Bohemians and Critics: American Theatre Criticism in the Nineteenth Century

A regular at Pfaff's (16). Aldrich wrote literary reviews for the newly founded Saturday Press (26).

After the Civil War several Pfaffians, including "William Winter and Thomas Bailey Aldrich turned their backs upon Bohemianism and embraced standards of taste we call 'The Genteel Tradition'" (17).

In 1858, Aldrich advised William Winter to "[b]e a good boy and don't get excited about the slavery question" (71). Aldrich had a long friendship with William Winter and Aldrich dedicated a poem to him in the Home Journal (73). Aldrich and Winter shared "a love of beauty and sentiment, and a strong moral bent" (73).

"Aldrich and his friends valued cultivation and refinement, which they associated with travel, good books, and an intellectual atmosphere. They attempted to hold on to a noble way of life which science and materialism were rapidly destroying" (83).

Bellew published a cartoon in the Picayune which depicted Edward G. P. Wilkins, John Brougham, Boucicault, Cornelius Matthew, Charles Gayler, Fitz-James O'Brien, and Benjamin A. Baker as "playwrights registering their dramatic works before the first copyright law went into effect."

Henry Clapp, Jr. worked as a secretary for Brisbane in 1855-56.

Butler was one of several Pfaffians who organized Clapp's funeral.

"Between the Civil War and the end of the century, Daly was responsible in part or whole for forty-four adaptations of French drama" (11).

Daly "would establish his reputation with borrowed plumes -- Leah the Forsaken, Griffith Gaunt and Under the Gaslight -- which were adapted from European dramatic source material (103).

While writing dramatic reviews for the Evening Express, Daly was called upon to review Fiske's Martin Chuzzlewit, but circumstances forced him to send his brother, Joseph, instead. In a letter to his brother, Daly "instructed Joseph to 'speak as flatteringly as you can' of Martin Chuzzlewit in order to court the favor of Fiske and his fellow Bohemians" (105). Stephen Ryder Fiske worked as an agent for Daly. "Fiske wrote to Daly describing available actors and their desired salaries; new plays and 'hot' playwrights; good buys in costumes; and general theatre gossip" (108).

Daly adapted Gustav van Moser's Ultimo, which was performed 137 times between February and June of 1875 (109).

"Poor financial conditions, excessive rent on the Fifth Avenue Theatre, and a heavy debt of $45,000 forced Daly to post closing notices" in September of 1877 (111).

Charles A. Byrne, editor of the Dramatic News accused Daly of stealing his popular play , Pique, from a woman named Miss Eleanor Kirk Ames. In response to this accusation, Daly "brought a lawsuit for $10,000 against Byrne" (132). After Byrne's chief witness, A. C. Wheeler, failed to present himself at the trial, Daly won the suit by default and Byrne was forced to pay $2,363.63 in damages (132).

After spending most of his career attacking Daly's work, A. C. Wheeler reversed his opinion about Daly. "In The Theatre of November 30, 1889, Wheeler admitted that he had misjudged the talented playwright and manager [. . .] Wheeler now admired Daly's accomplishments: building up 'character for his theatre instead of buying cheap reputation'; introducing new people--Clara Morris, Sara Jewett, Kate Claxton; and offering new ideas, new stage settings, and new costumes. Daly had built up a reliable stock company which offered continuous good work to the better class of patrons. He did not care what the mob said, Wheeler asserted, but what 'the discreet public knew'" (155).

One of several women who frequented Pfaff's. She was a "feminist who fought actively to improve the role of women" (110).

Fox eventually married Stephen Ryder Fiske, but the couple first engaged in a scandalous affair. The affair prompted Mary's husband of the time, Mr. Burnham, to attempt to shoot and stab Fiske (110).

Bellew published a cartoon in the Picayune which depicted Edward G. P. Wilkins, John Brougham, Boucicault, Cornelius Matthew, Charles Gayler, Fitz-James O'Brien, and Benjamin A. Baker as "playwrights registering their dramatic works before the first copyright law went into effect."

Jefferson and Keene starred in The Siam Light Guard together as husband and wife.

Died in November(?) 1861. Also known by the alias, Inigo (37). He was replaced at the Albion by his friend, William Winter (79).

As a young writer, Twain was helped by Henry Clapp, Jr.

After spending most of his career attacking Daly's work, A. C. Wheeler reversed his opinion about Daly.

While discussing the value of American theatrical drama, Whitman suggests that "anything appealing to the honest heart of the people, as to the peculiar and favored children of freedom -- as to a new race and with a character separate from the kingdoms of other countries -- would meet with a ready response, and strike at once the sympathies of all true men who love America, their native or chosen land" (vi).

Whitman worked as an editor for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1846-1848, during which time he continuously called for American theaters to hire American performers rather than import actors like Charles Kean and Ellen Tree (7-8).

Whitman also calls for reforms of the theatrical reviewing process: "There is hardly anything more contemptible, and indeed unprofitable in the long run, than this same plan of some paid personage writing laudatory notices to the newpaper, to be printed as spontaneous opinions of the editors" (8).

Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote for Willis's Home Journal.