Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia
85 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 21 ratingsBringing you the best stories from the deep and fascinating history of theater in the city of Philadelphia.
This is the podcast for all lovers of theater, students of history - or anyone who enjoys great stories with lots of drama!
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Episodes
The Boom
April 19, 2024 07:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MB"Pal Joey," "Native Son," "Annie Get Your Gun" - during the years of the Second World War, there was a new surge of exciting Broadway productions trying out in Philadelphia. But at the same time, the Shuberts' domination of the Philadelphia theater market was meeting increasing scrutiny. For a blog post on our website, with images from the productions we discuss in the episode: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/quaker-city-theater-in-the-war-years/ If you enjoyed the show, PLEASE LEAVE ...
Encore Episode: Philadelphia's "Negro Unit" of the Federal Theatre Project
April 14, 2024 07:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBA reissue of our conversation with scholar Jonathan Shandell and director Jerrell Henderson, about a little-known chapter of Philadelphia's theater history. For a blog post on our website, with images from the productions we discuss in the episode: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/jericho-one-third-of-a-nation-and-prelude-to-swing/ If you enjoyed the show, PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! You can do it easily, right here: https://www.aithpodcast.com/reviews/ If you have any questions, inquiries ...
The Crash
April 05, 2024 07:00 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBPhiladelphia enters the Great Depression. Although a few shows were still having their Broadway tryouts in Philly, it wasn't enough to keep the wrecking crews from tearing down many of the city's grand old theaters. To see images and to find more information about this episode, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-wrecking-ball/ If you liked the show, leave a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-theater-history-philadelphia/id1562046673 Wri...
42nd Street
March 15, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBThe fictional musical "Pretty Lady" has its opening night in Philadelphia! Another dramatic reading from the archives of Philadelphia theater history, underscored with evocative musical accompaniment. If you liked the show, leave a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-theater-history-philadelphia/id1562046673 Write to us! [email protected] Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagra...
John Drew's Last Exit
February 23, 2024 08:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MBA story of an "All Star Cast" touring production in 1927. After the unexpected death of its star, the veteran actor John Drew Jr., company member Peggy Wood wrote this detailed memoir of his final tour. A dramatic reading from the archives of Philadelphia theater history, underscored with evocative musical accompaniment. For images of John Drew and Peggy Wood, see our blog: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/all-star-cast-trelawny-of-the-wells-episode-69/ If you liked the show, leave a Re...
On The Road with John Drew
February 23, 2024 08:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MBA story of an "All Star Cast" touring production in 1927. After the unexpected death of its star, the veteran actor John Drew Jr., company member Peggy Wood wrote this detailed memoir of his final tour. A dramatic reading from the archives of Philadelphia theater history, underscored with evocative musical accompaniment. For images of John Drew and Peggy Wood, see our blog: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/all-star-cast-trelawny-of-the-wells-episode-69/ If you liked the show, leave a Re...
The Passing Shows of the 1920s
February 11, 2024 14:00 - 36 minutes - 25.5 MBBroadway tryouts and tours and revues were constantly coming to Philadelphia's many large and luxurious theaters during the 1920s - here's a quick review of the revues! Even the Moscow Art Theatre came through town - as well as great productions of Eugene O'Neill plays. Philly was a real Tryout Town, with such great venues as the Erlanger, the Garrick, the Earle, the Shubert, and the Forrest, as well as the revamped and re-designed Chestnut Street Opera House and the the Walnut Street Thea...
Theatrical Real Estate
January 27, 2024 01:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBThe story of the Shubert Brothers, and how they began to take control over almost every commercial theater in Philadelphia - just like they did in cities all across America. For a blog post with images of the stories and topics we discuss in this episode, go to our website: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-shuberts-and-their-philadelphia-theaters/ If you liked the show, leave a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-theater-history-philadelphia/i...
