Abbey was the first lessee and manager of the inaugural season in 1883 of the 'old' Metropolitan Opera House, with Grau's own Opera Company and stars. The season was a critical success but a financial flop. Abbey as manager was personally responsible for losses of $250,000.[4]Christina Nilsson's and Marcella Sembrich's cachets, known to be high, explain 40% of this losses.[5]
He managed the tours of Adelina Patti, Francesco Tamagno and the London Gaity in America, and he introduced Sarah Bernhardt to America. He opened Boston's Park Theatre in 1879.[6] He also opened Abbey's Theatre in 1890, one of the first theatrical managers to present expensive shows outside of the major cities.[7]
Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau returned to the 'Met' in 1891, and Abbey continued as manager there until his death. He died in New York City on October 17, 1896, at the age of 50.[2]
Legacy
One of his longest lasting legacies was his bringing a group of Spanish performers, known as the Spanish Students, to the United States.[2] These performers inspired imitators and gave rise to the widespread playing of the mandolin in the United States, where it was previously unknown.[8][9]
Personal life
He married Kate Kingsley in 1876, and had two children with her. He married again in 1886, to the actress Florence Gerard.[2] She appeared at the new Wallack's Theatre at 30th Street and Broadway while Abbey was manager there.[10]
References
Notes
^Henry Hall (1985). America's Successful Men of Affairs: The city of New York. New York Tribune.
^ abcd"Death of Henry E. Abbey." The New York Times, Sunday, October 18, 1896
^Johnson, Rossiter, ed. (1906). "Abbey, Henry Eugene". The Biographical Dictionary of America. Vol. 1. Boston: American Biographical Society. p. 22. Retrieved 19 October 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Herx, Stephen (1999). "Marcella Sembrich and Three Great Events at the Metropolitan". Opera Quarterly. 15 (1): 49–71. doi:10.1093/oq/15.1.49. (subscription required)
^Christiansen, Rupert (1984). Prima Donna, a History. Penguin. p. 173.
^Justin Winsor (1880), The memorial history of Boston, Boston: Ticknor and Company, OCLC 1838124, OL 24155402M
^Biographical Encyclopedia of the United States. American Biographical Publishing Company. 1901. Henry Eugene Abbey.
^Jean Dickson, "Mandolin Mania in Buffalo’s Italian Community, 1895 to 1918" 2012-09-17 at the Wayback Machine. Journal of World Anthropology. Occasional Papers: Volume II, Number 2. University at Buffalo (SUNY).]
henry, eugene, abbey, june, 1846, october, 1896, american, theatre, manager, producer, portrait, abbeyborn, 1846, june, 1846akron, ohiodiedoctober, 1896, 1896, aged, york, citycitizenshipamericanoccupationmanageryears, active1870, 1896spouseskate, kingsley, fl. Henry Eugene Abbey June 27 1846 October 17 1896 was an American theatre manager and producer 1 Henry Eugene AbbeyPortrait of H E AbbeyBorn 1846 06 27 June 27 1846Akron OhioDiedOctober 17 1896 1896 10 17 aged 50 New York CityCitizenshipAmericanOccupationmanagerYears active1870 1896SpousesKate Kingsley Florence GerardParentsHenry Stephen Abbey father Elizabeth Smith Abbey mother Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Legacy 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditHenry E Abbey was born in Akron Ohio on June 27 1846 to clockmaker Henry Stephen Abbey and Elizabeth Smith Abbey 2 He engaged in business with his father a jeweller until 1869 when he leased the Akron opera house 3 Career EditDuring the 1870s 1890s he managed such prominent Broadway theatres as Booth s Wallack s Abbey s Theatre and Abbey s Park Theatre promoting the talents of some of the foremost American actors of his day as well as European stars In 1882 with John B Schoeffel and Maurice Grau he formed the theatrical management partnership of Abbey Schoeffel and Grau Abbey was the first lessee and manager of the inaugural season in 1883 of the old Metropolitan Opera House with Grau s own Opera Company and stars The season was a critical success but a financial flop Abbey as manager was personally responsible for losses of 250 000 4 Christina Nilsson s and Marcella Sembrich s cachets known to be high explain 40 of this losses 5 He managed the tours of Adelina Patti Francesco Tamagno and the London Gaity in America and he introduced Sarah Bernhardt to America He opened Boston s Park Theatre in 1879 6 He also opened Abbey s Theatre in 1890 one of the first theatrical managers to present expensive shows outside of the major cities 7 Abbey Schoeffel and Grau returned to the Met in 1891 and Abbey continued as manager there until his death He died in New York City on October 17 1896 at the age of 50 2 Legacy EditOne of his longest lasting legacies was his bringing a group of Spanish performers known as the Spanish Students to the United States 2 These performers inspired imitators and gave rise to the widespread playing of the mandolin in the United States where it was previously unknown 8 9 Personal life EditHe married Kate Kingsley in 1876 and had two children with her He married again in 1886 to the actress Florence Gerard 2 She appeared at the new Wallack s Theatre at 30th Street and Broadway while Abbey was manager there 10 References EditNotes Henry Hall 1985 America s Successful Men of Affairs The city of New York New York Tribune a b c d Death of Henry E Abbey The New York Times Sunday October 18 1896 Johnson Rossiter ed 1906 Abbey Henry Eugene The Biographical Dictionary of America Vol 1 Boston American Biographical Society p 22 Retrieved 19 October 2020 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Herx Stephen 1999 Marcella Sembrich and Three Great Events at the Metropolitan Opera Quarterly 15 1 49 71 doi 10 1093 oq 15 1 49 subscription required Christiansen Rupert 1984 Prima Donna a History Penguin p 173 Justin Winsor 1880 The memorial history of Boston Boston Ticknor and Company OCLC 1838124 OL 24155402M Biographical Encyclopedia of the United States American Biographical Publishing Company 1901 Henry Eugene Abbey Jean Dickson Mandolin Mania in Buffalo s Italian Community 1895 to 1918 Archived 2012 09 17 at the Wayback Machine Journal of World Anthropology Occasional Papers Volume II Number 2 University at Buffalo SUNY Paul Sparks The Classical Mandolin Clarendon Press Oxford 1995 pages 26 27 Brown 1903 p 325 CitationsBordman Gerald 1987 The Concise Oxford Companion to American Theatre New York Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 505121 1 Brown Thomas Allston 1903 A History of the New York Stage Vol 3 New York Dodd Mead and Company Who Was Who in America Historical Volume 1607 1896 1967 Chicago IL Marquis Who s Who External links Edit Abbey Henry Eugene Collier s New Encyclopedia 1921 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Eugene Abbey amp oldid 1117821882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
