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Performing Arts

New Book About 1940s-1950s Jazz Clubs

January 11, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Sittin InBook purchases made through this link support New York Almanack’s mission to report new publications relevant to New York State.

The new book Sittin’ In: Jazz Clubs of the 1940s and 1950s (Harper Design, 2020), by Grammy-winning historian, archivist, author, and record executive Jeff Gold offers a new look inside the jazz clubs from this era across the United States. Drawing on a trove of photos and memorabilia, Sittin’ In gives a glimpse at a world that was rich in culture, music, dining, fashion, and more. [Read more…] about New Book About 1940s-1950s Jazz Clubs

Filed Under: Arts, Books, History, New York City Tagged With: art, Books, Music, Performing Arts, Photography

Circus Artists and the Flying Trapeze Metaphor

January 3, 2021 by Jaap Harskamp 2 Comments

Ricketts Circus flierEquestrian artist Philip Astley was a pioneering entertainment entrepreneur. His demonstrations of trick horse-riding at London’s Royal Amphitheatre in 1768 constitute the origins of modern circus.

Astley performed his routine in a circular arena which would subsequently be referred to as the ring. He interspersed his displays with a variety of additional acts. Both in Europe and America other producers copied and expanded his new style of entertainment. [Read more…] about Circus Artists and the Flying Trapeze Metaphor

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: art, Cultural History, Performing Arts, Social History, sports, Sports History

Twelve Tavern Rules, Thirteen Toasts and America’s 1814 Anthem

December 21, 2020 by Jaap Harskamp 11 Comments

Sampler by Martha Cooke Twelve Good Rules 1811Many eighteenth century publicans framed a list of pre-conditions for the “perfect” tavern which was displayed in full view in British public houses and drinking dens.

The advice to customers consisted of “Twelve Good Rules” that dated back to the rule of Charles I: [Read more…] about Twelve Tavern Rules, Thirteen Toasts and America’s 1814 Anthem

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, Capital-Saratoga, Food, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: beer, Cultural History, Food, Holidays, liquor, Performing Arts, Social History, Taverns, wine

Harlem’s “Black Beauty” Mills; London’s Josephine Baker

December 7, 2020 by Jaap Harskamp 2 Comments

Bassanos portrait of Lord KitchenerBorn in 1799, Clemente Bassano (the family name originates from the Veneto region of Italy) settled in London and started his career as a fishmonger in Soho. By 1825 he ran a warehouse from Jermyn Street, St James’s, importing almonds, oil, capers, and macaroni.

His daughter Louise was an opera singer who toured with Franz Liszt on his London visit in 1840/1. Her brother Alessandro became a high society photographer with a studio in Regent Street. His portrait of Horatio Kitchener was used during the First World War for an iconic recruitment poster. [Read more…] about Harlem’s “Black Beauty” Mills; London’s Josephine Baker

Filed Under: Arts, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, New York City Tagged With: art, Art History, Black History, Dance, Harlem, Harlem Renaissance, Performing Arts, Theatre, Women, womens history

The Odd Couple Who Paved the Way for Modern Broadway

November 16, 2020 by Michael Green 3 Comments

Casino1The early history of the city of New York’s vaunted theater district provides yet another illustration of how oft-repeated narratives become accepted truths. On the website of the New York Preservation Archive Project, we find the following:

“The Broadway Theater District originated in the early 1900s as theaters began to move from Union Square and Madison Square Garden further uptown to the Times Square area because of its cheaper real estate.” [Read more…] about The Odd Couple Who Paved the Way for Modern Broadway

Filed Under: Arts, History, New York City Tagged With: art, New York City, Performing Arts, Theatre

Quiet City: A Reverie for NY in the Time of COVID-19

September 12, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Aaron Copland provided by The SembrichThe Sembrich has launched the final presentation in its 20/20: Virtual Visionaries summer festival with “Quiet City: A Reverie for New York in the time of COVID-19.”

This new presentation includes a new essay by music critic and scholar Thomas Larson and Aaron Copland’s iconic work Quiet City featuring trumpet player Chris Coletti and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. [Read more…] about Quiet City: A Reverie for NY in the Time of COVID-19

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, Events Tagged With: Music, Performing Arts, Sembrich

Virtual Silent Film ‘The Marriage Circle’ With Live Musical Score

September 4, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Marriage-CircleThe Park Theater in Glens Falls, in partnership with the Chapman Museum, is set to presents “The Marriage Circle” featuring live musical score by Ben Model, via YouTube livestream on September 10th. [Read more…] about Virtual Silent Film ‘The Marriage Circle’ With Live Musical Score

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Chapman Museum, Cultural History, film, Film History, Glens Falls, Music, Performing Arts, Sembrich

Shakespeare Monologues in Ten Broeck Gardens

August 21, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Confetti Stage actors Chad Reid and Angel ValentineThe Albany County Historical Association has partnered with Confetti Stage to present “A Summer Afternoon’s Dream: Shakespeare Monologues in the Ten Broeck Gardens,” set for Saturday August 22 from 2 to 3:30 pm. [Read more…] about Shakespeare Monologues in Ten Broeck Gardens

Filed Under: Arts, Capital-Saratoga, Events, History Tagged With: Albany, Albany County Historical Association, art, Performing Arts, Ten Broeck Mansion, Theatre

Fresh Air Schools: Teaching Outdoors For Public Health

August 10, 2020 by Amy Catania Leave a Comment

bassistsAs autumn approaches, schools are thinking about ways to keep students safe by maximizing time outdoors. The concept of outside instruction is not new.

Leading up to the Second World War, open air schools were built in the United States and Europe to protect children from tuberculosis.

In Saranac Lake, in the heart of the Adirondacks, where temperatures in the winter tend to stay well below freezing, some children attended unheated, open air classrooms. [Read more…] about Fresh Air Schools: Teaching Outdoors For Public Health

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, History Tagged With: Education, Historic Saranac Lake, Performing Arts, Public Health, Saranac Lake

Early Stunt Men, Daredevils ‘The Human Fly’ & ‘Hurricane Hutch’ in NY

August 5, 2020 by Maury Thompson 1 Comment

Daredevil stunt man and movie actor Rodman “The Human Fly” Law had been shot out of a “monster sky rocket” and had jumped in a specialized “aeroplane parachute” from the Brooklyn Bridge and the 792-foot Woolworth Building, the tallest building in the world at the time.

For his next feat, Law came to the Adirondacks. [Read more…] about Early Stunt Men, Daredevils ‘The Human Fly’ & ‘Hurricane Hutch’ in NY

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: Ausable Chasm, Ausable River, Essex County, film, Film History, paddling, Performing Arts, Saranac Lake, Schroon Lake

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