Elegy in Manhattan

George Jessel, photo: Gene Lester

Drawing inspiration from Spoon River Anthology, George Jessel wrote Elegy in Manhattan, transforming Edgar Lee Master's fictional village into the real world of New York entertainment.

"The confiding thoughts of fifty-six glittering guys and gals who once walked the streets of the Big Town."



As in Spoon River, the first poem serves as an introduction:

"Where are Joe and Lew;
Sam Bernard, Foy, Hitchy;
Nat C. Goodwin, and all his lovely wives;
'Terrible Terry,' 'Big John L';
The Frohman brothers, Charles and Dan;
The Shuberts, Lee and Sam?

"Nearly all are resting on
the banks of Manhattan,
Dreaming of how Lillian Russell
looked that New Year's Eve at Delmonico's,
of what Al Smith said
to Murphy that morning in Tammany Hall, 
of what Teddy R. said
at Union Square of young Cohan's 'Waving the Flag,'
and of 'dashing Jimmy'
the Mayor.

"Nearly all are resting on the banks of the Manhattan."   

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Cezar Del Valle is also the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough showplaces. The first two volumes chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in  September 2014.

He conducts a series of popular theatre talks and walking tours.

Now selling on Etsy.

On a Musical Note--I'll Take Manhattan

Each Monday, Baghdad on the Subway takes a musical view of the city.

Makers of Melody (1929) (S. Jay Kaufmann) by hohlenmensch

The 1929 short Makers of Melody featuring Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart supposedly backstage at a Broadway theatre and not on a movie set.

Showcased is their first hit song Manhattan, sung by Ruth Tester and Allan Gould.

Cezar Del Valle is also the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough showplaces. The first two volumes chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in  September 2014.

He conducts a series of popular theatre talks and walking tours.

Now selling on Etsy.

Hopper Homestead

From Crossroads of the World  The Story of Times Square by William Laas, Popular Library, 1965   

"This homestead of the Hopper family stood for a century and a half

 astride 50th Street and Broadway until demolished for a horse exchange in 1883."

The author does not credit a source for this print.

In addition to to being an artist, Cezar Del Valle is also the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough showplaces. The first two volumes chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in  September 2014.

He conducts a series of popular theatre talks and walking tours.

Now selling on Etsy.

The Oldest Photograph

We begin our blog with the oldest known photograph of New York City, a daguerreotype, circa 1848.

Upper West Side (likely Bloomingdale Road, later Broadway)

Written on the back:

"taken the last of October, when nearly half of the leaves were off the trees."

Daily Mail 

Gizmodo

New York Times

PetaPixel

In addition to to being an artist, Cezar Del Valle is also the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough showplaces. The first two volumes chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in  September 2014.

He conducts a series of popular theatre talks and walking tours.

Now selling on Etsy.