Lafayette Circus Theatre emerged in Manhattan in 1825 as an equestrian circus arena; in 1826–1827 it was rebuilt into a conventional theatre hall with an orchestra pit and advanced rigging.[1] It boasted equipment for both equestrian (Hippodrama) and aquatic drama.[2] The theatre was destroyed by fire in 1829.
Lafayette Theatre
Lafayette Circus (named after the Marquis de Lafayette) was built on the corner of Laurens Street (now West Broadway) and Grand Street by Charles W. Sandford. He led an eccentric life from 1796–1878 as one of New York’s favorite socialites. As a great lawyer he became a member of the New York Bar Association.[3] He was also a land developer and speculator. In 1822, Charles Sanford started buying up parcels of land on Canal and Laurens St. to create a new business center on the northern edge of the city. His plan was that if the block of buildings could be successfully rented out as offices, stores and residences, he could turn a handsome profit as their value increased. The added luxury of a circus would make the surrounding land even more valuable and increase the number of visitors to the district.[4] The newly erected theatre became the main attraction of a newly developed neighborhood.[5] On February 27, 1825 the first ever Hippodramatic show on American soil premiered at the Lafayette when the last two acts of Richard III were staged with horses.[6]Hippodrama, part drama and part circus, the intended main event, was a recent invention that evolved from circus and horsemanship shows of the 18th century.[7] It emerged in England and France and quickly spread to the United States.[8] Lafayette Circus was the first American theatre specifically designed for hippodrama, followed by the Philadelphia Amphitheater and the Baltimore Roman Amphitheatre.[9]
The shows attracted lower classes, laborers and seamen,[10] "ready to riot at the slightest provocations";[11] "in fact, much of recorded rowdyism of the mid-1820s" took place at Lafayette Circus.[12] There were eleven recorded theatre riots in New York from 1825–30, four of which occurred at the Lafayette.[13] Notable public disturbances and gang fights were recorded in December 1825 and in July 1826, when a watchman attempting to expel a prostitute barely escaped from the mob.[14][15]
Horse drama and other para-theatrical shows failed at this theatre.[16] in 1826 the circus was sold and became the Lafayette Theatre, redesigned by Peter Grain, architect and theatrical designer. In October 1827 the New York Mirror described the building as "the largest and most splendid ever erected for theatrical purposes in the United States. The stage with its scenery and machinery exceed all former attempts in this country".[17] Nearly 100 feet wide and 120 feet deep, the stage was greater than anything existing in the United States or the United Kingdom.[18] The audience held no gallery seating, only box seating and a raised rake pit. The interior is described as having of spacious, windowed lobbies with an elegant domed interior house that was well ventilated and included a gas chandelier.[19] Stage lighting was described as "more natural"; a new lighting layout eliminated stage lamp ladders and allowed opening the whole width of the stage to the spectators.[20]
Gilje, Paul A. (1987). The road to mobocracy: popular disorder in New York City, 1763-1834. UNC Press. p. 251. ISBN978-0807841983.
McArthur, Benjamin (2007). The man who was Rip van Winkle: Joseph Jefferson and nineteenth-century American theatre. Yale University Press. ISBN978-0300122329.
Montilla, Robert Barry (1974). The History of the Lafayette Theatre. 1825-29. Print.
Odell, George (1928). Annals of the New York Stage. Columbia New York. Columbia University Press. Print.
"The Drama: Lafayette Theatre". New-York Mirror. Vol. V, no. 13. October 6, 1827. p. 102. a section of the city which has sprung into existence, and arrived at maturity in so short a period...
Additional sourcesedit
Henderson, Mary C. (1973). The City and the Theatre. Clifton, NJ: James T. White & Company. ISBN9780883710036.
Wilmeth, Don B. (1996). Cambridge Guide to American Theatre. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 4. ISBN0-521-56444-1.
