Inside the dark theatrical library, one of the greatest collections of theater history volumes in the world.Р вЂќР вЂЎinally, inside BoothР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs living quarters! On the table sits a mold of EdwinР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs hand holding that of his daughter Edwina. Lauren Bacall, by the way, also has a portrait hanging near the billiard table. Theatrical props adorn every shelf of the club. Up the winding staircase to BoothР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs bedroomР Р†Р вЂљР’В¦.Р вЂќР вЂћngela Lansbury awaits us on the landing! Two very recent members are featured here - Martha Plimpton and Jimmy Fallon!Р вЂќР вЂћ framed bulletin from BoothР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs Theatre on 23rd Street: Some pictures of our visit to the Players Club from last week. NYPL MCNY/Byron Co.Р вЂќР’В®dwin Booth Grossman, BoothР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs grandson, who became a painter. The exterior of the club (image dated 1895) with its distinctive balcony where members would enjoy an evening gazing out of the park, drinking a brandy or a flute of champagne. Interior, view of playroom and bar, before alterations Interior, The PlayerР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs Club with Connelly, barkeeperР вЂќР Р‹6 Gramercy Park South. 1895, courtesy the Museum of the City of New York:Р вЂќР вЂћnd some from 1935 of the barroom and billiard room downstairs (also courtesy MCNY):Р вЂќР Р‹6 Gramercy Park South. In the library of the Players Club, picture dated 1895Р вЂќР вЂЎurther interiors of the Players Club, c. Images from a commemorative book (published in 1866) of BoothР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs 100 nights of Hamlet at the Winter Garden. John Wilkes, Edwin and Junius Booth performing Julius Caesar.Р вЂќР’В®dwin Booth and his daughter Edwina, photo taken by Mathew Brady, circa 1864 Courtesy George Eastman House We greatly appreciate our listeners and readers and thank you for joining us on this journey so far. Check them out and consider being a sponsor. If youР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћd like to help out, there are five different pledge levels (and with clever names too - Mannahatta, New Amsterdam, Five Points, Gilded Age, Jazz Age and Empire State). Please visit our page on Patreon and watch a short video of us recording the show and talking about our expansion plans. We are now a member of Patreon, a patronage platform where you can support your favorite content creators for as little as a $1 a month. WeР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћre also looking to improve the show in other ways and expand in other ways as well - through publishing, social media, live events and other forms of media. We are now producing a new Bowery Boys podcast every two weeks. The Bowery Boys: New York City History podcast is brought to you Р Р†Р вЂљР’В¦. Our thanks to Nicole and Patrick Kelly of Top Dog Tours NYC for giving us a tour of this extraordinary place! In this show, weР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћll take you on a tour of this exclusive destination for film and theatrical icons, including a look at the upstairs bedroom where Booth died, still preserved exactly as it looked on that fateful day in 1893. From then on, Booth would be known as the most respected actor in the United States.Р вЂќР’В«ooth would give back to the theatrical community withР вЂњРІР‚С™ the formation of the Players Club which officially made its debut on New YearР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs Eve 1888. Younger brother John Wilkes Booth would horrify the nation when he assassinated Abraham Lincoln in April of 1865, and Edwin would briefly retire from the stage, fearing his career was over.Р вЂќР’В«ut an outpouring of love would bring him back to the spotlight and the greasepaint. The Booths were a precursor to the Barrymores, an acting family who were as famous for their personal lives as they were for their dramatic roles. In this podcast, we present his extraordinary career, the tragedies that shaped his life (on stage and off), and the legacy of his cherished Players Club, the fabulous Stanford White-designed Gramercy Park social club for actors, artists and their admirers.

PODCAST The thrilling tale of Edwin Booth and the marvelous social club he created for the acting professionР вЂќР’В®dwin Booth was the greatest actor of the Gilded Age, a superstar of the theater who entertained millions over his long career.

The players club new york