One Week from Today: Relive the Astor Place Theatre Riot!

Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 5:30pm EDT

Once again, friend, Ralph Lewis, Bowery Booster and vital third of the conscientious triumvirate known as Peculiar Works Project is offering his gripping, minute by minute explication of the Astor Place Riots on their anniversary through the NY Adventure Club. May 10 is the anniversary of that that looney event, when nativist supporters of actor Edwin Forrest did battle in the streets of New York with fans of English thespian William Macready : thousands of them in the brawl, leaving 30 dead and nearly 50 injured. If at first blush it seems particularly insane (and all violence is insane), it must be remembered that live theatre was all there was for entertainment back then, and this clash was really just the match that ignited a much wider, volatile culture war, one that in its way presaged later such explosions in our own time, from the L.A. Riots in 1992…to January 6.Ralph’s talk is only $10 and its streaming online. Highly recommended! Much more on the event, including tickers, is here.