Three new Philadelphia theater complexes are built for the mid-century modern era - funded by wealthy philanthropists. The Annenbergs would donate grand new Modernist-style Arts Centers at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania, and the Haas family would spearhead the drive to renovate the old Walnut Street Theatre. For a blog post wi…

A re-edited, reduced and remixed account of the entire history of the Theatre of the Living Arts – the first major professional theater company in Philadelphia's modern era. Photo of the company of The Line of Least Existence was taken by Bill Watkins. Links to blog posts on our podcast's webpage, with other images and information about our sources…

Our first episode of Season Four - introducing our plans and hopes for the upcoming year on the podcast. Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is in bookstores now! To see a listing on our publisher's website: GO HERE You can order your copy of this book through your own favorite local independent bookstore, or you…

Like the ghost of Hamlet's father, the body of John Barrymore would not stay still . . . one dark night it suddenly appeared in his hometown. A story about the wandering remains of a member of Philadelphia's most famous acting family, taken from Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love, a book by Thomas H. Keels. This episode was orig…

An encore presentation of Peter's reading of the chapter "Oh, It's a Lovely War: The Mischianza 1778" from Thomas H. Keels' Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love. Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love by Thomas Keels, is available on Amazon.com. Please visit Tom's website, www.thomaskeels.com, for more information …

A re-released and edited version of our Episode 36! In this show we interview theater historian Barry Witham about his 2013 book A Sustainable Theatre: Jasper Deeter at the Hedgerow, and then bring listeners along on a guided tour of Hedgerow Theatre campus in Rose Valley, Pennsylvania. Check out this blog post with historical images of Jasper Deet…

An Exciting Announcement! Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is in bookstores now! To see a listing on our publisher's website: GO HERE You can order your copy of this book through your own favorite local independent bookstore, or you can find it online through multiple platforms, TO ORDER ON AMAZON: GO HERE TO …

This Encore episode of the podcast - first released as Episode 35 in our Season One - goes on a journey to the Paul Robeson House and Museum in Philadelphia. For a blog post on our website with additional information, images, and links, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-house-i-live-in/ Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Phi…

In which we close out the Tryout Town story of Philadelphia theater - and we share a chapter of Peter's upcoming book! Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is in bookstores now! To see a listing on our publisher's website: GO HERE You can order your copy of this book through your own favorite local independent boo…

In the 1970s, director Vinnette Carroll brought her gospel-themed musicals about African American culture through Philadelphia on their way to Broadway. We discuss this much-neglected important Black theater artist, in a conversation with Jerrell Henderson. There is a blog post, filled with lots of amazing images and additional information about th…

The continuation of to the story from our previous episode, we talk about the failures, successes - and sometimes the deaths of shows and performers of commercial tryout shows in Philly of the 1970s. For images and notes about shows mentioned in this episode, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/death-and-all-that-jazz-notes-and-images-for-episo…

Many tryout shows - along with some post-Broadway tours - came through Philadelphia during the 1960s. Some shows died in Philly - and some performers and audience members did too! For images and notes about shows mentioned in this episode, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/life-is-what-you-do-while-youre-waiting-to-die-notes-and-images-for-ep…

The Philadelphia story of the development and world premiere of that famous Iowa musical, by Meredith Willson, The Music Man . For a blog post with additional information and images, go HERE Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is in bookstores now! To see a listing on our publisher's website: GO HERE You can orde…

The fates and fortunes of commercial shows of the 1950s demonstrate how deep the influence of Hollywood was in American commercial theater coming through Philadelphia on tryout runs. For a blog post with additional information and images, go HERE Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is in bookstores now! To see a …

The most iconic New York musical ever is saved by Philadelphia tryout audiences. For a blog post on our website with additional information and images, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/luck-be-a-lady Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is in bookstores now! To see a listing on our publisher's website: GO H…

Post-war theater in Philadelphia reflected all the many serious issues the country was facing: Carmen Jones, A Streetcar Named Desire, Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Member of the Wedding and Death of a Salesman all had tryout premieres in Philadelphia - among many others. For a blog post on our website with additional information and images, go HERE …

The story of Cole Porter's classic musical Kiss Me, Kate's world premier opening in Philadelphia in December of 1948. For a blog post on our website, with images from the productions we discuss in the episode: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/rings-and-things-and-fine-array/ Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is…

"Pal Joey," "Native Son," "Annie Get Your Gun" - during the years of the Second World War, there was a new surge of exciting Broadway productions trying out in Philadelphia. But at the same time, the Shuberts' domination of the Philadelphia theater market was meeting increasing scrutiny. For a blog post on our website with images from the productio…

