No posts this weekend... sorry guys.

Hi all.

I am sorry to say that this weekend due to LibraryGirl and I going away there will be no updates... however please do look back on Monday when I will be posting the 21st of May in Theatrical History about Catherine Coleman.

So have a great weekend everybody and I will see you all again on Monday...

By the way has anyone seen Glee's version of 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light' it is horrific! Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

Xtofer

On this date in 1904 'Veronique' opens at the Apollo

Veronique is an Operetta that premiered in December 1898 in Paris, France. Written by Andre Messager it would prove to be his most popular piece and toured throughout Europe in the late 1890s before it was brought, in its original French version, to the Notting Hill Gate Coronet by Lady Gladys de Grey in 1903. The following year a production was put together which included a translation of the libretto by Henry Atkins who was best known for his WWI song 'Private Tommy Atkins'. It opened at the Apollo Theatre, London on the 18th May 1904, it would run for 496 performances.

17/5 1853 The first Matinee performance at Astley's Ampitheatre

On the 17th of May 1853 the first matinee performance occured at Atsley's Ampitheatre in London. Astley's was situated on Westminster Bridge road and was the home of the Circus. It was a very popular venue putting on many spectacles featuring animals including one performance in 1871 which featured several hundred human performers alongside 52 Horses, 15 Elephants, 2 Lions, Kangaroos, Reindeer and many more. To read some more in depth information and see some wonderful picture of this venue please click here.

Matinees would not become a staple of the theatrical timetable until 1873 when it was established at the Haymarket Theatre, London.

Sir John Hare born 16/5 1844

(Sir John Hare on a Cigarette Card picture from http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk)

Sire John Hare was born on the 16th of May 1844 in Giggleswick, Yorkshire. Hare's career began in Liverpool in 1864 before debuting on the London stage in 1865. He became a part of the company working with the Bancrofts at the Prince of Wales's Theatre in London. 10 years after his debut he was made manager of the Court theatre in Sloane Square. Hare founded a social club for actors called 'The Lambs' in London, it folded in 1877 but an American branch was founded in 1874 and is still running to this day. In 1888 Hare became the manager of the Garrick theatre, by 1897 he was the manager of the Globe Theatre. In 1907 he was knighted for his services to the Theatre. He retired from stage work in 1912 but made a few silent movies in the 1910s. Hare died in 1921 aged 77.