Thomas Allston Brown (January 16, 1836 – April 2, 1918) was an American theater critic, newspaper editor, talent agent and manager, and theater historian, best known for his books, History of the American Stage (Dick & Fitzgerald: New York, 1870) and A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 (Dodd Mead: New York, 1902).
Brown was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, to Thomas James Brown (1800–1867) and Lucretia Hamsly Brown (née Lucretia Hamsly Milton; 1810–1872).[1] He began his career as the Philadelphia correspondent and theater critic for the top entertainment journal of the time, the New York Clipper. He freelanced for other show-business publications and published his own paper, called The Tattler.[2][3]
In 1860, Brown entered show business as the advance man for the Cooper English Opera Company, managed by virtuoso violinist Henry Charles Cooper (1819–1881). He later worked for Gardner & Madigan's Circus (re: the Gardner and Madigan families, including Dan Gardner and John Madigan) as treasurer and manager of the box office.[2] During one circus performance, the assistant to the ropewalker Blondine went missing. Blondine's opening stunt was to walk a tightrope from the stage to the balcony with a person on his back. T. Allston Brown filled in for the missing helper, and the Baltimore Press dubbed him "Colonel" for the deed. Brown adopted the honorary title and used it for the remainder of his career.[4]
In 1863, Brown was named editor of the New York Clipper. He kept the post until 1872, when he retired from journalism. He next pursued a career as an agent and manager for entertainers. His clients included the famous female impersonator Ernest Byne (1848–1904), the Hanlon Brothers, and Mlle. Marie Aimée (sv) (1852–1857). On May 7, 1879, Brown became partner with Morris Simmonds (1839–1896) in Simmonds & Brown, Dramatic Agents, and continued to run the company after Simmonds died.[4]
As early as 1858, Brown had begun compiling stories and biographies of theatrical performers in the United States.[2] Much of his material came from players in the field, who supplied biographical sketches.[3] He began to write a book on the subject, and in 1870 he published the exhaustive History of the American Stage.[2][3] In 1906, he retired from show business to devote more time to history and writing.[4] Brown died in Philadelphia in 1918. The New York Times wrote in Brown's obituary that A History of the New York Stage, published in 1903, "was said to be one of the most complete accounts of the development of the stage in America that has been written".[2][5]
Notes
^Thomas Allston Brown, Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, Ancestry.com
Cullen, Frank, with Florence Hackman and Donald McNeilly (2007). Vaudeville Old & New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America, Vol. I. New York City: Routledge. ISBN0-415-93853-8.
Sentilles, Renée M. (2003). Performing Menken: Adah Isaacs Menken and the Birth of American Celebrity. Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-82070-7.
External links
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allston, brown, thomas, allston, brown, january, 1836, april, 1918, american, theater, critic, newspaper, editor, talent, agent, manager, theater, historian, best, known, books, history, american, stage, dick, fitzgerald, york, 1870, history, york, stage, from. Thomas Allston Brown January 16 1836 April 2 1918 was an American theater critic newspaper editor talent agent and manager and theater historian best known for his books History of the American Stage Dick amp Fitzgerald New York 1870 and A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 Dodd Mead New York 1902 T Allston BrownBornThomas Allston Brown 1836 01 16 January 16 1836Newburyport MassachusettsDiedApril 2 1918 1918 04 02 aged 82 Philadelphia PennsylvaniaOther namesAllston BrownOccupation s Theater critic newspaper editor talent agent and theater historian Contents 1 Life and career 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksLife and career EditBrown was born in Newburyport Massachusetts to Thomas James Brown 1800 1867 and Lucretia Hamsly Brown nee Lucretia Hamsly Milton 1810 1872 1 He began his career as the Philadelphia correspondent and theater critic for the top entertainment journal of the time the New York Clipper He freelanced for other show business publications and published his own paper called The Tattler 2 3 In 1860 Brown entered show business as the advance man for the Cooper English Opera Company managed by virtuoso violinist Henry Charles Cooper 1819 1881 He later worked for Gardner amp Madigan s Circus re the Gardner and Madigan families including Dan Gardner and John Madigan as treasurer and manager of the box office 2 During one circus performance the assistant to the ropewalker Blondine went missing Blondine s opening stunt was to walk a tightrope from the stage to the balcony with a person on his back T Allston Brown filled in for the missing helper and the Baltimore Press dubbed him Colonel for the deed Brown adopted the honorary title and used it for the remainder of his career 4 In 1863 Brown was named editor of the New York Clipper He kept the post until 1872 when he retired from journalism He next pursued a career as an agent and manager for entertainers His clients included the famous female impersonator Ernest Byne 1848 1904 the Hanlon Brothers and Mlle Marie Aimee sv 1852 1857 On May 7 1879 Brown became partner with Morris Simmonds 1839 1896 in Simmonds amp Brown Dramatic Agents and continued to run the company after Simmonds died 4 As early as 1858 Brown had begun compiling stories and biographies of theatrical performers in the United States 2 Much of his material came from players in the field who supplied biographical sketches 3 He began to write a book on the subject and in 1870 he published the exhaustive History of the American Stage 2 3 In 1906 he retired from show business to devote more time to history and writing 4 Brown died in Philadelphia in 1918 The New York Times wrote in Brown s obituary that A History of the New York Stage published in 1903 was said to be one of the most complete accounts of the development of the stage in America that has been written 2 5 Notes Edit Thomas Allston Brown Massachusetts Town Records 1620 1988 Ancestry com a b c d e Cullen 147 a b c Sentilles 122 a b c Cullen 148 Col T Allston Brown The New York Times 1918 04 04 p 13 References EditCullen Frank with Florence Hackman and Donald McNeilly 2007 Vaudeville Old amp New An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America Vol I New York City Routledge ISBN 0 415 93853 8 Sentilles Renee M 2003 Performing Menken Adah Isaacs Menken and the Birth of American Celebrity Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 82070 7 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to T Allston Brown A History of the New York Stage Volume 1 A History of the New York Stage Volume 2 A History of the New York Stage Volume 3 Genealogy of Thomas Allston BROWN T Allston Brown Collection at the Harry Ransom Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title T Allston Brown amp oldid 1112916865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