The Newest Oldest Biggest Little Theater
January 12, 2024 08:00 - 41 minutes - 28.9 MBThe "Little Theater Movement" arrives in Philadelphia, bringing modern plays and surprising new venues - including the Walnut Street Theatre, where The Green Goddess was given a World Premiere tryout run in December of 1920. For a blog post with images of the stories and topics we discuss in this episode, go to our website: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/green-goddess-dressing-notes-to-episode-66/ If you liked the show, leave a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/po...
Holiday Show - 2023
December 22, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBOur annual Holiday episode! Featured are stories about the tightrope sensation El Nino Eddie, "Hitchy-Koo; the Intimate Revue," The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Timbuktu!, Signor Blitz during the American Civil War, and many other tales about Philadelphia theater history. For a blog post with images of the stories and topics we discuss in this episode, go to our website: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/hitchy-koo-and-happy-new-year/ If you liked the show, leave a Review on Apple Podcasts! ...
The Big Time: Philadelphia Vaudevillians
December 08, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 48.3 MBStories of seven notable vaudevillians who came from Philadelphia, including W.C. Fields, Ethel Barrymore, and Ethel Waters. (We also briefly profile Ed Wynn, Larry Fine, Walter C. Kelly, and the woman known as "Sober Sue.") Was Philadelphia "The Cradle of Vaudeville" in the same way it was The Cradle of the Nation? After listening to the show, let us know what you think! Write to us at: [email protected] On our website, there's a blog post with a Bibliography of the sources for this...
Philadelphia Vaudeville!
November 24, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBPhiladelphia, like all American cities of the day, was home to the exciting energy and show-biz hustle of vaudeville theaters in the first decades of the 20th Century. On our website, there's a blog post with a Bibliography of the sources for are show, plus lots of images of the Philly vaudeville theaters we talk about on this episode - "The Exciting New Vaudeville Theaters of Sleepy Old Philadelphia": https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-exciting-new-vaudeville-theaters-of-sleepy-old-phi...
The Return of The Clansman
November 10, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBIn the fall of 1915, D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation was booked to play at the Forrest Theatre - a "legitimate house," not a movie theater - but would Philadelphia's city authorities allow it to be shown? After all, the film's racist source material, Thomas Dixon's play The Clansman, had been officially banned in the city back in 1906. But was this a "movie" or a "photo-play"? Could it be legally censored at all? How did this controversy result in plays and movies being regarded as t...
Season Three: The Tryout Town
October 20, 2023 07:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MBWe begin our third season of adventures! Here we learn about the historical originas of the "Tryout Town" in American showbiz of the early 20th Century. We discuss the movie 42nd Street and discuss many touring shows that came through Philly on their way to and from Broadway - including George M. Cohan's Little Johnny Jones, which introduced the song "Give My Regards To Broadway" at the Walnut Street Theatre in 1904. But we also learn that the real place that Philadelphians needed to tra...
The 2023 Philadelphia Theater History Walking Tour!
October 06, 2023 07:00 - 6 minutes - 4.76 MBIn this brief episode, we are announcing all the details about how to join our Walking Tour on October 28th! The plan is, we’ll start at City Hall. Then we’ll go down the East side of Broad Street, turn around at South Street, and come back up the West side of Broad. We'll cover (among other things): the Academy of Music, The Wilma, the Prince, the Miller and the Arts Bank . . as those are just the theaters that are still there! We'll also learn about the long-vanished Broad Street Theatre...
Interview: Penelope Reed
September 15, 2023 07:00 - 54 minutes - 31.5 MBActress, director and educator Penelope Reed sits down for an interview with us, and shares fascinating memories of her long career in Philadelphia area theater. In particular she discusses her lifelong involvement and eventual leadership of the Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley, Pennsylvania. This episode can be seen as a continuation of our Episode 36, "Jasper Deeter and the Hedgerow Theatre" from September 2022. You can find it on any podcasting app, or go right to the episode page on our ...
