Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia

"A Lament for The Troc" - Special Episode!

In the Spring of 1978, "The Troc" - Philadelphia's longtime notorious burlesque house on Arch Street - closed for business. The journalist Edgar Williams composed this poetic farewell to the site of so many vivid, poignant, and hilarious episodes from his youth.A good photo essay about the history of The Troc can be found in this online article by writer Thom Carroll in the Philly Voice: https://www.phillyvoice.com/photos-100-years-trocadero-theatre/It is our podcast's 5th Birthday! So we are releasing a special treat for our listeners - a treasure taken from our vault of Bonus Episodes of our Patreon page.Please consider becoming a supporter of our show on Patreon! The link is here:https://www.patreon.com/c/AITHpodcastSupport the show"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.comOur email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.comFollow us on social media:Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE© Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved.℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz.℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

Diana Barrymore - Too Much, Too Soon

It might seem to be a lurid Hollywood tale . . . but is it really a Philadelphia theater story?Here's our take on the life and times of the actress Diana Barrymore, eldest daughter of John Barrymore - from her privileged beginnings, through her successes on stage, her failures in filmdom . . to her sad and sordid end. But is she really just another celebrity cautionary tale? There's more to her story than got told in the tabloids.As you listen, for a selection of photos of Diana, and other fascinating images about the events we discuss in this episode, GO HERE.Support the show"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.comOur email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.comFollow us on social media:Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE© Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved.℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz.℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

Before he was "One of the Hollywood Ten"

Herbert J. Biberman, the screenwriter, director and left-wing activist, was once one of the most well-known men in show biz - but not, unfortunately for his talent or his intellect. In 1950, he became famous for being one of the "Hollywood Ten," a group of men known for their opposition to politically-motivated industry blacklists - and facing prison for refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee.But Biberman's Philadelphia origin story is almost completely unknown - because he wanted it that way. We investigate that story in this episode, and uncover much that had been hidden or unexamined - until nowFor photos and images of Biberman, as well as many of the other people and plays we mention in this episode, go to our photo essay on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/posts/images-for-he-of-119082063Support the show"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.comOur email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.comFollow us on social media:Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE© Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved.℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz.℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

Starting on the Third Floor - and Going Up

The rise of the Arden Theatre  Company - as well as the story of the beginnings of the modern Walnut Street Theatre Company and the Lantern Theater Company.Support the show"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.comOur email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.comFollow us on social media:Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE© Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved.℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz.℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

Albert Innaurato and "Gemini"

The story of Albert Innaurato and his play "Gemini." Set in South Philadelphia in the 1970s, it was to become the biggest commercial and artistic triumph of his career.The famous TV commercial for the original Broadway production is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz8p6-LconEBut Gemini also served as a constant reminder that success can fleeting, and that an artist's personal demons can undermine their long-term reputation. We interview Charles Gilbert about his professional association and personal friendship with Innaurato, as they tried to turn Gemini into a work of musical theater in the early 2000s.Charles Gilbert's posts on Substack, which form the basis of our conversation, can be found here:https://chasgilbert.substack.com/p/me-and-albert-a-collaborators-storyhttps://chasgilbert.substack.com/p/me-and-albert-part-2For information about EgoPo Theatre Co. and their upcoming production of Gemini: https://egopo.org/geminiSupport the show"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.comOur email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.comFollow us on social media:Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE© Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved.℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz.℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.