Wallack's Theatre

Wallack's Theatre.
1. At Broadway and 30th Street. This was opened by Lester Wallack in 1882 with a revival of Sheridan's The School for Scandal. Lillie Langtry, who was to have made her New York début at the second Park Theatre on 30 Oct. that year-the day it was burnt down—first appeared at Wallack's instead. The theatre was not a success, and in 1887 Lester transferred the lease to other hands, allowing them to retain the old name. The last stock season was given under Henry Abbey in 1888, and the theatre was then leased by Palmer, who opened it under his own name with a French company. It reverted to its original name in 1896, and finally closed in 1915, after a season of plays directed by Granville-Barker which included the first American production of Shaw's Androcles and the Lion. It was then demolished.

2. A theatre at 254 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, which in 1924 was named the Wallack after the famous theatrical family, opened originally in 1904 as the Lew Fields Theatre. Two years later it was taken over by James K. Hackett, who named it after himself and appeared there with his own company in a number of successful productions, including Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda in 1908. The same year saw the first production of Sheldon's Salvation Nell, with Mrs Fiske. In 1911 and 1920 the theatre changed its name with its managers, to the Harris and the Frazee respectively, and in 1921 it housed a successful production of Kaufman and Connelly's Dulcy, with Lynn Fontanne. It became a cinema in 1931.

The Star Theatre was known as Wallack's from its opening in 1861 until 1882.