Encore Episode: Stages of Fire
August 25, 2023 07:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MB[Note: This is a repeat of our Episode 12, first released in June 2021] Fires were a real danger in 19th Century theater, and some Philadelphia theaters were burned down and rebuilt multiple times. Inevitably, in some of these fires performers, audience members, and firefighters lost their lives. In this episode we go on exploration of how theater fires in the 1800s affect the physical environment that we experience plays in today. To view the episode blog entry with illustrations and a bi...
Encore Episode: George Frederick Cooke Heads to Philadelphia
July 21, 2023 12:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBFirst released as Episode 10 in May of 2021, we bring out this great story once again! You can find illustrations and additional information about the events we describe here, on our webpage: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/episode-10-George-Frederick-Cooke/ If you liked the show, leave a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-theater-history-philadelphia/id1562046673 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Follow us on Instagra...
Theatre of the Living Arts: The End
July 07, 2023 07:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBThe the final episode of our story about the Theatre of the Living Arts. While exciting work continues to happen on South Street, opposition to Andre Gregory's artistic leadership rises, and eventually matters come to a head after the production of the play Beclch. (The image for this episode is actress Sharon Gans in the role of Queen Beclch, in a photo taken during rehearsals by Betty Nettis Bennett.) Go to our blog post "Landslide," which contains additional information, documents and ...
Theatre of the Living Arts: The Middle
June 30, 2023 07:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBOur story continues, with productions of the '65-'66 second season of Philadelphia's first scrappy non-profit resident theater company - at its home on South Street. Visit our website to find a blog post with mages about the plays we discuss, as well as additional information about this episode. There is also, as always, a bibliography of our sources. See the article, "Blinded by the Light": https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/blinded-by-the-light/ After you hear the show, PLEASE LEAVE US A ...
Production Notes From Backstage
June 16, 2023 07:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBAnnouncements, Corrections, Answers to questions from our listeners - and some exciting personal news! (The episode image is of the frontage of the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, ca. 1820. From Charles Durang's History of the Philadelphia Stage.) PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW OF OUR PODCAST! You can do it easily, right here: https://www.aithpodcast.com/reviews/ If you have any questions, inquiries or additional comments, please write us at our email address: [email protected] In...
Theatre of the Living Arts: A Beginning
May 29, 2023 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBThe founding of Philadelphia's first major resident theater company: The Theatre of the Living Arts. As the 1960s begin, the fortunes of the Quaker City - and its theater - are flagging. Even the longtime supply of Broadway 'tryout' shows coming through town are beginning to dry up. To jump-start a revival, two Philadelphia area women, Jean Goldman and Celia Silverman, begin the arduous process of bringing the skeptical Philly audience a non-profit theater, music and cinema organization. ...
Philadelphia Theater Scandal!
May 12, 2023 12:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MBWould Sunday in New York perform on Saturday in Philadelphia? Were the "riffraff and lowlifes" of Brecht'sThreepenny Opera suitable for its Playhouse in the Park? Could the first publicly funded and owned city theater in the country survive in the maelstrom of Philadelphia city politics? Find out on today's episode - as we continue our Season Two "Drama Is Conflict," about censorship in Philly theater! Visit our website for a blog post with photos about events in this show, "Playhouse in...
The Walls of Walnut Street
April 28, 2023 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBAn interview with the Producing Artistic Director of the historic Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Bernard Havard. Visit our website for a blog post with photos of our tour, including many of the items we discuss in the episode: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/photos-for-the-walls-of-walnut-street/ If you enjoyed the show, PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! You can do it easily, right here - especially if you listen to us ON APPLE PODCASTS! We need some more reviews there: https://www.aithpo...
Banned in Philadelphia
April 14, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBDuring the Great Depression years of the 1930s, some touring Broadway shows got into trouble in Philadelphia. "The People's Mayor" S. Davis Wilson had his limits when it came to what he would allow in the city's theaters. This is another episode in our ongoing series about censorship and public campaigns against certain controversial shows during the 20th Century. This time around, such disparate plays as Tobacco Road, New Faces of 1936, and Langston Hughes' Mulatto make the news, as the Ph...
