Heller’s Salle Diabolique

Event Information

Venue(s):
Salle Diabolique

Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
22 December 2011

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

19 Dec 1864, 8:00 PM
20 Dec 1864, 8:00 PM
21 Dec 1864, 8:00 PM
22 Dec 1864, 8:00 PM
23 Dec 1864, 8:00 PM
24 Dec 1864, 3:00 PM
24 Dec 1864, 8:00 PM

Program Details



Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Thalberg
Participants:  Robert Heller
3)
Composer(s): Heller
Participants:  Robert Heller
4)
Composer(s): Heller, Ravel

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Herald, 19 December 1864, 4.
Listed in “Amusements This Evening.”
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 19 December 1864, 7.

3)
Announcement: New York Post, 19 December 1864.

“Heller announces for to-night an entirely new programme, including a Ravel pantomime and new piano-forte selections by Thalberg and Heller. The new pantomime as relating to Santa Clause will be at this season peculiarly appropriate.”

4)
Announcement: New-York Times, 19 December 1864, 4.

“Mr. Robert Heller announces an entire change of programme for to-night.  It is the fourth bill he has issued since he commenced last Fall.  No better proof can be given of the gentleman’s popularity.  In addition to a variety of new tricks, solos, jokes, &c., Mr. Heller will produce a new Christmas pantomime called ‘Harlequin Santa Claus, and the Magic Closet.”

5)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 19 December 1864, 7.

Works.  “New Pianoforte Solos . . . After which the new Heller-Ravel Pantomime entitled Harlequin Santa Claus and the Magic Closet.  With New Scenery . . . New Music.”

6)
Review: New York Herald, 20 December 1864, 4.

“Heller changed his program last evening, and introduced five new illusions, two new pianoforte solos, and a trick pantomime. Of course they were all good, Heller never does anything badly if he can help it.  The best illusions were those of the dove and the wedding ring, and the conformable cones, and the obedient oranges.  As for the piano solos, Heller has but few rivals as a player, and always delights his audience.  The pantomime was wonderful.  Heller began it by suddenly transporting all the spectators outside the hall, and then played his hand alone until Old Time and Santa Claus came in to assist.  There were magic closets, marvelous barrels, mysterious ladders, strange candles, elongated corks, frightful skeletons, fiery swords, a comical clown, a pretty Columbine, a spangled harlequin, and a serious Pantaloon.  It was all very queer and just the thing for the juveniles.  Moral: take them all to see it during the holidays.”

7)
Review: New-York Times, 23 December 1864, 6.
“Mr. Heller’s programme No. 4 was introduced to the public successfully on Monday.  The tricks were excellent; the piano solos charming, and the pantomime was, well the public had better judge for itself.”
8)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 24 December 1864.

9)
Review: New York Clipper, 31 December 1864, 302.

“Last week, programme number four was given to delighted audiences, and bids fair to have a long and prosperous run. . . . Heller is a member of the Royal Academy of Music, London, and the manner in which he handles the pianoforte shows that he is a master of the instrument.  Like lightning his fingers dance along the keys, and Thalberg’s fantasia from Don Giovanni soothes the troubled breast and drives blue devils far away.  Hardly have these sweet sounds been lost in air, when Heller’s own admirable composition, entitled ‘Laughing Waters,’ creates universal good will, and prepares every one for the coming pantomime. Mr. A. Sedgwick is also excellent on the concertina. ‘Harlequin Santa Claus and the Magic Closet’ is nothing more than a burlesque on spiritual manifestations, and is no doubt intended to ridicule the doings of the Davenport Brothers. We had no idea that Heller possessed so much comic talent, and were exceedingly pleased with his clever reneition of the silly clown. The pantomime is well placed upon the stage; even those who have no taste for this sort of amusement should go and see it, for the express purpose of looking at the beautiful Columbine. Columbines, as a general rule, are ugly, but this one is an exception.”