22 Jan 1864, Evening
23 Jan 1864, Matinee
23 Jan 1864, Evening

Program Details

La Thorne, stage manager.

Performers and/or Works Performed

4)
Participants:  Charles E. Collins
6)
aka Clog reel
Participants:  Charles E. Collins
7)
aka New song
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  Adelaide Nixon
8)
Participants:  Florence Wells

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 18 January 1864.

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 19 January 1864, 9.
“The beautiful Spectacular Divertissement composed by Mons. Paul Brilliant, entitled, the CRYSTAL CAVERNS.”
3)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 23 January 1864, 323.
“Only to think, four and a half hours’ worth of entertainment is given nightly at the American, 444 Broadway, to see which the manager places the prices at the lowest possible figures.  There’s play acting, nigger minstrelsy, girls and dancing, singing, comic fun, jokes, feats of various kinds, pantomime, etc., etc.  A whole troupe of talented artists are engaged at the three 4’s, and the way they strive to outdo each other, and amuse the patrons of the house, is a caution to all devotees at the shrine of Venus.  Just look in for ten minutes, and see how hard it is to tear yourself away.”
4)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 23 January 1864, 326.

5)
Review: New York Clipper, 30 January 1864, 331.
“In addition to the songs, sentimental and comic, dances, and glees, which may be termed the staple attraction of this establishment, the manager produced last week, the comic trick and fairy pantomime of ‘The House that Jack Built’ . . . and if we may argue from the applause with which it was nightly received, it gave unbounded satisfaction.  In the early part of the evening, we witnessed the laughable negro eccentricities of Charley White, Add Weaver, Bob Hart, and James Wambold, each one of whom is very clever in his line of business.  Mr. Charles E. Collins is here doing the ‘Cure,’ which is always received with much applause.  He also does the ‘Active Boy,’ equally as laughable an act, and executes a clog dance very cleverly.  In the terpsichorean line Lizzie Schultze takes the lead, followed up by Millie Flora, Frank Nixon, and a fine and efficient corps de ballet.  Adelaide Nixon ‘sings a song,’ and Florence Wells does a jig.”