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Belasco was born
David James Belasco, born in California to his dad, Abraham Humpfrey Belasco (tobacco shop owner), and his mom, Reina Martin Belasco (homemaker). He was the oldest and had one younger brother. His brothers name was Frederick Belasco.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Belasco -
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Monastery
Belasco attended a school at a monastery. A monastery is a religious place where monks once lived. Going to that school didn't last very long though. https://www.seattleoperablog.com/2012/04/david-belasco-in-pacific-northwest.html -
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American Civil War
The American Civil War was a major armed conflict that took place from 1861 to 1865 in the United States. It was fought between the northern states and the southern states primarily over the issues of slavery and states' rights. The war resulted in the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the Union, but it also caused immense loss of life and had a profound impact on the nation's history.
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/index.htm -
Lets Join The Circus!
At a certain point, Belasco had enough of attending school at a monastery and decided to run away from it to join a circus. He traveled around the west acting and preforming in many productions. The experience gained from preforming in a circus led him to become an influential producer.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/david-belasco-biography-plays.html -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment in the United States Constitution was ratified in 1865. It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was a big step towards ending slavery in the United States. It marked a significant milestone in the country's progress towards equality and civil rights.
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-13/ -
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Piper's Opera House
From late 1873 to early 1874, he was working in Nevada City and worked as an actor, director, and secretary at Piper's Opera House. He was Dion Boucicault secretary and he inspired Belasco to try playwrighting again. Virginia City colored his thoughts and led him to make realistic stage settings. He also appreciated William Shakespeare and frequently adapted and staged his Shakespearean plays and brought attention to historical accuracy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Belasco -
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San Francisco Work
He worked in several San Francisco theatres as actor, manager, and play adapter and in the later years toured in Hearts of Oak, which he cowrote with James A. Herne.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Belasco -
Married
He married Cecilia Loverich in 1873.She often collaborated with Belasco as an actress in his theatrical productions.
https://rihs.us/2022/05/21/weekend-may-21-22-2022-a-lovely-and-long-awaited-restoration/ -
Back to San Fransico
He came back to San Francisco from Virginia city in Nevada. After working for a while, he eventually ended up managing the Thomas Maguire's Baldwin Theater.
http://sanfranciscotheatres.blogspot.com/2018/02/baldwin-theatre.html -
Second Daughter
He had his second daughter with Cecilia Loverich named Reina Belasco. She later went to marry Morris Gest who was a producer.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134544235/reina-victoria-gest -
Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak is a play made by Belasco and Herne taken from the British play, The Mariner's Compass, by Henry Leslie. The play is a melodrama about a woman who marries her guardian because of gratitude even though she is in love with another man.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_of_Oak_(play) -
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Lifetime Plays
Belasco wrote roughly around 374 plays and most of them are written by himself.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Belasco -
First Daughter
He had his first daughter with his wife (Cecilia Loverich). The daughter was named Augusta Belasco.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138495987/augusta-elliott -
Relocated to New York
Belasco moved to New York City to be a stage manager for the Madison Square Theatre.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Belasco -
Lost Thomas Maguire's Baldwin Theater
Thomas Maguire ended up losing the theatre and that made Belasco relocate. He relocated to the eat coast and brought his western style with him. He developed his talents as a performer.