Stop Those Swinging Girls!
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBIn the 1920s, Philadelphia theater censorship controversies were usually about what women were wearing - or rather were NOT wearing - on the city's stages. A great cast of historical characters in this episode, set during the Prohibition Era: fan dancer Sally Rand, bandleader Ted ("Is Everybody Happy?") Lewis, The Marx Brothers, Broadway producer Earl Carroll, General Smedley Butler, Rev. Frederic Poole of the Philadelphia Board of Theatrical Control - and many, many dancing showgirls! Fo...
Bernhardt and the Playboy
March 17, 2023 07:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBIn 1911, actress Sarah Bernhardt's production of La Samaritaine met with fervent opposition from Philadelphia clergymen. In 1912, the Irish Players' production of Playboy of the Western World caused yet another Philly audience riot! What was going on? Listen and find out! It's all part of our continuing Season Two: "Drama Is Conflict". Please Note: There is nothing immoral, blasphemous, or obscene in this episode. There's no explicit language. None at all. Don't worry, you'll be fine. F...
Hammerstein's Opera House, Part Three
February 24, 2023 13:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBThe last installment of the saga of Oscar Hammerstein in the "Opera Wars" - and the grand Philadelphia theater he left behind, when the war was over. We also meet the New York banker Otto Kahn - the power behind the rival Metropolitan Opera - and how that name gets transferred to the Philadelphia building. Despite many transformations, over the years it has remained a grand temple of Music, Art and Faith on North Broad Street. We follow the musical trail from 1910 - all the way to the pre...
Hammerstein's Opera House, Part Two
February 10, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBFebruary 1909: The opera "Salome" at Oscar Hammerstein's new Philadelphia Opera House needed to be stopped, as a matter of public decency, declared hundreds of clergymen and civic leaders. Meanwhile, the impresario himself was threatening to take his newly-founded opera company back to New York, and set up the enormous theater as a vaudeville house instead! What was going on? This is the second part of three-part series on the impresario Oscar Hammerstein and his venture into the Philadel...
Hammerstein's Opera House, Part One
January 27, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBNovember 17, 1908 : The magnificent new theater in North Philadelphia was ready for its first opera! It was "as if some master magician's wand had called it into being," wrote one admiring journalist. Everyone in the city, especially its most wealthy and socially prominent citizens, could hardly wait to get inside to see the show. But first they had to make their way through the crowd of ten thousand people out on the streets gathered just to see them all dressed up in their finest! This...
The Fight Against The Clansman, Part Three
January 13, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MB1906: A coalition of African American men attempt to stop Thomas Dixon Jr.'s play The Clansman from being performed in Philadelphia. After leading a public protest in front of the Walnut Street Theatre, the whole matter ends up in City Hall, at a hearing before Mayor John Weaver. There is a blog post on our website, which has additional information and images about the historical characters in this episode! See: "The Learned Professions": https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-learned-profes...
Holiday Show - 2022
December 30, 2022 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBSeven short and light vignettes from the history of Philadelphia Theater - all of which took place in the city during the Holidays, from various theatrical seasons over the past 150 years. A gift to all of you listeners and supporters of the podcast. We hope you have a wonderful and restful Holiday season, and that the New Year of 2023 brings you health, happiness - and plenty of chances to go out and see some good theater, wherever you are in the world! For a blog post with images to acco...
The Fight Against the Clansman, Part Two
December 16, 2022 08:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBWe continue our story about Thomas Dixon Jr. and his 1905 play The Clansman with an examination of the early life of this formidable man. We learn the root causes of his political obsessions - and about his need to express himself in the world of the theater. Also in this episode, we finally meet J. Frederick Zimmerman and Samuel F. Nixon, the two Philadelphia theatrical producers who were key members of The Theatrical Syndicate. After listening to the episode, please visit our website, ...
