Articles

This page contains links to articles about various aspects of theatre relevant to the time period to which this website is devoted. Some are based upon articles found in period publications* which I have reproduced and discussed, some are just my own ramblings. I hope you will find them interesting and informative.

* - Although I am based in the UK and concerned mainly with the English theatre scene of the Edwardian era, many of the period publications from which these articles are obtained are US newspapers of that time. This is because the US newspapers of that period were somewhat ahead of their UK counterparts in having regular magazine sections that carried articles of broader interest and so are generally a richer source of information on matters theatrical. And, since the stage stars of that era were largely interchangeable between the US and the UK, most of these articles are equally applicable to the theatre scene on either side of the Atlantic.


General Theatrical Issues
Theatre Censorship		A brief history of dramatic censorship up to the Edwardian era.
Theatre Morals		Reproducing a period article on 'Playgoers Morals' and dicussing the issues involved.
Dramatic Copyright		The development of copyright legistlation up to the Edwardian era.
Stage Reform		A discussion of the Stage Reform movement.
Theatre Economics		Reproduction of an article on ticket prices from a period publication followed by a short treatise on the economics of the Edwardian theatre.
Theatre Safety		Discussing safety issues in Edwardian theatres, and describing some of the worst theatre disasters.
Theatrical Photography		Reproducing an article discussing the problems of theatrical photography in the Edwardian era, preceded by a short treatise on the history of photography.
The Art of Tragedy		Discussing the meaning of dramatic tragedy and reproducing some period articles relating to the subject.
Historical Development
The Origins of Comic Opera		A brief discussion of the origins of the most popular form of theatrical entertainment during the Edwardian period.
The History of Pantomime		A brief discussion of the history of the British tradition of the christmas pantomime.
The Story of Womens Ascent to the Stage		The story of how women were at first barred from the stage but in time came to be an essential to it.
A Brief History of American Theatre		A brief recounting of the development of theatrical entertainments in the Americas from colonial times to the Edwardian era.
The Stage History of Romeo and Juliet		Tracing the performance history of Shakespeare's greatest play.
Actress Lifestyle
The Stage as an Occupation for Women		Reproducing a chapter from a book by Canadian actress Clara Morris in which she discusses the advantages of pursuing a stage career over other occupations for women.
The Actress at Home		Reproduction of an article discussing the actress as homemaker.
The Actress in her Dressing Room		Reproducing and discussing a period article describing the dressing rooms of various actresses.
The Actress and Charity		Reproducing a period article illustrating actresses involvement in charitable causes.
The Actress and Fashion		A short treatise on the actress' influence on Edwardian fashions followed by some fashion articles reproduced from period magazines.
The Actress and the Ballot Box		A short dissertation on actresses involvement in the Womens Suffrage movement.
For the Love of an Actress		A few stories of what men were prepared to do for the love of an actress, including suicide and murder!
The Edwardian Actress at 40		Reproducing and discussing two period articles examining the special talents of the mature actress.
Actresses and The Peerage		Reflecting on the remarkable number of actresses who married British Peers in the Edwardian era.
Success of Actresses Marriages to The Nobility		Reproducing two period articles dicussing the successes of actresses marriages to members of the peerage.
The Actress In Wartime		How many leading actresses put their careers aside to devote themselves to doing good works during time of war.
Heroic Husbands of Actress Wives		Reproducing a period article discussing how young noblemen who had married actresses distinguished themselves in battle during the great war far more than those who had taken wives closer to their own station.
Multi-Talented Artistes		Reproducing a period article discussing the off-stage talents of some theatrical performers.
The Actress and the Opium Den		Discussing drug use among actresses and reproducing a period article describing the events surrounding the tragic opium induced death of actress Billie Carleton.
The Actress and the Opium Den (2)		Reproducing a period account of the Billie Carleton case.
London's Four Greatest Beauties Broken Hearted		Reproducing an article reporting on the broken love lives of four of the great stage beauties of the day.
The Actress as Understudy		Discussing the life of an actress as understudy and reproducing a period article reporting on the life of an understudy.
The Chorus Girl		Discussing the life of a chorus girl in the Edwardian theatre and reproducing a period article reporting on the life of an understudy.
The Actress as Photographic Model		Discussing the actress as a photographers models and reproducing two period articles pertaining to the subject.
Transatlantic Actresses		Discussing the exchange of actresses between Britain and America and reproducing period articles reporting on the subject.
Miscellaneous
Child Actors		Reproducing a period article discussing some child performers of the Edwardian era with some notes from the webmaster.
A Night at the Edwardian Theatre		A discussion of what a night out at the Edwardian theatre might have entailed.
Stage Make-up		A breif discussion of the need for theatrical make-up and the materials available to the Edwardian artiste.
Stage Make-up (2)		A collection of period articles from the UK and US press on the art of stage make-up.
Command Performances		A breif history and discussion of Royal Command Performances.
Costume as an Expression of Emotion		Reproducing a period article discussing how costume is an expression of an actress personality and may be used to convey emotion.
The Stage Favourites Cook Book		A selection of favourite recipes from many of the actresses featured on this site.
'Lucile', Costumier to the Stars		A brief biography of Lady Duff Gordon, the most famous couturier of her day, who costumed many theatrical productions and performers.
Remarkable Incidents
The Music Hall War		A breif history of the 'Music Hall War' of 1907.
Assault on the Opera Comique		The story of a disgraceful mob attack on the Opera Comique theatre.
The Trials of Miss Maud Allan		Details of three court cases affecting the life and career of the legendary dancer.
The Sapho Affair		The events surrounding the arrest of Olga Nethersole for offences against public morality over her appearance in the play 'Sapho'.
Who Was Gaby Deslys		Exploring the claims that Gaby Delys was not French but of Hungarian peasant stock, and did she spy for the French in the Great War?.
Henry Cavendish's Planchette		The bizarre story of how the husband of Isobel Jay almost lost his fortune to spiritualist tricksters.
The Murder of William Terriss		How William Terriss, actor and father of Ellaline Terris, met his death at the hands of a madman outside the Adelphi Theatre.
Our Lady of The Boats		The incredible war work of Maxine Elliott, risking life and limb saving Belgian refugees.
The Curse of 'Suzette'		The story of the terrible gypsy curse that, allegedly, caused six talented actresses to meet untimely deaths.
The Fall of Clement Scott		How the leading dramatic critic of his day saw his career come to an abrupt end over his intemperate attack on actresses morals.
Actresses Advice
Anna Held on Beauty		Clips from Anna Held's regular newspaper column on the subject of Beauty.
Billy Burke on Marriage		Clips from Billie Burke's regular newspaper column on the subject of Marriage.
Billy Burke on Beauty		Clips from Billie Burke's regular newspaper column on the subject of Beauty.
Billy Burke on Love		Clips from Billie Burke's regular newspaper column on the subject of Love.
Billy Burke on Hair and Make-up		Clips from Billie Burke's regular newspaper column on the subjects of Hair and Make-up.
Ballet
A Breif History of Ballet		An all too breif telling of the history of the most beautiful form of performance theatre.
Principals of Ballet		Describing the classic arm and foot positions and how a ballerina can rise 'en pointe' thanks to her special shoes.
Ballet Terms		A glossary of ballet terms.

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