Henry Eugene Abbey
Encyclopedia
Henry Eugene Abbey was an American
theatre
manager
and producer
. During the 1870s - 1890s, he managed such prominent Broadway theatre
s as Booth's, Wallack's, and the Park Theatre, promoting the talents of some of the foremost American actor
s of his day, as well as Europe
an stars. Abbey also had the distinction of being the first manager of New York's
Metropolitan Opera Company
, which opened for its inaugural season in 1883.
He managed the tours of Adelina Patti
, Francesco Tamagno
and the London Gaity in America, and he introduced Sarah Bernhardt
to America. He also opened Abbey's Theatre
in 1890, one of the first theatrical managers to present expensive shows outside of the major cities. He resigned after a financially unsuccessful first season, but was re-hired in 1891, along with John B. Schoeffel and Maurice Grau. He continued in this capacity until his death in 1896.
Henry Abbey was born in Akron
, Ohio
on June 27, 1846, to clockmaker
Henry Stephen Abbey and Elizabeth Smith Abbey. He married Kate Kingsley in 1876, and had two children with her. He married again in 1886, to Florence Gerard. He died in New York City
on October 17, 1896, at the age of 50.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
and producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
. During the 1870s - 1890s, he managed such prominent Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
s as Booth's, Wallack's, and the Park Theatre, promoting the talents of some of the foremost American actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s of his day, as well as Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an stars. Abbey also had the distinction of being the first manager of New York's
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Metropolitan Opera Company
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, which opened for its inaugural season in 1883.
He managed the tours of Adelina Patti
Adelina Patti
Adelina Patti was a highly acclaimed 19th-century opera singer, earning huge fees at the height of her career in the music capitals of Europe and America. She first sang in public as a child in 1851 and gave her last performance before an audience in 1914...
, Francesco Tamagno
Francesco Tamagno
Francesco Tamagno was an operatic tenor from Italy who sang with enormous success throughout Europe and America. On 5 February 1887, he cemented his place in musical history by creating the role of Otello in Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece of the same name...
and the London Gaity in America, and he introduced Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
to America. He also opened Abbey's Theatre
Knickerbocker Theatre (Broadway)
The Knickerbocker Theatre — previously known as Abbey's Theatre and Henry Abbey's Theatre — was a Broadway theatre located at 1396 Broadway in New York City. It operated from 1893 to 1930...
in 1890, one of the first theatrical managers to present expensive shows outside of the major cities. He resigned after a financially unsuccessful first season, but was re-hired in 1891, along with John B. Schoeffel and Maurice Grau. He continued in this capacity until his death in 1896.
Henry Abbey was born in Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
on June 27, 1846, to clockmaker
Clockmaker
A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs clocks. Since almost all clocks are now factory-made, most modern clockmakers only repair clocks. Modern clockmakers may be employed by jewellers, antique shops, and places devoted strictly to repairing clocks and watches...
Henry Stephen Abbey and Elizabeth Smith Abbey. He married Kate Kingsley in 1876, and had two children with her. He married again in 1886, to Florence Gerard. He died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on October 17, 1896, at the age of 50.