Harrison Grey Fiske
Encyclopedia
Harrison Grey Fiske was an American journalist, playwright and Broadway producer who fought against the "Theatrical Syndicate
" that formed around the turn of the twentieth century.
, the son of Lyman Fiske, a hotel proprietor, and the former Jane Maria Durfee of Southbridge, Massachusetts
. Fiske's family later moved to New York City where he attended Mrs. Vanderhoff's School and became exposed to Shakespeare through dramatic readings given by the headmistress' husband. Fiske next enrolled at Dr. Chapin's Collegiate School for Boys, a college preparatory school on Madison Avenue and later after touring Europe attended New York University
for two years. There he was asked to sign a pledge to forsake dens of iniquity like theaters, taverns, dance halls, billiard rooms and such. Fiske subsequently admitted that he and his friends kept their fingers crossed when it came to attending theaters.
While at college Harrison Fiske wrote short stories and sketches for magazines and within a short while became an editorial writer and dramatic critic for the Jersey City Argus and later in a similar capacity at the New York Star. In 1879, not yet nineteen, Fiske began what would turn out to be a 32 year affiliation with the ‘’New York Dramatic Mirror’’ as a contributor, editor, and owner. In 1883 Fiske assumed a controlling interest in the Mirror and by 1888 was sole owner of the Mirror Newspaper Company. Through his influence there Fiske was largely instrumental in getting the Actors' Fund of America established and with the help of Mrs. Fiske, David Belasco
, Sarah Bernhardt
and the Shubert family
, contributed in breaking the stranglehold the Theatrical Syndicate
had on theater bookings from coast to coast.
In 1901 Fiske leased the Manhattan Theatre
on Thirty-Third Street as a showcase for his wife and as a venue for other artists. The theater became home to the Manhattan Company (not the bank), that’s players included the well known actors Tyrone Power Sr., George Arliss
and John B. Mason
.
Fiske over his career produced some 140 plays, many of which he wrote or directed. He authored, "Hester Crewe " (1893), "The Privateer" (1903) and "The Queen of Liars" (1896) adapted from a play by Alphonse Daudet
and Léon Hennique. Fiske was most remembered for his 1911 production of Edward Knoblauch’s "Kismet
" starring Otis Skinner
.
at Larchmont Manor
. He first saw her when at the age of twelve he attended a local production of "King John" in which his eight year-old future bride played a boy’s part. Their paths crossed once again a few years later, but were not formally introduced until she was nearly twenty. Mrs. Fiske, as she was often professionally known, appeared in a number of plays directed by her husband, including "Tess of the d 'Urbervilles", "Salvation Neil", "Becky Sharp" and "Mary of Magdala". The two remained together until her death in 1932.
Theatrical Syndicate
-Beginnings:One day, early in the year 1896, six men gathered for lunch at the Holland House in New York City. These men were Charles Frohman, Al Hayman, A.L. Erlanger, Marc Klaw, Samuel F. Nirdlinger, and Frederick Zimmerman...
" that formed around the turn of the twentieth century.
Early Life
Harrison Fiske was born at Harrison, New YorkHarrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, the son of Lyman Fiske, a hotel proprietor, and the former Jane Maria Durfee of Southbridge, Massachusetts
Southbridge, Massachusetts
The Town of Southbridge is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,719 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. Fiske's family later moved to New York City where he attended Mrs. Vanderhoff's School and became exposed to Shakespeare through dramatic readings given by the headmistress' husband. Fiske next enrolled at Dr. Chapin's Collegiate School for Boys, a college preparatory school on Madison Avenue and later after touring Europe attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
for two years. There he was asked to sign a pledge to forsake dens of iniquity like theaters, taverns, dance halls, billiard rooms and such. Fiske subsequently admitted that he and his friends kept their fingers crossed when it came to attending theaters.