External linksedit
Media related to Lafayette Circus (Manhattan) at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
lafayette, circus, manhattan, lafayette, circus, theatre, emerged, manhattan, 1825, equestrian, circus, arena, 1826, 1827, rebuilt, into, conventional, theatre, hall, with, orchestra, advanced, rigging, boasted, equipment, both, equestrian, hippodrama, aquatic. Lafayette Circus Theatre emerged in Manhattan in 1825 as an equestrian circus arena in 1826 1827 it was rebuilt into a conventional theatre hall with an orchestra pit and advanced rigging 1 It boasted equipment for both equestrian Hippodrama and aquatic drama 2 The theatre was destroyed by fire in 1829 Lafayette Theatre Lafayette Circus named after the Marquis de Lafayette was built on the corner of Laurens Street now West Broadway and Grand Street by Charles W Sandford He led an eccentric life from 1796 1878 as one of New York s favorite socialites As a great lawyer he became a member of the New York Bar Association 3 He was also a land developer and speculator In 1822 Charles Sanford started buying up parcels of land on Canal and Laurens St to create a new business center on the northern edge of the city His plan was that if the block of buildings could be successfully rented out as offices stores and residences he could turn a handsome profit as their value increased The added luxury of a circus would make the surrounding land even more valuable and increase the number of visitors to the district 4 The newly erected theatre became the main attraction of a newly developed neighborhood 5 On February 27 1825 the first ever Hippodramatic show on American soil premiered at the Lafayette when the last two acts of Richard III were staged with horses 6 Hippodrama part drama and part circus the intended main event was a recent invention that evolved from circus and horsemanship shows of the 18th century 7 It emerged in England and France and quickly spread to the United States 8 Lafayette Circus was the first American theatre specifically designed for hippodrama followed by the Philadelphia Amphitheater and the Baltimore Roman Amphitheatre 9 Peter Grain The shows attracted lower classes laborers and seamen 10 ready to riot at the slightest provocations 11 in fact much of recorded rowdyism of the mid 1820s took place at Lafayette Circus 12 There were eleven recorded theatre riots in New York from 1825 30 four of which occurred at the Lafayette 13 Notable public disturbances and gang fights were recorded in December 1825 and in July 1826 when a watchman attempting to expel a prostitute barely escaped from the mob 14 15 Horse drama and other para theatrical shows failed at this theatre 16 in 1826 the circus was sold and became the Lafayette Theatre redesigned by Peter Grain architect and theatrical designer In October 1827 the New York Mirror described the building as the largest and most splendid ever erected for theatrical purposes in the United States The stage with its scenery and machinery exceed all former attempts in this country 17 Nearly 100 feet wide and 120 feet deep the stage was greater than anything existing in the United States or the United Kingdom 18 The audience held no gallery seating only box seating and a raised rake pit The interior is described as having of spacious windowed lobbies with an elegant domed interior house that was well ventilated and included a gas chandelier 19 Stage lighting was described as more natural a new lighting layout eliminated stage lamp ladders and allowed opening the whole width of the stage to the spectators 20 See also editNew York Hippodrome HippodramaReferences edit Whitham p 126 Banham p 1136 Montilla p 105 Montilla p 106 New York Mirror see also Witham p 126 Odell p 214 McArthur p 21 McArthur p 21 McArthur p 21 Gilje p 252 Gilje p 251 Gilje p 252 Gilje p 249 Gilje p 251 Bank p 52 noted that Lafayette Circus shared its block with brothels tending to the same clientele Witham p 126 Witham p 126 Witham p 126 Odell p 343 Witham p 126 Cited sources edit Banham Martin 1995 Cambridge Guide to Theatre Cambridge University Press p 1136 ISBN 9780521434379 Bank Rosemary 1997 Theatre Culture in America 1825 1860 Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0521563871 Gilje Paul A 1987 The road to mobocracy popular disorder in New York City 1763 1834 UNC Press p 251 ISBN 978 0807841983 McArthur Benjamin 2007 The man who was Rip van Winkle Joseph Jefferson and nineteenth century American theatre Yale University Press ISBN 978 0300122329 Montilla Robert Barry 1974 The History of the Lafayette Theatre 1825 29 Print Odell George 1928 Annals of the New York Stage Columbia New York Columbia University Press Print Witham Barry 1996 Theatre in the United States 1750 1915 theatre in the colonies and United States Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0521308588 The Drama Lafayette Theatre New York Mirror Vol V no 13 October 6 1827 p 102 a section of the city which has sprung into existence and arrived at maturity in so short a period Additional sources edit Henderson Mary C 1973 The City and the Theatre Clifton NJ James T White amp Company ISBN 9780883710036 Wilmeth Don B 1996 Cambridge Guide to American Theatre Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press p 4 ISBN 0 521 56444 1 External links edit nbsp Media related to Lafayette Circus Manhattan at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lafayette Circus Manhattan amp oldid 1197077695, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
