Sepia Saturday 110: "Give my Regards to Broadway"

Winter Garden (Right Front); Library of Congress

Mira Rockwell Main made several trips to New York City in 1913 and 1914; some were visits with family and others nursing assignments. The wealthy hired a private nurse to provide personal medical care in their homes. Mira enjoyed the opportunity these visits gave her to attend concerts and plays.

Mira had a preference for opera attending Madame Butterfly on Thursday,  January 22, 1914. In subsequent weeks, Mira went to several performances at Carnegie Hall and the Opera House. Her February 10, 1914 entry was a departure from the norm, "Went to Winter Garden in the evening with Loretta." No raptures of delight or scathing reviews? What did Mira hear at the Winter Garden Theater?

Ragtime Arabian Nights
 

Lillian Lorraine

Clearly not Opera, The Whirl of the World was a musical revue composed by Sigmund Romburg - his first theatrical score. "Ragtime Arabian Nights" was one of the few pieces that attained acclaim. The musical review was soundly criticized by most of the newspapers of the day. "The beauty of the production is Miss Lillian Lorraine, who wears her many magnificent costumes with the immodesty for which she is deservedly famous. It is always to be regretted that Miss Lorraine finds it necessary to sing .... " Many more critical reviews can be found in Lillian Lorraine: The Life and Times of a Ziegfeld Diva.

Viewing the key sheets (below), I wonder what Mira thought of the performance. Did her mind wander to think of her fiance back in Massachusetts? Charles was certainly missing her. When Mira returned home, Charles picked her up at the train station. Soon after a date was set for their wedding.

Click here for link to larger view

Click here for link to larger view

"Whisper of how I'm yearning to mingle with the old time throng; Give my regards to old Broadway and say that I'll be there ere long." - George M. Cohan



This virtual tour has me yearning to visit New York City; Mama Mia! is now playing at the Winter Garden. For more virtual theatrical performances, see Sepia Saturday 110.

Sources:
"Broadway north from 38th St., New York City, showing Winter Garden, Maxine Elliott's, Casino, and Knickerbocker Theatres" digital image, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003689020/ : accessed 24 January 2012).

"The Whirl of the World Keysheets (1914)." NYPL Digital Gallery. (http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/ : accessed 24 January 2012).

Hanson, Nils. Lillian Lorraine: The Life and Times of a Ziegfeld Diva. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFArland, 2011, p. 18. Quote from a New York Critic.

Stratton, Mira Rockwell (Main). "Line-a-Day Diary." MS.  Lee, Massachusetts, 1913-1923.  Privately held by Liz Stratton, [ADDRESS FOR PERSONAL USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio. 2011.

Wikipedia. "Give My Regards to Broadway" Rev. 13:47, 31 August 2011.

Wikipedia. "Lillian Lorraine," 22 August 2012, citing Lillian Lorriane image, Theatre Magazine, 1909. Wikipedia citation of the image is incomplete. The image is in the public domain.

Updated: 13 September 2012, fixed broken photograph link.