Browse Items (50 total)

French actress Sarah Bernhardt, “The World’s Greatest Artiste” performed the Death of Cleopatra and other tragic scenes.The original owner of this program was very moved by Bernhardt's performance and noted “She’s wonderful—But she tears one to…

Laura Justine "Jessie" Bonstelle was an actress, theater director, and drama company manager. She managed stock companies at the Star Theater in Buffalo, and later founded her own theater in Detroit.

Established in 1898, the Chromatic Club of Buffalo still exists today, and is our oldest active music organization. This event in 1903 was attended by Mary Seaton Kleinhans, an accomplished pianist and vocalist, and wife of the owner of Kleinhan's…

The Buffalo Symphony Orchestra of the 1920s (not to be confused with other early Buffalo orchestras with similar names) was led by Arnold Cornelissen. A young Harold Arlen, who grew up in Buffalo, took piano lessons from Maestro Cornelissen.Louise…

The Buffalo Orpheus, a German singing society, was established in 1869 by former members of the Buffalo Liedertafel chorus.German musician John Lund came to Buffalo in 1887 and became an integral part of the musical community.  He conducted several…

The Federal Music Project (FMP) was part of the New Deal/Works Progress Administration program to employ musicians, conductors and composers during the Great Depression.Conductor Franco Autori joined the FMP and came to Buffalo in 1936, where he…

Buffalo philanthropist Maria Love and her sister Elizabeth ("Libbie") occasionally starred in amateur theatre productions. Mrs. R. R. Cornell is May Fielding, a Buffalo actress who went on to have a successful Broadway career.

Buffalo drama critic Marian de Forest wrote the first stage play of the novel Little Women. She and Jessie Bonstelle, an actress and theatre manager, received permission from Louisa May Alcott's family to write and stage the story. This production…

Rosalind Russell performed as a member of Buffalo's "Teck Players" theater ensemble prior to her movie career.

The Teck Theatre, also known as the Schubert-Teck, was located at 760 Main Street from 1900 to 1934.

Actress Rosalind Russell performed as a member of Buffalo's "Teck Players" theater ensemble prior to her movie career. The Teck Theatre, also known as the Schubert-Teck, was located at 760 Main Street from 1900 to 1934.