John Montague Trimble (1815–1867), known professionally as John M. Trimble, was an American builder and theater architect responsible for many prominent theaters in New York, such as Palmo's Opera House, as well as theaters in Buffalo, Richmond, Charleston, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Albany.
Bowery Theatre in July 1867
H. P. Phelps writes:
Mr. John Montague Trimble…was born in New York, in 1815,…and became stage carpenter at the old Bowery [Theatre]. He, in time, acquired the trades of both carpentry and masonry, and also learned something of architecture. He became famous as the Lightning Builder. Once, when the Bowery burned down, he re-erected it in sixty days. He built Barnum's old museum, Genin's hat store [next to Barnum's on Broadway between Ann and Fulton Streets in New York], and other buildings, almost without number, and in an incredible [sic] short space of time. During the California excitement, he built many houses which were shipped to the Pacific coast, all ready to be put up. He delighted to make a contract to have a certain number done in a very short time, say forty days, and then do the work in half that period. He understood, thoroughly, the way to employ a large number of men at the same time and at the best advantage. His work seemed always done by magic. [But Brown reports: “During the time Brougham’s Lyceum was building, and on August 5, 1850, the rear part of the building fell to the ground, killing two of the laborers.”[1]] …While building the New Bowery, in 1859,[2] he went to bed one night and arose the next morning, blind.…[He] bore up bravely under this painful affliction, although he never did much work afterward. One summer,…it was suggested to him to come to Albany and change the old Pearl street theatre, then a church, into its original condition. He thought well of the idea, acted upon it, and so, in 1863, became for the first time in his life, a [theatre] manager. [The architectural work was done by Thomas R. Jackson.[3]] He died at 4 A. M., June 7, 1867, at 31 Beaver street [Albany], of consumption, and was buried in Greenwood cemetery.[4]
November 1856 newspaper ad for Laura Keene's Theater
In 1848, he was engaged to enlarge the Albany Museum, a theatre.[4]
Trimble's obituary in The New York Times began, "All New Yorkers will regret to learn that John M. Trimble, the architect whose remarkable energy brought him the title of 'steam builder,' is no longer living."[5] The Albany Evening Journal wrote:
From the Bowery he went to the National Theatre when it was opened….Here he got up the gorgeous scenery and stage trappings that added so much….He became an architect and builder of public places of amusement….Among others he built the New Bowery, the Olympic [originally called Laura Keene's Theatre], Broadway and Tripler Hall, and remodeled the Old Park Theatre[6] in New York.…He built the Buffalo, Richmond and Charleston theatres….Most unfortunately, Mr. Trimble has for several years been totally blind.…Despite this calamity, Mr. Trimble has worked steadily along with all the energy of a man fully possessed of all his senses.[5]
^"The New Bowery Theatre, between Canal and Hester Streets, erected for G. L. Fox and J. W. Lingard, was first opened by its proprietors on the 5th of September, 1859, and destroyed by fire December 18th, 1866." (Ireland:699) See also third paragraph of “City Improvements,” The New York Times, September 05, 1859
^ ab“Obituary: John M. Trimble, Architect and Theatrical Manager,” The New York Times, June 9, 1867, which includes the obituary from the Albany Evening Journal, June 7, 1867:3, col. 1.
Bishir, Catherine W. and Buchman, Tim North Carolina Architecture: Portable Edition. The Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina, Inc., 2005 (original edition: University of North Carolina Press, 1990)
Brown, Thomas AllstonA History of the New York Stage, Vol. 1. (Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, 1903)
Ireland, Joseph N. Records of the New York Stage, Vol. 2. (T. H. Morrell, New York, 1867)
Morrison, Craig Theaters (W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York, 2006)
Phelps, H. P. Players of a Century: A Record of the Albany Stage, 2nd edition. (Edgar S. Werner, New York, 1890 [1st edition. Joseph McDonough, Albany, 1880])
Steelman, Ben “What is Thalian Hall?” at website MyReporter.com
(WDI) Thalian Hall at website of Wilmington Downtown, Inc.