A reissue of our conversation with scholar Jonathan Shandell and director Jerrell Henderson, about a little-known chapter of Philadelphia's theater history. For a blog post on our website, with images from the productions we discuss in the episode, go HERE Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is in bookstores now!…

Philadelphia enters the Great Depression. Although a few shows were still having their Broadway tryouts in Philly, it wasn't enough to keep the wrecking crews from tearing down many of the city's grand old theaters. To see images and to find more information about this episode, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-wrecking-ball/ Support the …

The fictional musical "Pretty Lady" has its opening night in Philadelphia! Another dramatic reading from the archives of Philadelphia theater history, underscored with evocative musical accompaniment. There is a blog post about this episode on our website: HERE Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK is in bookstores…

A story of an "All Star Cast" touring production in 1927. After the unexpected death of its star, the veteran actor John Drew Jr., company member Peggy Wood wrote this detailed memoir of his final tour. A dramatic reading from the archives of Philadelphia theater history, underscored with evocative musical accompaniment. For images of John Drew and…

Broadway tryouts and tours and revues were constantly coming to Philadelphia's many large and luxurious theaters during the 1920s - here's a quick review of the revues! Even the Moscow Art Theatre came through town - as well as great productions of Eugene O'Neill plays. Philly was a real Tryout Town, with such great venues as the Erlanger, the Garr…

The story of the Shubert Brothers, and how they began to take control over almost every commercial theater in Philadelphia - just like they did in cities all across America. For a blog post with images of the stories and topics we discuss in this episode, go to our website: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-shuberts-and-their-philadelphia-theate…

The "Little Theater Movement" arrives in Philadelphia, bringing modern plays and surprising new venues - including the Walnut Street Theatre, where The Green Goddess was given a World Premiere tryout run in December of 1920. For a blog post with images of the stories and topics we discuss in this episode, go to our website: https://www.aithpodcast.…

Our annual Holiday episode! Featured are stories about the tightrope sensation El Nino Eddie, "Hitchy-Koo; the Intimate Revue," The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Timbuktu!, Signor Blitz during the American Civil War, and many other tales about Philadelphia theater history. For a blog post with images of the stories and topics we discuss in this episo…

Stories of seven notable vaudevillians who came from Philadelphia, including W.C. Fields, Ethel Barrymore, and Ethel Waters. (We also briefly profile Ed Wynn, Larry Fine, Walter C. Kelly, and the woman known as "Sober Sue.") Was Philadelphia "The Cradle of Vaudeville" in the same way it was The Cradle of the Nation? After listening to the show, let…

Philadelphia, like all American cities of the day, was home to the exciting energy and show-biz hustle of vaudeville theaters in the first decades of the 20th Century. On our website, there's a blog post with a Bibliography of the sources for this episode, plus lots of images of the many Philly vaudeville theaters we discuss on it - "The Exciting N…

In the fall of 1915, D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation was booked to play at the Forrest Theatre - a "legitimate house," not a movie theater - but would Philadelphia's city authorities allow it to be shown? After all, the film's racist source material, Thomas Dixon's play The Clansman, had been officially banned in the city back in 1906. But wa…

We begin our third season of adventures! Here we learn about the historical originas of the "Tryout Town" in American showbiz of the early 20th Century. We discuss the movie 42nd Street and discuss many touring shows that came through Philly on their way to and from Broadway - including George M. Cohan's Little Johnny Jones, which introduced the so…

Actress, director and educator Penelope Reed sits down for an interview with us, and shares fascinating memories of her long career in Philadelphia area theater. In particular she discusses her lifelong involvement and eventual leadership of the Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley, Pennsylvania. This episode can be seen as a continuation of our Episode…

[Note: This is a repeat of our Episode 12, first released in June 2021] Fires were a real danger in 19th Century theater, and some Philadelphia theaters were burned down and rebuilt multiple times. Inevitably, in some of these fires performers, audience members, and firefighters lost their lives. In this episode we go on exploration of how theater …

First released as Episode 10 in May of 2021, we bring out this great story once again! You can find illustrations and additional information about the events we describe here, on our webpage: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/episode-10-George-Frederick-Cooke/ If you liked the show, leave a Review on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/pod…

The the final episode of our story about the Theatre of the Living Arts. While exciting work continues to happen on South Street, opposition to Andre Gregory's artistic leadership rises, and eventually matters come to a head after the production of the play Beclch. (The image for this episode is actress Sharon Gans in the role of Queen Beclch, in a…

