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Sydney Rosenfeld

December 12, 2023

Sydney Rosenfeld (1855–1931)[1] was an American playwright who wrote numerous plays, and adapted many foreign plays. Close to fifty of his creations played on Broadway.

Sydney Rosenfeld
Sydney Rosenfeld circa 1892
BornOctober 26, 1855
Richmond, Virginia, US
DiedJune 13, 1931
New York City, US
OccupationPlaywright
Years active1874 to 1923
SpouseGenie H. Johnson (m. 1883)

Some of his better known plays (though none achieved long-lasting popularity) included A House of Cards, The King's Carnival, The Lady, or the Tiger?, The Vanderbilt Cup, The Aero Club, The Senator, Mlle. Mischief, The Mocking Bird, A Man of Ideas, The 20th Century Girl, Jumping Jupiter, and The Optimist.[2][3]

Biography edit

Rosenfeld was born to a Jewish family[4] in Richmond, Virginia in 1855, and came to New York during the American Civil War. He began producing plays in 1874, starting with a burlesque of Rose Michel called Rosemy Shell.[2][5][6] He began writing boy's stories at age 15. He served as the first editor of the English edition of Puck magazine as well as writing for The Sun and the New York World, but left journalism by age 19.[2][7][8]

According to The Chronology of American Literature (2004), Rosenfeld was a "prolific adapter of foreign plays, often accused of plagiarism, who had nearly fifty plays reach Broadway during his career."[9] In 1890, the New York Times stated that Rosenfeld's "habit is to try to dash off an epoch making comedy between breakfast and luncheon," though despite "all his evident carelessness, his lack of application, and his frequently misplaced confidence in his own powers, (he) possesses a gift of originality which Belasco and De Mille either lack altogether or rigorously suppress."[10]

Gerald Bordman's American Music Theatre: A Chronicle describes Rosenfeld as "long a colorful, controversial figure on the American theatrical scene"; "he enjoyed some fame with a few hits and considerably more notoriety with his frequently gadfly behavior." By the mid 1910s, his knack of striking some hits ran dry, though he continued to mount plays until 1923. At the time of his death in 1931, since Rosenfeld had been inactive for a number of years, his "importance to an earlier theatrical world was not universally appreciated."[11] He died with meager wealth; his estate was only reported to be worth $100.[12]

Selected plays edit

 
Laura Hall and Orrin Johnson in the Broadway production of Children of Destiny (1910), adapted for film in 1920

References edit

  1. ^ Sydney Rosenfeld, findagrave
  2. ^ a b c (15 June 1931). Sydney Rosenfeld, Dramatist, Is Dead, The New York Times
  3. ^ The Jewish Encyclopedia, Volume X, p. 476 (1916)
  4. ^ Jewish Daily Forward: "Finding an Audience: Years of Invisibility" by Stuart Klawans April 9, 2004
  5. ^ Hornblow, Arthur. Some Representative American Dramatists, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (April 1892), Vol. 33, No. 4, at p. 442
  6. ^ Our American Dramatists, Munsey's Magazine (November 1894), Vol. 12, No. 2, p. 164
  7. ^ Sydney Rosenfeld's Career, The Theatre Magazine (March 1890), Vol. VI, No. 17, p. 299-300
  8. ^ (5 February 1898). Mirror Interviews - Sydney Rosenfeld, New York Dramatic Mirror
  9. ^ Burt, Daniel S. (ed). The Chronology of American Literature, p. 277 (2004)
  10. ^ (26 October 1890). Success at the Gymnase, The New York Times
  11. ^ a b Bordman, Gerald Martin and Richard Norton. American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle, pp. 91, 107, 157 (4th ed. 2010)
  12. ^ (4 May 1932). Writer of Play Hits Left Estate of $100, The New York Times
  13. ^ Traubner, Richard. Operetta: A Theatrical History, p. 133 (2003 ed.)
  14. ^ (16 February 1886). The Casino, The New York Times
  15. ^ (10 April 1888). A Possible Case, The New York Times
  16. ^ Smith, Cecil & Glenn Litton. Musical Comedy in America, p. 44 (1991 ed.)
  17. ^ (20 February 1891). A Lunch for "The Senator", The New York Times
  18. ^ The Dramatic Year Book, p. 359 (1892)
  19. ^ Daly, Joseph Francis The Life of Augustin Daly, p. 589 (1917)
  20. ^ (6 November 1898). May Irwin's Return, The New York Times
  21. ^ Yates, W.E. Theatre in Vienna: A Critical History, 1776-1995, p. 136-37 ("a play about a Hungarian country girl dreaming of success in the theatre in Vienna")
  22. ^ (7 February 1899). Dramatic and Musical, The New York Times
  23. ^ Richardson, Leander.The Month In Theatricals, Metropolitan Magazine (New York), p. 551 (May 1899)
  24. ^ Bauland, Peter. Hooded Eagle: Modern German Drama on the New York Stage, p. 241 (1968)
  25. ^ (19 May 1901). Drama in New York Theaters, Pittsburgh Press
  26. ^ For Playgoing People, The New York Times
  27. ^ Scenes from the Plays, Burr McIntosh Monthly, p. 77 (August 1905)
  28. ^ (22 February 1910). Hifalutin Play by Sydney Rosenfeld, The New York Times
  29. ^ (18 February 1910). Children of Destiny Staged, The New York Times
  30. ^ (18 April 1912). Carle Was Never So Funny Before, Newburgh Journal
  31. ^ (13 February 1912). 'The Opera Ball' Has Great Charm, The New York Times
  32. ^ Pollock, Channing. The Revival of the Fittest, The Green Book Magazine (July 1914), p. 104-06
  33. ^ (6 May 1914). A New Farce Seen At A Disadvantage - Miss Nordstrom Hopelessly Miscast In the Principal Rose of "The Charm of Isabel", The New York Times
  34. ^ (22 February 1918). Rosenfeld Comedy Back - "Under Pressure, Once "The Love Drive," Now at the Norworth, The New York Times
  35. ^ (24 November 1923). Rosenfeld Play Again; "Virginia Runs Away" to Continue When a Theatre Is Obtained, The New York Times
  36. ^ (2 October 1923). "Forbidden" Is Mild; Sydney Rosenfeld's Comedy of a Convent Girl with "Ideas", The New York Times