The Fight Against The Clansman, Part Two
December 16, 2022 08:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBWe continue our story about Thomas Dixon Jr. and his 1905 play The Clansman with an examination of the early life of this formidable man. We learn the root causes of his political obsessions - and about his need to express himself in the world of the theater. Also in this episode, we finally meet J. Frederick Zimmerman and Samuel F. Nixon, the two Philadelphia theatrical producers who were key members of The Theatrical Syndicate. After listening to the episode, please visit our website, ...
The Fight Against The Clansman, Part One
November 25, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MBWe begin the harrowing and alarming story of "The Clansman," in Philadelphia. Although this play by the author Thomas W. Dixon is know as the progenitor to the 1915 D.W. Griffith film "Birth of the Nation," few are aware of its early controversial history, The narrative begins in the streets outside the Walnut Street Theatre, as a large crowd of the city's Black citizens have gathered to protest the performance, and to demand that it be stopped. (Please note: in all descriptions of Philade...
The Fight Against the Clansman, Part One
November 25, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MBWe begin the harrowing and alarming story of "The Clansman," in Philadelphia. Although this play by the author Thomas W. Dixon is know as the progenitor to the 1915 D.W. Griffith film "Birth of the Nation," few are aware of its early controversial history, The narrative begins in the streets outside the Walnut Street Theatre, as a large crowd of the city's Black citizens have gathered to protest the performance, and to demand that it be stopped. (Please note: in all descriptions of Philade...
Encore Episode: "I Fear No One" - Native American Performance in 19th Century Philadelphia
November 11, 2022 08:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBA re-broadcast of an episode originally released in November of 2021. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, an exploration of performances by Indigenous People in theaters of the City of Philadelphia in the 19th Century. We also detail plays by white performers that supposedly depicted Native people and stories in that period. The attached image for the episode is a detail of an illustration found in the book "History of the Indian Tribes of North America", Volume One, by Thomas McKe...
The Quaker City: The Forbidden Play of 1844, Part Three
October 28, 2022 07:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBThe mob is gathering in the street outside the Chestnut Street Theatre, while inside the rehearsals for the scandalous play The Quaker City go on! The thrilling conclusion of our three part series! Will it all end in a deadly riot? The suspense is building . . For a blog post about this episode, with more information and images about the people and events in our story, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/wo-unto-sodom/ (There is also a complete bibliography at the end of the blog pos...
The Quaker City: The Forbidden Play of 1844, Part Two
October 14, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBGeorge Lippard's novel "The Quaker City, or the Monk's of Monk Hall" is made into a new play. The excitement about it builds in Philadelphia, just as the national election of 1844 roils the city. We learn more about the young Philadelphia writer, and how he was recruited by theater manager Francis Wemyss to provide a script for his Chestnut Street Theatre. Meanwhile, one of Philadelphia's most prominent citizens is headed for the Vice Presidency, while others of the city's elite look with a...
The Quaker City: The Forbidden Play of 1844, Part One
September 30, 2022 07:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBThe theater of Philadelphia was being staged during the roiling years of the 1840s. Bankruptcies, riots, labor unrest, growing religious fervor and racial tensions, rising crime (and public perception of crime due to increasing availability of journals and newspapers) were everywhere. This is the context for the first episode of our Season Two: "Drama is Conflict," in which we set the scene for the coming battle over the play at Philadelphia's Chestnut Street Theater, entitledThe Quaker Ci...
Season Two: Drama is Conflict
September 23, 2022 13:00 - 8 minutes - 5.98 MBA quick announcement about our upcoming season of new episodes . . . For an exciting season about Philadelphia's "Theatre History" or "Theater History" - however, you spell it, this is the place. Spoiler Alert: There will be lots of drama. And conflict! Support the Show. © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music and compositions within the episodes copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permi...
Season Two Announcement: Drama is Conflict
September 23, 2022 13:00 - 8 minutes - 5.98 MBA quick announcement about our upcoming season of new episodes . . . For an exciting season about Philadelphia's "Theatre History" or "Theater History" - however, you spell it, this is the place. Spoiler Alert: There will be lots of drama. And conflict! © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music and compositions within the episodes copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.
