Womens Halloween Costumes

All things considered low salaries, competition, life on the road, unwanted sexual advances women still thronged to the theater for a chance to be a star! By 1900, the increase in leisure time and disposable income saw the number of theaters swell to 3,000 in the U.S. Two highly regarded actresses who obtained fame by going on the road throughout the U.S. were Lillian Russell and Ethel Barrymore. The biggest name in acting around the world, however, was Sarah Bernhardt, a French actress, born in 1845. She became famous in France but then toured the world including Denmark, Russia, Australia, the European capitals, and the Americas--North and South. She played over one hundred and twelve parts, thirty-eight of which she created. She made the bold move when she was over 45 of playing the role of the young, male Hamlet in the play of the same name.

Theater transformed in the 1900s with the construction of several theaters in New York. "Broadway" was born with Lillian Russell and Marie Dressler among the stars. Then, too, Maude Adams, who had grown up on the stage in London, played in New York and became a box-office star. She starred in a version of Peter Pan until it became a full-fledged musical with Mary Martin.

Besides musicals, realism was hitting the theaters to become the wave of the future. European star, Eleonora Duse promoted realistic acting, making her New York debut to appreciative audiences. Similarly, Minnie Maddern embraced the idea and returned to the stage in an undramatized version of Ibsen's, Doll House.