https://duendedrama.org/about-duende/organization-and-board/thomas-f-maguire/ -
Quit Stage Managing
He became dissatisfied with being a stage manager for the Madison Square Theater. He joined the Frohman brothers as stage manager and house playwright.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/theater-biographies/david-belasco -
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The Lambs
Belasco was a member of The Lambs from 1893 to 1931. The Lambs was a social club in New York for actors, song writers, and a lot of other things involved in theatre. Its the oldest theatrical organization in America.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lambs -
The Heart of Maryland
The Heart of Maryland had its world premiere at the Herald Square Theatre in New York in 1895. This four-act melodrama, set during the American Civil War, ran for 240 performances. Inspired by Rose Hartwick Thorpe's poem "Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight," the play delves into themes of love and patriotism. It follows Maryland, a woman driven by her strong Southern patriotism, as she becomes a spy for the Confederate Army.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heart_of_Maryland_(play) -
Zaza
The original play was in French and premiered in France. It was adapted in English by Belasco and it premiered in Washington D.C. Zaza is a prostitute who becomes a music hall entertainer and the mistress of a married man. "A difference between the two plays is that in the French play, Zaza and her married customer resume their relationship after she becomes a successful performer, whereas in the American adaptation, they do not reunite."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaza_(play) -
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Philippine–American War
The Philippine-American War happened during 1899 to 1902 because the United States' colonized the Philippines. It was a fight between Filipino nationalists and American forces. The war resulted in the establishment of American colonial rule in the Philippines and the loss of thousands of lives on both sides. It ultimately shaped the future of Philippine-American relations and had a lasting impact on the Philippines' struggle for independence.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/war -
Mom's death
Reyna David Nunes Martines Belasco died on January 11th, 1899. She died in San Francisco County, California, USA and was buried in Hills of Eternity Memorial Park with her husband. She lived to be 68 years old.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118189132/reyna-david_nunes-belasco -
Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan
Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan is a one-act play by David Belasco, based on John Luther Long's 1898 short story. Premiering in 1900 in New York City, it became one of Belasco's renowned works. The play centers around Butterfly, a young Japanese geisha, and her ill-fated marriage to Lieutenant Pinkerton, an American navy officer. It explores the misunderstandings and consequences arising from the clash of Eastern and Western cultures.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Butterfly_(play) -
The Girl of the Golden West
The Girl of the Golden West was written, produced, and directed by Belasco. The play takes place during the gold rush and talks about love and loyalty. The play revolves around a character named Minnie who is adored by the other miners at the camp. Two men fight over her, where one would leave his crime life for her, and the other is a law man infatuated with her.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_of_the_Golden_West_(play) -
Belasco Theatre
The Stuyvesant Theatre was renamed the Belasco Theatre in honor of David Belasco.
https://shubert.nyc/theatres/belasco/#:~:text=David%20Belasco%20opened%20the%20Stuyvesant,the%20Stuyvesant%20as%20the%20Belasco. -
Dad's death
Abraham Humphrey Belasco died April 11, 1911. He died in San Francisco County, California, USA and was buried in Hills of Eternity Memorial Park with his wife. He lived to be 80 years old.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118189023/abraham-humphrey-belasco -
Augusta's Death
Augusta Elliott, known as Augusta Belasco before she was married, died in 1911. She was buried at Linden Hill Jewish Cemetery in Ridgewood, Queens County, New York, USA. She lived to be 31 years old.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138495987/augusta-elliott -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment in the United States Constitution was ratified in 1920. It gave women the right to vote. The amendment was the result of decades of activism and advocacy by suffragists who fought for women's suffrage. Its ratification marked a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle for gender equality and expanded democratic rights in the United States. The 19th Amendment made sure women were increased in politics.
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-19/ -
Death of Cecilia Belasco
Cecilia Belasco died in 1926 and was buried at Linden Hill Jewish Cemetery in Ridgewood, Queens County, New York, USA. She lived to be 68 years old.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41403659/cecilia-belasco -
Great depression begins
The Great Depression, a global economic disaster from 1929 to the late 1930s, began with the stock market crash of 1929. It caused widespread unemployment, poverty, and financial hardships, leading to bank failures, decreased industrial production, and reduced international trade. The Depression resulted in mass poverty, homelessness, and a reevaluation of economic policies.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Depression -
Death of Belasco
Belasco died at the age of 77 in New York. He was interred in the Linden Hill Jewish Cemetery in Ridgewood, Queens County, New York, USA. Though his cause of death is unknown, it is said that he died from heart failure.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74/david-belasco -
Belasco Theatre Bought
The Shubert organization bought the theater in 1948 and leased it to NBC for three years before returning it to legal use in 1953. Through the late 20th century, even though there was a decline in the quality of productions hosted at the Belasco, it still showed Broadway plays and musicals. The theater was revamped multiple times over the years, in the 1920s, 1970s, and 2000s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belasco_Theatre -
Hall of Fame
Belasco is put into the hall of fame in the American Theater Hall of Fame.
http://www.theaterhalloffame.org/members.html