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sydney Rosenfeld.

December 12, 2023
sydney, rosenfeld, 1855, 1931, american, playwright, wrote, numerous, plays, adapted, many, foreign, plays, close, fifty, creations, played, broadway, circa, 1892bornoctober, 1855richmond, virginia, usdiedjune, 1931new, york, city, usoccupationplaywrightyears,. Sydney Rosenfeld 1855 1931 1 was an American playwright who wrote numerous plays and adapted many foreign plays Close to fifty of his creations played on Broadway Sydney RosenfeldSydney Rosenfeld circa 1892BornOctober 26 1855Richmond Virginia USDiedJune 13 1931New York City USOccupationPlaywrightYears active1874 to 1923SpouseGenie H Johnson m 1883 Some of his better known plays though none achieved long lasting popularity included A House of Cards The King s Carnival The Lady or the Tiger The Vanderbilt Cup The Aero Club The Senator Mlle Mischief The Mocking Bird A Man of Ideas The 20th Century Girl Jumping Jupiter and The Optimist 2 3 Contents 1 Biography 2 Selected plays 3 References 4 External linksBiography editRosenfeld was born to a Jewish family 4 in Richmond Virginia in 1855 and came to New York during the American Civil War He began producing plays in 1874 starting with a burlesque of Rose Michel called Rosemy Shell 2 5 6 He began writing boy s stories at age 15 He served as the first editor of the English edition of Puck magazine as well as writing for The Sun and the New York World but left journalism by age 19 2 7 8 According to The Chronology of American Literature 2004 Rosenfeld was a prolific adapter of foreign plays often accused of plagiarism who had nearly fifty plays reach Broadway during his career 9 In 1890 the New York Times stated that Rosenfeld s habit is to try to dash off an epoch making comedy between breakfast and luncheon though despite all his evident carelessness his lack of application and his frequently misplaced confidence in his own powers he possesses a gift of originality which Belasco and De Mille either lack altogether or rigorously suppress 10 Gerald Bordman s American Music Theatre A Chronicle describes Rosenfeld as long a colorful controversial figure on the American theatrical scene he enjoyed some fame with a few hits and considerably more notoriety with his frequently gadfly behavior By the mid 1910s his knack of striking some hits ran dry though he continued to mount plays until 1923 At the time of his death in 1931 since Rosenfeld had been inactive for a number of years his importance to an earlier theatrical world was not universally appreciated 11 He died with meager wealth his estate was only reported to be worth 100 12 Selected plays edit nbsp Laura Hall and Orrin Johnson in the Broadway production of Children of Destiny 1910 adapted for film in 1920Rosemy Shell 1874 a burlesque of Rose Michel Dr Clyde 1878 adaptation of Doctor Klaus by Adolph L Arronge Florinel 1879 dates vary in sources The Storm Child 1880 for actress Minnie Maddern Fiske The Sea Cadet 1880 translation of Richard Genee and Friedrich Zell work Der Seekadet played June 7 12 1880 at the Fifth Avenue Theatre Nanon 1885 translation of Richard Genee and Friedrich Zell work The Black Hussar 1885 adaptation of Carl Millocker operetta Der Feldprediger 13 The Gypsy Baron 1886 translation of German operetta by Johann Strauss II 14 The Bridal Trap 1886 translation of Edmond Audran s Serment d mour A Possible Case 1888 15 The Lady or the Tiger 1888 adapted from the short story by Frank R Stockton 16 The Oolah 1889 an adaptation of Charles Lecocq s La Jolie Persane starred actor Francis Wilson The Senator 1890 written with David D Lloyd who died before completing the play and title character modeled on Senator Preston B Plumb Starred actor William H Crane and Georgie Drew Barrymore also adapted to a silent film in 1915 17 The Whirlwind 1890 written for actress Helen Dauvray The Stepping stone 1890 The Club Friend 1891 18 The Passing Show 1894 The 20th Century Girl 1895 11 A House of Cards 1896 The Two Escutcheons 1896 an adaptation of Gustav Kadelburg and Oscar Blumenthal s German play Zwei Wappen 19 A Man of Ideas 1897 