Our story continues, with productions of the '65-'66 second season of Philadelphia's first scrappy non-profit resident theater company - at its home on South Street. Visit our website to find a blog post with mages about the plays we discuss, as well as additional information about this episode. There is also, as always, a bibliography of our sourc…

Announcements, Corrections, Answers to questions from our listeners - and some exciting personal news! (The episode image is of the frontage of the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, ca. 1820. From Charles Durang's History of the Philadelphia Stage.) PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW OF OUR PODCAST! You can do it easily, right here: https://www.aithpo…

The founding of Philadelphia's first major resident theater company: The Theatre of the Living Arts. As the 1960s begin, the fortunes of the Quaker City - and its theater - are flagging. Even the longtime supply of Broadway 'tryout' shows coming through town are beginning to dry up. To jump-start a revival, two Philadelphia area women, Jean Goldman…

Would Sunday in New York perform on Saturday in Philadelphia? Were the "riffraff and lowlifes" of Brecht'sThreepenny Opera suitable for its Playhouse in the Park? Could the first publicly funded and owned city theater in the country survive in the maelstrom of Philadelphia city politics? Find out on today's episode - as we continue our Season Two "…

An interview with the Producing Artistic Director of the historic Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Bernard Havard. Visit our website for a blog post with photos of our tour, including many of the items we discuss in the episode: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/photos-for-the-walls-of-walnut-street/ Support the show "Adventures in Theater His…

During the Great Depression years of the 1930s, some touring Broadway shows got into trouble in Philadelphia. "The People's Mayor" S. Davis Wilson had his limits when it came to what he would allow in the city's theaters. Under his administration, such disparate plays as Tobacco Road, New Faces of 1936, and Langston Hughes' Mulatto make the news, a…

In the 1920s, Philadelphia theater censorship controversies were usually about what women were wearing - or rather were NOT wearing - on the city's stages. A great cast of historical characters in this episode, set during the Prohibition Era: fan dancer Sally Rand, bandleader Ted ("Is Everybody Happy?") Lewis, The Marx Brothers, Broadway producer E…

In 1911, actress Sarah Bernhardt's production of La Samaritaine met with fervent opposition from Philadelphia clergymen. In 1912, the Irish Players' production of Playboy of the Western World caused yet another Philly audience riot! What was going on? Listen and find out! It's all part of our continuing Season Two: "Drama Is Conflict". Please Note:…

The last installment of the saga of Oscar Hammerstein in the "Opera Wars" - and the grand Philadelphia theater he left behind, when the war was over. We also meet the New York banker Otto Kahn - the power behind the rival Metropolitan Opera - and how that name gets transferred to the Philadelphia building. Despite many transformations, over the yea…

February 1909: The opera "Salome" at Oscar Hammerstein's new Philadelphia Opera House needed to be stopped, as a matter of public decency, declared hundreds of clergymen and civic leaders. Meanwhile, the impresario himself was threatening to take his newly-founded opera company back to New York, and set up the enormous theater as a vaudeville house…

November 17, 1908 : The magnificent new theater in North Philadelphia was ready for its first opera! It was "as if some master magician's wand had called it into being," wrote one admiring journalist. Everyone in the city, especially its most wealthy and socially prominent citizens, could hardly wait to get inside to see the show. But first they ha…

1906: A coalition of African American men attempt to stop Thomas Dixon Jr.'s play The Clansman from being performed in Philadelphia. After leading a public protest in front of the Walnut Street Theatre, the whole matter ends up in City Hall, at a hearing before Mayor John Weaver. There is a blog post on our website, which has additional information…

Seven short and light vignettes from the history of Philadelphia Theater - all of which took place in the city during the Holidays, from various theatrical seasons over the past 150 years. A gift to all of you listeners and supporters of the podcast. We hope you have a wonderful and restful Holiday season, and that the New Year of 2023 brings you h…

We continue our story about Thomas Dixon Jr. and his 1905 play The Clansman with an examination of the early life of this formidable man. We learn the root causes of his political obsessions - and about his need to express himself in the world of the theater. Also in this episode, we finally meet J. Frederick Zimmerman and Samuel F. Nixon, the two …

We begin the harrowing and alarming story of "The Clansman," in Philadelphia. Although this play by the author Thomas W. Dixon is know as the progenitor to the 1915 D.W. Griffith film "Birth of the Nation," few are aware of its early controversial history, The narrative begins in the streets outside the Walnut Street Theatre, as a large crowd of th…

A re-broadcast of an episode originally released in November of 2021. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, an exploration of performances by Indigenous People in theaters of the City of Philadelphia in the 19th Century. We also detail plays by white performers that supposedly depicted Native people and stories in that period. The attached im…