David Belasco

A detailed Summary of David Belasco


David Belasco was born in San Fransisco, California, on July 25,1853. Hisparents had come to California from London in the gold rush. Belasco grew upin San Fransisco and Victoria, British Columbia. His early education in a RomanCatholic monastery influenced his simple mode of dress and helped earn him the nickname Bishop of Broadway. He had some experience as a child actor, and from 1873 to 1879 worked in a number of San Fransisco theaters as everything from call boy and script copier to actor, stage manager, and playwright. He paid further theatrical dues in the time he spent as a "theatrical vagabond" (Belasco's term), acting in small theatrical companies trouping through the mining camps and frontier settlements of the Pacific Slope. He recited poetry, sang, danced, painted and built scenery, and played everything from Hamlet to Fagin in Oliver Twist and Topsy in Uncle Tom's


Cabin. In 1879, with James A. Herne, his first important collaborator, he wrote the popular melodrama Hearts of Oak.

In 1880, Theatrical manager Daniel Frohman brought Belasco to New

In 1895, Belasco had his first smash hit as a playwright , director, and independent manager. His Civil War melodrama, The Heart of Maryland, became a runaway success in New York, in London, and on tour across the U.S.. Belasco wrote the play as a showcase for the particular talents of an actress who would be the first in a long line of "Belasco stars"-- a notorious, flame -haired society divorcee named Mrs. Leslie Carter. Other stars discovered and trained by Belasco include David Warfield and Ina Claire.

Belasco's whole nature seems to have been perfectly expressed in the

Blanche Bates. After reading a story in Century Magazine, and with John Luther Long's approval, Belasco put togethe

Some common words found in the essay are:
Madame Butterfly, San Fransisco, Sensation Melodrama, York London, David Belasco, Girl Left, British Columbia, Butterfly Belasco, Pacific Slope, Lord Chumbley, madame butterfly, san fransisco, civil war, stage manager, sensation melodrama, david belasco,

Approximate Word count = 598
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

join now Save Paper



Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

  • "Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
    Jack M.
  • "With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
    Brian P.
  • "I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
    Sara J.
  • "I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
    Rachel W.
  • "I love this site!!!"
    Marie N.