April 11, 2024
john, trimble, john, montague, trimble, 1815, 1867, known, professionally, american, builder, theater, architect, responsible, many, prominent, theaters, york, such, palmo, opera, house, well, theaters, buffalo, richmond, charleston, cincinnati, pittsburgh, al. John Montague Trimble 1815 1867 known professionally as John M Trimble was an American builder and theater architect responsible for many prominent theaters in New York such as Palmo s Opera House as well as theaters in Buffalo Richmond Charleston Cincinnati Pittsburgh and Albany Bowery Theatre in July 1867H P Phelps writes Mr John Montague Trimble was born in New York in 1815 and became stage carpenter at the old Bowery Theatre He in time acquired the trades of both carpentry and masonry and also learned something of architecture He became famous as the Lightning Builder Once when the Bowery burned down he re erected it in sixty days He built Barnum s old museum Genin s hat store next to Barnum s on Broadway between Ann and Fulton Streets in New York and other buildings almost without number and in an incredible sic short space of time During the California excitement he built many houses which were shipped to the Pacific coast all ready to be put up He delighted to make a contract to have a certain number done in a very short time say forty days and then do the work in half that period He understood thoroughly the way to employ a large number of men at the same time and at the best advantage His work seemed always done by magic But Brown reports During the time Brougham s Lyceum was building and on August 5 1850 the rear part of the building fell to the ground killing two of the laborers 1 While building the New Bowery in 1859 2 he went to bed one night and arose the next morning blind He bore up bravely under this painful affliction although he never did much work afterward One summer it was suggested to him to come to Albany and change the old Pearl street theatre then a church into its original condition He thought well of the idea acted upon it and so in 1863 became for the first time in his life a theatre manager The architectural work was done by Thomas R Jackson 3 He died at 4 A M June 7 1867 at 31 Beaver street Albany of consumption and was buried in Greenwood cemetery 4 November 1856 newspaper ad for Laura Keene s TheaterIn 1848 he was engaged to enlarge the Albany Museum a theatre 4 Trimble s obituary in The New York Times began All New Yorkers will regret to learn that John M Trimble the architect whose remarkable energy brought him the title of steam builder is no longer living 5 The Albany Evening Journal wrote From the Bowery he went to the National Theatre when it was opened Here he got up the gorgeous scenery and stage trappings that added so much He became an architect and builder of public places of amusement Among others he built the New Bowery the Olympic originally called Laura Keene s Theatre Broadway and Tripler Hall and remodeled the Old Park Theatre 6 in New York He built the Buffalo Richmond and Charleston theatres Most unfortunately Mr Trimble has for several years been totally blind Despite this calamity Mr Trimble has worked steadily along with all the energy of a man fully possessed of all his senses 5 In 1857 he designed Pike s Opera House in Cincinnati along with Horatio Nelson White The following year he designed Thalian Hall in Wilmington North Carolina which is still in use 7 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John M Trimble Notes Brown v1 472 The New Bowery Theatre between Canal and Hester Streets erected for G L Fox and J W Lingard was first opened by its proprietors on the 5th of September 1859 and destroyed by fire December 18th 1866 Ireland 699 See also third paragraph of City Improvements The New York Times September 05 1859 Phelps 329 a b Phelps 249 50 a b Obituary John M Trimble Architect and Theatrical Manager The New York Times June 9 1867 which includes the obituary from the Albany Evening Journal June 7 1867 3 col 1 Ireland 522 paragraph 2 Bishir 277 79 WDI and Steelman Sources Bishir Catherine W and Buchman Tim North Carolina Architecture Portable Edition The Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina Inc 2005 original edition University of North Carolina Press 1990 Brown Thomas Allston A History of the New York Stage Vol 1 Dodd Mead and Company New York 1903 Ireland Joseph N Records of the New York Stage Vol 2 T H Morrell New York 1867 Morrison Craig Theaters W W Norton amp Company Inc New York 2006 Phelps H P Players of a Century A Record of the Albany Stage 2nd edition Edgar S Werner New York 1890 1st edition Joseph McDonough Albany 1880 Steelman Ben What is Thalian Hall at website MyReporter com WDI Thalian Hall at website of Wilmington Downtown Inc Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John M Trimble amp oldid 1132410552, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