A Dangerous Maid 1898 adaptation of the Viennese play Heisses Blut by Leopold Krenn and Karl Lindau 20 21 At the White Horse Tavern 1899 an adaptation of Gustav Kadelburg and Oscar Blumenthal s German play The White Horse Inn 22 The Purple Lady 1899 adapted from an uncredited German play 23 24 also made into a silent film in 1916 The King s Carnival 1901 25 The Hall of Fame 1902 with George V Hobart 26 The Mocking Bird 1902 The Rollicking Girl 1905 a rewrite of A Dangerous Maid with music added by W T Francis and starring Sam Bernard 27 A Society Circus 1905 The Vanderbilt Cup 1906 with actress Elsie Janis The Optimist 1906 The Aero Club 1907 Mlle Mischief 1908 Children of Destiny 1910 with actress Laura Nelson Hall also made into a silent film in 1920 28 29 Jumping Jupiter 1911 a reboot of 1899 s The Purple Lady 30 The Opera Ball 1912 with Clare Kummer an adaptation of Der Opernball by Viktor Leon and Heinrich von Waldberg 31 The Charm of Isabel 1914 32 33 The Love Drive 1917 Under Pressure 1918 a reworked version of The Love Drive 34 Forbidden Virginia Runs Away 1923 35 36 References edit Sydney Rosenfeld findagrave a b c 15 June 1931 Sydney Rosenfeld Dramatist Is Dead The New York Times The Jewish Encyclopedia Volume X p 476 1916 Jewish Daily Forward Finding an Audience Years of Invisibility by Stuart Klawans April 9 2004 Hornblow Arthur Some Representative American Dramatists Frank Leslie s Popular Monthly April 1892 Vol 33 No 4 at p 442 Our American Dramatists Munsey s Magazine November 1894 Vol 12 No 2 p 164 Sydney Rosenfeld s Career The Theatre Magazine March 1890 Vol VI No 17 p 299 300 5 February 1898 Mirror Interviews Sydney Rosenfeld New York Dramatic Mirror Burt Daniel S ed The Chronology of American Literature p 277 2004 26 October 1890 Success at the Gymnase The New York Times a b Bordman Gerald Martin and Richard Norton American Musical Theatre A Chronicle pp 91 107 157 4th ed 2010 4 May 1932 Writer of Play Hits Left Estate of 100 The New York Times Traubner Richard Operetta A Theatrical History p 133 2003 ed 16 February 1886 The Casino The New York Times 10 April 1888 A Possible Case The New York Times Smith Cecil amp Glenn Litton Musical Comedy in America p 44 1991 ed 20 February 1891 A Lunch for The Senator The New York Times The Dramatic Year Book p 359 1892 Daly Joseph Francis The Life of Augustin Daly p 589 1917 6 November 1898 May Irwin s Return The New York Times Yates W E Theatre in Vienna A Critical History 1776 1995 p 136 37 a play about a Hungarian country girl dreaming of success in the theatre in Vienna 7 February 1899 Dramatic and Musical The New York Times Richardson Leander The Month In Theatricals Metropolitan Magazine New York p 551 May 1899 Bauland Peter Hooded Eagle Modern German Drama on the New York Stage p 241 1968 19 May 1901 Drama in New York Theaters Pittsburgh Press For Playgoing People The New York Times Scenes from the Plays Burr McIntosh Monthly p 77 August 1905 22 February 1910 Hifalutin Play by Sydney Rosenfeld The New York Times 18 February 1910 Children of Destiny Staged The New York Times 18 April 1912 Carle Was Never So Funny Before Newburgh Journal 13 February 1912 The Opera Ball Has Great Charm The New York Times Pollock Channing The Revival of the Fittest The Green Book Magazine July 1914 p 104 06 6 May 1914 A New Farce Seen At A Disadvantage Miss Nordstrom Hopelessly Miscast In the Principal Rose of The Charm of Isabel The New York Times 22 February 1918 Rosenfeld Comedy Back Under Pressure Once The Love Drive Now at the Norworth The New York Times 24 November 1923 Rosenfeld Play Again Virginia Runs Away to Continue When a Theatre Is Obtained The New York Times 2 October 1923 Forbidden Is Mild Sydney Rosenfeld s Comedy of a Convent Girl with Ideas The New York TimesExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sydney Rosenfeld Sydney Rosenfeld at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Sydney Rosenfeld at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sydney Rosenfeld amp oldid 1147761921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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