Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Hammerstein, Oscar, 1846-1919.
2. Tomars, Semion.
3. London Opera House (London, England)
4. Manhattan Opera Company

Description

1. 3 linear feet (6 boxes)

Summary

1. The Adolph S. Tomars Oscar Hammerstein I research papers is an intentionally assembled collection consisting primarily of clippings and notes compiled by Tomars, whose father, Semion Tomars, had been an associate of Hammerstein.

Subject

1. Opera producers and directors
2. Theatrical managers
3. Theatre management
4. Opera producers and directors > United States
5. Theaters > New York (State) > New York
6. Theaters > England > London
7. Opera producers and directors > Great Britain
8. Opera > Production and direction > England > London
9. Clippings
10. Hammerstein, Oscar, 1846-1919
11. Tomars, Semion
12. Correspondence
13. Manhattan Opera House (New York, N.Y.) Management
14. Cigar industry > Patents
15. Opera > Production and direction > New York (State) > New York
16. Impresarios > United States
17. Programs
18. London Opera House (London, England) Management
19. Photographs
20. Inventors

Genre/Form

1. Clippings.
2. Correspondence.
3. Photographs.
4. Programs.

Call number

1. JPB 03-8

Biography (note)

1. Sociologist and educator, Adolph S. Tomars (1908-1985), was the son of Semion Tomars (c. 1876-1943), a former concert singer, who was associated with the multifaceted American theatrical manager and impresario, Oscar Hammerstein I (1846-1919).

Indexes/finding aids (note)

1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Author

1. Tomars, Adolph S. (Adolph Siegfried), 1908-1985.

Title

1. Adolph S. Tomars Oscar Hammerstein I research papers, 1878-1980.

Biography

1. Sociologist and educator, Adolph S. Tomars (1908-1985), was the son of Semion Tomars (c. 1876-1943), a former concert singer, who was associated with the multifaceted American theatrical manager and impresario, Oscar Hammerstein I (1846-1919). Hammerstein began his career in the cigar industry. He invented devices related to cigarmaking and he also edited the U.S. Tobacco Journal. Hammerstein used the fortune he had made in the tobacco industry to finance his various theatrical ventures. After several unsuccessful projects, he finally realized his ambition of presenting grand opera in English at popular prices, by opening his (second) Manhattan Opera House on Thirty-fourth Street in 1906, competing successfully with the Metropolitan Opera. After 1908, Semion Tomars served as stage manager for the Manhattan Opera House. In 1910, Hammerstein was paid a large sum by the Metropolitan Opera to cease producing opera in New York for ten years. He used the money to go to England, where he opened the London Opera House in 1911 to compete with the Royal Opera House; Tomars also served as stage manager for that theater. Although the London Opera House failed after its first and only season, Hammerstein returned to New York where he built another new theater. Tomars remained associated with Hammerstein until the latter's death. Tomars later directed productions for several opera companies.

Indexes

1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Music & Recorded Sound Division Special Collections material
2. Finding Aid

Occupation

1. Impresarios.
2. Inventors.
3. Opera producers and directors.
4. Theatrical managers.

Added author

1. Hammerstein, Oscar, 1846-1919.
2. Tomars, Semion.
3. London Opera House (London, England)
4. Manhattan Opera Company

Research call number

1. JPB 03-8