Lillian Russell "LAMBS PUBLIC GAMBOL" Burr McIntosh / First Annual Gambol 1891

Description

This is a rare, museum quality program from the very first annual "LAMBS PUBLIC GAMBOL" held Tuesday afternoon, March 3rd, 1891 at the Broadway Theatre in New York City ....... The history of The Lambs extends back to early 19th Century England when a group of lively folk of the theatre and the arts frequently visited their friends, Charles and Mary Lamb. In the spring of 1869, a men's theatrical and dining club was formed in London and named in their honor. Christmas week of 1874 a companion club was formed in New York by one of the London Lambs, Henry Montague: The Lambs incorporated in 1877 and began a journey which continues today. The motto of the Club is "Floreant Agni" (shown in the embossed gold logo on the cover), which translates "May The Lambs Flourish," which, with many ups and downs, the Club has done for nearly 133 years. The roster of past and living Lambs reads like a Who's Who of American Theatre and includes Fred Astaire, Red Barber, Maurice Barrymore and his sons John and Lionel, David Belasco,  Ralph Bellamy, Edgar Bergman, Irving Berlin, Joe E. Brown, Earl Carroll, George M. Cohan, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Eddie Foy (Sr. & Jr.), Sir Cedric Hardwicke, William S. Hart, Victor Herbert, Bert Lahr, Alan J. Lerner, Frederick Loewe, Conrad Nagel, Pat O'Brien, Will Rogers, Otis Skinner, John Philip Sousa, Fred Waring, David Warfield, Gene Autry and Howard Chandler Christy to name a few. In 1891, the Club needed funds to hang onto its 26th Street clubhouse. AUGUSTUS THOMAS suggested that it capitalize on the huge resource of talent within its membership and go public with its gambols ..... On Tuesday afternoon, March 3rd, 1891, the first public gambol or ladies gambol, took place. "Public" is somewhat misleading as these early public gambols were by invitation only.The event took place at the Broadway Theatre in New York City, on the corner of Broadway and 41st. The publicity from this gambol gave The Lambs a huge boost in publicity and prestige. The star-studded variety show began with an overture by full orchestra, followed by an address from the thrilling orator, ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, that brought many laughs. Although Lambs' gambols with all-male casts became an entrenched policy for many years, the first public gambol in fact featured women. The cast of a one-act play by AUGUSTUS THOMAS, "After Thoughts", included Edwin Booth's sister-in-law AGNES BOOTH. (Side note: EDWIN BOOTH was performing that week at the Broadway Theatre and a program from his performance in "Julius Caesar" is currently available on eBay in a separate auction: Item #390161614033). The beautiful star LILLIAN RUSSELL then sang "Dear Heart" and responded to cries of an encore with a song in French. (Reprinted in part from "The Lambs Theatre Club" by Lewis Hardee). The Fifth Act of Shakespeare's Hisorical Tragedy "RICHARD III" was performed by Lambs NAT C. GOODWIN, Jr., HUGO TOLAND, HARRY WOODRUFF, WILTON LACKAYE, PAUL ARTHUR, BURR McINTOSH, ROBERT HILLIARD, EDWARD BELL, CYRIL SCOTT, FRITZ WILLIAMS and CARRIE TURNER. The second half of the program included "The Screen Scene" from "THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL" performed by Lambs EDWIN STEVENS, NELSON WHEATCROFT, SIDNEY DREW, J. C. BUCKSTONE and famous female impersonator NEIL BURGESS as "Lady Teazle". The cast of the war drama "SHENANDOAH, JR." included Lambs JOSEPH HOLLAND, R. A. ROBERTS, JOHN KELLERD, MAURICE BARRYMORE, CHARLES HARRIS, MARSHALL P. WILDER and E. M. HOLLAND ..... PROGRAM DETAILS: The twelve page programme, printed by Tiffany & Co., measures 5 1/4" X 8 1/8" inches and includes front and back covers printed on a heavy card stock with raised letters and an embossed gold gilt Lambs logo, attached with silk ribbons. Includes full production credits, list of performers and officer's, general committee and entertainment committee member's names as well as wonderful vintage advertising (shown in the last four scanned images) ..... CONDITION: The inside pages have become detached from the ribbons, otherwise this rare program is in remarkable condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard ..... SHIPPING DISCOUNTS: Check my "Other Items" for additional rare Broadway playbills and other theatre related memorabilia. Shipping discounts are available for multiple purchases when all items are combined into a single payment. Please wait for a revised invoice before sending payment ..... THANKS !!!
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