1869

Manhattan: 23rd Street (West) - 6th Avenue

West 23rd Street (left), st, adjoining and east of the S.E. corner of Sixth Avenue, showing prominently Booth's Theatre. It was opened February 3, 1869, with Edwin Booth as manager, and with such artists as Mary McVicker, Edwin Adams, Fanny Morant, Mark Smith, Kate Bateman, W.E. Sheridan and Agnes Booth as members of the company. Among the significant performances given here were those of, 'A Winter's Tale, April 25, 1871; Men O'Airlee, it's first in America on June 5th; 'Julius Caesar', with Edwin Booth, Lawrence Barrett, F.C. Beings, D.W. Weller and Belle Petemen, in the cast, December 5th; Adelaide Neilson's first appearance in America as 'Juliet', November 18, 1872; George Ringold's production of 'Henry V," February 8, 1875; and Sarah Bernhardt's American debut in 'Adrienne', November 8, 1880. J.B. Booth succeeded his brother as manager in 1873; Jarret & Palmer followed in 1874; James C. Duff, in 1878; and then after several quick changes, Henry E. Abbey became the manager, April 12, 1879. John Stetson succeeded him, August 31, 1881 and he held the house until it was permanently closed, April 30, 1883. The site is now occupied by a large business block. For a similar pen drawing of this view, see The Manual of the City of New York, 1869, facing page 88. 1869 Gift of Urbrock Collection

Photo from the New York Public Library - Milstein Collection