J. K. Emmet's "New Fritz." by Thomas Henry Atwell, 1870s
date: label: Date made
content: n.d.
name: label: depicted
content: Emmet, Joseph K.
label: maker
content: Thomas, Henry Atwell
notes: label: Description
content: This black and white print depicts a man recoiling in alarm with his arms raised standing over a girl who is kneeling. She is dressed in a peasant costume, likely German, and appears to be overcome with emotion. In the background, a man takes advantage of the commotion to sneak away with an infant in his arms. Beneath the title, “J. K. Emmet’s ‘New Fritz’” is the statement: “Pronounced by press and public to be the best drama Mr. Emmet has ever appeared in.” The words "Opera House" are printed on a torn top half of a handbill which is pasted across the bottom margin.
label: Description
content: Joseph Klein (frequently spelled Kline) “Fritz” Emmet (1841-1891) was a singer and comedian born in St. Louis, Missouri. He was drawn to the stage after apprenticing with a sign maker who also created sets for local playhouses. At around age 17 he began working as a snare drummer for Joseph Escher’s orchestra. He also showed a talent for yodeling and soon got a job with a local minstrel show. Moving on to New York, he appeared with Dan Bryant’s Minstrels, a German blackface group, and then in variety shows. Over time he developed a character called "Dutch," who wore wooden shoes and a cap and sang in fractured English. In 1870 Emmet made his debut in the role that would turn him into one of the most successful performers of his time, as the lead in <i> Fritz, Our Cousin German. </i> Portraying a young man seeking his lost sister, with a signature song called “Emmet’s Lullaby,” he appeared as Fritz on stages throughout the United States and Europe for the rest of his life. His other roles included <i> Carl, the Fiddler </i> (1871), <i> Max, the Merry Swiss Boy</i> (1873), and <i> Fritz in Ireland </i> (1879).
label: Description
content: His appeal was enhanced by his dancing skills, his mastery of musical instruments like the guitar, violin, and harmonica, his Irish tenor voice, and his personal charm. Emmet also became celebrated for the eccentric mansion he built on 15 acres overlooking the Hudson River near Albany, New York. "Fritz Villa," as it came to be known, featured an eclectic mix of towers, gables, stained glass windows--even a windmill--and was influenced by Emmet's exposure to various architectural styles during his travels through Europe. Unfortunately, by 1890 Emmet was having sobriety issues. He divorced his wife in 1891, became engaged to his leading lady, and died shortly after.
label: Description
content: This lithograph was produced by Henry Atwell Thomas (1834-1904) who was an artist, portrait painter, and lithographer especially well known for his theatrical portraits. His New York firm was called H. A. Thomas Lith. Studio until 1887, when it became H. A. Thomas & Wylie Lithographic (sometimes cited as Lithography or Lithographing) Company.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Costume
label: Subject
content: Children
label: Subject
content: Architecture, Domestic Buildings
label: Subject
content: Theater
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
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content: Advertising
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content: Art
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content: Peters Prints
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content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.3061
label: catalog number
content: 60.3061
label: accession number
content: 228146
objectType: label: Object Name
content: lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: ink (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: image: 20 1/2 in x 16 3/4 in; 52.07 cm x 42.545 cm