New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Performing Arts

Steve Possell’s 50 Years on Rockland County Radio

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crossroads of rockland historyThe July episode of “Crossroads of Rockland History,” turned its attention to the life and career of Steve Possell, who is retiring after a fifty-year career in local Rockland County radio.

First at WRKL and now at WRCR, Possell has had an impact on local radio and our community that can only be called significant. We learn about how he got started in radio, his favorite moments over the past decades on the air and his plans for retirement. [Read more…] about Steve Possell’s 50 Years on Rockland County Radio

Anxiety Over Jazz In Ireland Followed A Tragic Shipwreck

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The only surviving photograph of the entire ensemble taken outside Brighton Dome in August 1921 On November 11th, 1919, the first anniversary was celebrated of the Armistice that ended the First World War. For the occasion, a grand ball was held at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Top of the bill was the hugely popular Southern Syncopated Orchestra, one of the first jazz bands to visit Britain, Scotland, and Ireland. [Read more…] about Anxiety Over Jazz In Ireland Followed A Tragic Shipwreck

‘Black Devils’ At War In Europe & At Home

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370th Infantry RegimentOn April 6th 1917 America declared war against Germany. It was the first time in the nation’s history that the United States sent soldiers abroad to defend foreign soil. In May 1917, General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing was designated Supreme Commander of the troops in France. He assembled the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in July 1917 and its involvement on the battlefield tipped the balance in favor of Allied Forces towards the middle of 1918. [Read more…] about ‘Black Devils’ At War In Europe & At Home

Engineering Theatre: The Brunel Legacy in London & New York

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Christopher Jones statue at St Mary the Virgin ChurchFor a long time Rotherhithe was London’s natural port, gaining its name from the Anglo-Saxon term for “landing-place for cattle.” There were shipyards in the area from Elizabethan times until the early twentieth century, and working docks until the 1970s. [Read more…] about Engineering Theatre: The Brunel Legacy in London & New York

A Rascal in Venice, Hero in Vienna, Opera Buff in Manhattan

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Piazza San MarcoDefrocked priest and poet Lorenzo Da Ponte wrote the words for Mozart’s three celebrated operas Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, and Così fan tutte. As the librettist’s ultimate challenge is creating character whilst thinking music, few could match Lorenzo’s achievement. [Read more…] about A Rascal in Venice, Hero in Vienna, Opera Buff in Manhattan

Helen Hayes Subject of Rockland History Podcast

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crossroads of rockland historyThe May 2021 episode of “Crossroads of Rockland History,” remembers Helen Hayes. Joyce Bulifant, daughter-in-law of Hayes, shared fond memories of her mother-in-law; of her father-in-law, the playwright Charles MacArthur; and of their famous house in Nyack, Pretty Penny. Then we learned about an effort to establish Pretty Penny as a literary landmark from actor/writer/director Joel Vig. [Read more…] about Helen Hayes Subject of Rockland History Podcast

Blame it on Shakespeare: The Astor Place Riot

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John Street TheatreIn the early nineteenth century, theaters were among the relatively few purpose built public spaces where large numbers of people could gather. They were cathedrals of modernity. Repertoire was the main focus of attention, but the auditorium was a performance area in itself where topical issues were discussed. [Read more…] about Blame it on Shakespeare: The Astor Place Riot

Showmanship: The Master of Brass Meets The King of Waltz

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The 4000 seat Academy of Music on the corner of East 14th Street ManhattanThe era of “Monster Concerts” started in Vienna in 1839 when Beethoven’s pupil Carl Czerny organized a performance to raise money for victims of a flooding of the River Danube.

Twenty pianists at ten pianos performed a program of four-hand duet pieces. In the history of musical entertainment, the tradition was raised to a new level after the end of Civil War in America. [Read more…] about Showmanship: The Master of Brass Meets The King of Waltz

Songs Of The Women’s Suffrage Movement Watch Party Monday

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Suffrage Singer provided by Crandall LibraryThe Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls has announced the return of its Folklife After Hours Series with Songs Celebrating 100 Years of Votes for Women by Tisha Dolton, set for Monday, March 29th. [Read more…] about Songs Of The Women’s Suffrage Movement Watch Party Monday