Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-07
THEATRE BUILDER
HAMMERSTEIN DEAD
His Achievements as Impressario
an Epoch in Grand Opera
in America

New York, Aug. 1.-Oscar Hammerstein.
theatre builder and producer of grand
opera, died in hospital here tonight of
a complication of diseases, after an Ill
ness of several days
Oscar Hammersten's chief claim to
fame as an impresario and theatrical
manager. it has been said, will rest in |
the fact that he set new records for
presenting grand operas Of composers
never before heard in America and that |
he introduced to the western musical
world singers who afterward won great
names for themselves.
Mr.. Hammerstein was born in Berlin |
Germany, in 1S47 and came to the United
States in 1868, as he later wrote, ito be
free" His father, an austere man, Oscar
said, tyrannized his family and the boy
ran away from home. Arrived in New
York he became cigarmaker's APP
prentice. learned the trade, and sub
sequently started tobacco trade journal
which proved successful
Music was my favorite study at home"
said Mr.. Hammerstein. II played the
flute. the piano and the violin all before
was sixteen. l always had great
love of the theatre Early in life / be-
came associated with Adolph Neuendorf.
manager Of a Bowery theatre. 1t was
known as the Stadt. I wrote three plays
about 1870 all of which were produced
there. They were called Solo Sixty our
Poor Relations and Antonio Lobster
They achieved but little popularity
Before this Mr.. Hemmerstein had made
a little money in Harlem real estate and
invested IT wisely. Later he became
silent partner of Neuendorf In the con-
Fourteepth tra
where German plays were presented. The
first theatre he built in Harlem lost
5000, 900 in three years but the promoter
never lost heart. He built another one
and made money. Similar ventures were
undertaken and were successful At the
! dime of the music hall craze Mr.. Hammer
stein entered into partnership with
Roster & Bal and retired with increased
fortunes. Then In 1895 he paid 81 900 900
for the site Of the Olympia theatre and
put another million into the building.
Yvette Guilbert opened it and for a time
it was a big money maker but failed at
last.
During his experience with the Olympia,
musical critics attacks led Mr.. Ham
merstein to lay a wager that he could
write an OPERA including the thereto,
in AZ hours during which time he was a
voluntary prisoner in a hotel. He won the
bet. While engaged In writing operas
and finding new prima donnas and men
singers, he utilized his spare time as an
inventor, some of his labor-saving de-
vices bringing him handsome royalties.
The Harlem opera house he built in
1880. This was followed by the erection
of the Columbus theatre. Manhattan
opera house, Olympia NOW New York
theatre), Victoria theatre, Belasco
theatre and the New Opera House. For
many years the Metropolitan Opera
company had a clear field and on Decem-
Der 8, 1906 when Mr.. Hammerstein began
as a competitor with the Manhattan
Opera company he was met with many
prophecies of failure.
The premier was Bellini's II Puritani,"
in which the chief singers were Alex
ander Bonci, Nine Pinkert. soprano. and
Mario Ancona, baritone, who had been
a Metropolitan principal in former years.
Carmen sung latter, scored dis
tnctive artistic triumph and before the
end of the season 1t had been presented
twenty times with Bressler Gianoli in
the title role. Then followed Aida" and
other grand operas new and old to
American audiences.
The Manhattan produced wonderful
repertoire including such operas as
heme," "Cavalleria Rusticana," "Navar-
, riste." in all of which Emma Calve sang,
Don Giovanni" II Pagiacci," That's"
Louise" "Pelleas and Melsande."
Siberia" THE Tales Of Hoffman"
Andrea Chener," and "Crspinoe la
Comare." A number of these had never
before been heard in America. Other
productions were Massenet's THE Juggle.
, Of Notre Dame" Verdis 20 tello," and
"Dinorah." and Belch's princess d Au-
berge," the last named of which failed
of success. Still others were Straue' 8
"Elektra." "Griseledis.' "Sapho." and
"Herodiade" The complete catalogue of
Mr.. Hammersteins operatic offerings
would make a good-sized book.
Among the opera singers he engaged
who were stars of the first vocal mag
, nitude at the time or became so later
: partly as result Of Mr.. Hamm erstei 9
leadership. were Edouard and Jean de
, Reszke, Mary Garden, Luise Tetrazzini
, Eleanor de Cisneros, Maurice Renaud,
Mario Sammarco. Nellie Melba, Lima
Cavalieri, Jeanne Gerville Reache
!, Charles Dalmores John Mccormack, NJ
Zenatello and others.
~ In 1910 Mr.. Hammerstein sold out his
: Philadelphia opera house and scenery
q and costumes Of the Manhattan, to-
gunner with al coutToCtS WIN MS sing
ers, for a sum said to have been $4,000
900, to the Metropolitan Opera COM
pany and as a result Of the agreement
entered into at that time. and which
8 later was the subject of litigation, the
! famous impressario was enjoined from
= producing opera In New York until
( April 26. 1870.
a I'm a curious man." Mr.. Hammer
4 stein once said to a friend. IT live
= only for tomorrow. I don't drink
l have never played game of cards
Z In my life. When find I have nc
money in my pocket I go to the box
n office and draw three dollars and II
lasts me so long that It really make.
me feel ashamed of myself. But
. have made and lost a lot of money.
couldn't possibly tell you how MANY