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Cushman's first professional appearance as Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, April 1835
On April 8, 1835, Cushman made her debut on the stage at the Tremont Theatre in Boston in the role of Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro. While Cushmam's performance seemingly betrayed her nerves, contemporary reviews praised her…
Baltimore Gazette and Daily Advertiser, April 17, 1835
One of the earliest public notices of Charlotte Cushman's performances: A short notice of her first professional appearance in the opera The Marriage of Figaro (April 1835 in Boston). The article mentions that "Mrs Wood had expressed herself [...]…
Letter from E. B. Fisher to Charlotte Cushman, Sept 13, 1836
Fisher presents himself as a great admirer of Charlotte Cushman. He offers her his 'services' in terms of press coverage, e.g. in the Philadelphia papers, and supporting her in her career ambitions.
Credit
Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman…
Tags: admirers, press coverage, social capital
Letter from E. B. Fisher to Charlotte Cushman, Oct 7, 1836
Fisher asks Charlotte Cushman to refrain from contacting him again. He expresses a firmly rooted disappointment in and aversion to society ("a scandal loving world"). Fisher touches upon an issue of Cushman being involved ("intimacy") with the…
Letter from E. B. Fisher to Charlotte Cushman, Oct 8, [1836]
Fisher describes himself as an unworthy correspondent to Charlotte Cushman. He praises her talent as an actress and apologizes for past mistakes without specifying what he is talking about. He agrees to her request that they should not meet…
Tags: admirers, press coverage, rumor
"Pistols for Two", Freeman's Journal, Dec 22, 1842
This article describes an antagonistic relationship between Charlotte Cushman and Madame Celeste. It indicates that an intellectual duel between the two could be anticipated.
Credit
The British Library Newspapers, Gale Digital Collections
Tags: press coverage
Letter from Thomas Colley Grattan to Charlotte Cushman, n.d. [1843]
The letter has no date on it but is addressed to Cushman in Philadelphia and talks about her performing together on stage with Macready in New York and Philadelphia, which suggests that the letter could be written in fall 1843. Thomas Grattan regrets…
Tags: press coverage, social capital
New York Herald, Tuesday, Jan 3, 1843.
Letter to the editor section, reports by New York Herald correspondent Ariel in Baltimore section
Credit
19th Century U.S. Newspapers
Tags: press coverage
Pennsylvania Inquirer and National Gazette, Feb 1, 1843
Published in the category of communication, signed by "E."The article mentions the genius of Cushman as well as the struggle of the theater profession to gain public appreciation. Interestingly, the article speaks about Cushman's "private worth" that…
Tags: financial concerns, press coverage
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Charlotte Cushman
Charlotte Cushman becomes widely known on both sides of the Atlantic as the first successful US-American actress. Earlier, she was a singer under the tutelage of James G. Maeder, married to actress Clara Fisher, in Boston. Charlotte has been the sole financial support of her mother since her father…

