American Theatre

Event Information

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

Proprietor / Lessee:
Robert W. [manager] Butler

Manager / Director:
Robert W. [manager] Butler

Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
28 April 2023

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Herald, 25 September 1865, 4.

In “Amusements This Evening.”  Lists Smiths and Browns.

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 25 September 1865.
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 28 September 1865, 7.

Additional performers.  “First week of the engagement of Mlle. Caroline, the great prima donna.”

4)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 30 September 1865, 198.

“The American, 444 Broadway, is different from other places of amusement on Broadway, in so far as the entertainments offered are more diversified, and therefore calculated to please all tastes.”

5)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 30 September 1865, 7.

Additional performers and work.  Caroline now listed as Mlle. Carolina.  “Billy Homes [sic] the best Comic Singer of the present day.”

6)
Review: New York Clipper, 07 October 1865, 206.

The Most Brilliant Season on Record is the heading on Manager Butler’s programme, and he is certainly right in saying so, for more crowded audiences we never saw in 444 than has been in attendance every night since the season commenced. . . . Mr. Butler must be laying away a snug little fortune for his old age.  Among the new stars last week were; T. P. Carey, Irish vocalist; and M’lle. Carolin [sic], vocalist. . . . In action [Carey] copies after the late Ogden, but is no more his equal than a utility man in a theatre is to a leading man.  His style may suit across the water, where we hear he is a great favorite, but it will not go down in this country.  His idea of singing a song with success is to be continually twirling a shillelagh in his hand, and striking it against his boot, and at the same time giving a war whoop.  We had heard great things of this Irish vocalist, and when we saw him perform we were very much disappointed.  We have lots of native-born Irish vocalists in the business, who make not half the pretence to greatness that Mr. Carey does, who are his superiors.  M’lle. Caroline is a trifle too heavy for the line of business she was fulfilling last week.  Billy Holmes, the comic singer, is the star of this place, and he is one of the biggest favorites that has ever appeared on that stage.  The ballet is a first class one, and a feature of the performances.  In the afterpieces C. B. Reynolds, James Wambold , Lizzie Schultze, and Julia Melville are the principal performers.”