Career
David Belasco
David Belasco was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director and playwright.-Biography:Born in San Francisco, California, where his Sephardic Jewish parents had moved from London, England, during the Gold Rush, he began working in a San Francisco theatre doing a variety of routine jobs,...
, Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
and the Shubert family
Shubert family
The Shubert family of New York City, New York was responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district, in New York City, as the hub of the theatre industry in the United States...
, contributed in breaking the stranglehold the Theatrical Syndicate
Theatrical Syndicate
-Beginnings:One day, early in the year 1896, six men gathered for lunch at the Holland House in New York City. These men were Charles Frohman, Al Hayman, A.L. Erlanger, Marc Klaw, Samuel F. Nirdlinger, and Frederick Zimmerman...
had on theater bookings from coast to coast.
In 1901 Fiske leased the Manhattan Theatre
Manhattan Theatre
The Manhattan Theatre, directly across from Greeley Square at Sixth Avenue and 33rd Street, was located at 102 West 33rd Street, in New York, NY. It was a 1100-seat theatre which opened in 1875 as the Eagle Variety Theatre, and later re-named the Standard Theatre in 1878...
on Thirty-Third Street as a showcase for his wife and as a venue for other artists. The theater became home to the Manhattan Company (not the bank), that’s players included the well known actors Tyrone Power Sr., George Arliss
George Arliss
George Arliss was an English actor, author and filmmaker who found success in the United States. He was the first British actor to win an Academy Award.-Life and career:...
and John B. Mason
John B. Mason
John B. Mason was an American stage actor popular over the decades surrounding the turn of the twentieth century.-Early life:...
.
Fiske over his career produced some 140 plays, many of which he wrote or directed. He authored, "Hester Crewe " (1893), "The Privateer" (1903) and "The Queen of Liars" (1896) adapted from a play by Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist. He was the father of Léon Daudet and Lucien Daudet.- Early life :Alphonse Daudet was born in Nîmes, France. His family, on both sides, belonged to the bourgeoisie. The father, Vincent Daudet, was a silk manufacturer — a man dogged through life by misfortune...
and Léon Hennique. Fiske was most remembered for his 1911 production of Edward Knoblauch’s "Kismet
Kismet (play)
Kismet is a three-act play written in 1911 by Edward Knoblauch . The title means Fate or Destiny in Turkish and Urdu. The play ran for an extraordinary two years in London...
" starring Otis Skinner
Otis Skinner
Otis Skinner was an American actor.He was the son of a Universalist minister; his brother, Charles Montgomery Skinner, was a noted journalist and critic in New York. Skinner was educated in Hartford, Connecticut, with an eye towards a career in commerce. A visit to the theater left him stage-struck...
.
Marriage
On March 19, 1890 Harrison Fisk married actress Minnie MaddernMrs. Fiske
Minnie Maddern Fiske , born as Marie Augusta Davey, but often billed simply as Mrs. Fiske, was one of the leading American actresses of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. She also spearheaded the fight against the Theatrical Syndicate for the sake of artistic freedom...
at Larchmont Manor
Manor Park, Larchmont
Manor Park, in Larchmont, New York consists of about of land that lies along the Long Island Sound and Larchmont Harbor...
. He first saw her when at the age of twelve he attended a local production of "King John" in which his eight year-old future bride played a boy’s part. Their paths crossed once again a few years later, but were not formally introduced until she was nearly twenty. Mrs. Fiske, as she was often professionally known, appeared in a number of plays directed by her husband, including "Tess of the d 'Urbervilles", "Salvation Neil", "Becky Sharp" and "Mary of Magdala". The two remained together until her death in 1932.
Death
Harrison Grey Fiske died aged 81, as a result of a heart attack suffered at his New York apartment on West Sixty-Six Street. He had retired around the time of his wife's death and was working on his memoirs at the time of his passing.External links
- Internet Broadway Database (IBDb.com) Harrison Grey Fiske
- NYPL Digital Portrait Gallery - Harrison Grey Fiske