Jasper Deeter and the Hedgerow Theatre
September 16, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBJasper Deeter formed Philadelphia's oldest repertory theater company in 1923. Though seemingly self-isolated in the small and intense community of theater workers he had founded, his work as a director, actor, visionary and longtime acting teacher had a profound affect on shaping Philadelphia's - and America's - theater for years to come. In this show we interview theater historian Barry Witham about his 2013 book A Sustainable Theatre: Jasper Deeter at the Hedgerow, and then bring listene...
The Paul Robeson House
July 29, 2022 07:00 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBThis special episode of the podcast goes on a journey to the Paul Robeson House and Museum in Philadelphia. Included is an interview with Janice Sykes-Ross of the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and a recording of a live tour of the Paul Robeson House with docent Terry Fimiano Guerin. For a blog post on our website with additional information, images, and links, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-house-i-live-in/ The website for the Paul Robeson House and Museum, where you ca...
Special Episode: "Good Night Sweet Prince: John Barrymore Comes Home"
July 08, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBLike the ghost of Hamlet's father, John Barrymore wouldn't stay still and kept showing up! A chapter about Philadelphia's most famous acting family, from Wicked Philadelphia, a book by Thomas H. Keels Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love by Thomas Keels, is available on Amazon.com. Please visit Tom's website, www.thomaskeels.com, for more information on his other books and upcoming talks and lectures. For blog post with images and more thoughts about this topic, go to: h...
"Good Night Sweet Prince: John Barrymore Comes Home" - Special Episode
July 08, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBLike the ghost of Hamlet's father, John Barrymore wouldn't stay still and kept showing up! A chapter about Philadelphia's most famous acting family, from Wicked Philadelphia, a book by Thomas H. Keels Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love by Thomas Keels, is available on Amazon.com. Please visit Tom's website, www.thomaskeels.com, for more information on his other books and upcoming talks and lectures. For blog post with images and more thoughts about this topic, go to: h...
Life & Death in the Theater: More 19th Century Stories
June 17, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBAs an addendum to Season One, here are six more stories of 19th C. Philadelphia theater. We discuss Alexander Reinagle, Joseph Jefferson III, James Murdoch, Matilda Heron, John McCullough - as well as two stagehands at the Walnut Street Theater you likely never heard of before, but may never forget! To see images and more information about today's subjects, see the blog post on our podcast's web page: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/back-to-the-19th-century/ If you enjoyed the show, PLEA...
Philadelphia's 'Negro Unit' of the Federal Theatre Project: A Conversation
June 03, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 44.1 MBAn interview/conversation with Jonathan Shandell, the author of a January 2022 article in the journal Theater History Studies entitled "Caricatured, Marginalized, Betrayed". The article examines the history of the Philadelphia "Negro Unit" of the Federal Theatre Project in the 1930s - specifically the history of three plays produced by the FTP at the Walnut Street Theatre. You can read more about Jonathan on his website: https://jonathan.shandell.us/home Also in the conversation in Jerrel...
Interview: Mary B. Robinson
May 06, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBJanuary 1990: The appointment of Mary B. Robinson as the new Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Drama Guild is announced, taking over from outgoing Artistic Director Gregory Poggi. Robinson's tenure at the Drama Guild was slated to begin in August of 1990, so she could move back to Philadelphia and start planning her first season. At a press conference, she stated that she planned to personally direct at least 3 of the 5 shows staged by the Drama Guild, whose current home was in the Zell...
The Best of Times
April 18, 2022 07:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBFrom the 1876 Centennial Exposition to the end of the 19th Century, Philadelphia's experienced a boom in theater construction. New plays, musicals, operettas and vaudeville shows constantly cycled in and out of the city to fill these theaters. By the 1890s, one newspaperman estimated that on average each of Philadelphia's one million people saw five shows a year! It was the best of times. In this episode we do our best to describe this productive and significant, but mostly forgotten era of...