The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age commonly refers to the period in America following the Civil War through the turn of the twentieth century. The nation recovered and rebuilt after the end of the war in 1865 and there was an explosion of urbanization and economic growth, especially in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. However, the ‘Gilded Age’ was originally conceived as a derogatory and sarcastic term by authors Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner. It stemmed from their 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which highlighted the hypocrisy of a period in which industrialists and businessmen acquired their wealth and luxurious lifestyles through a hidden web of bribery and corruption. However, it was also a period which saw the rapid growth of Broadway theatre, alongside the rise of Hollywood. This guide will explore how Broadway developed during this period and depictions of the so-called ‘Gilded Age’ on stage.

Terminology

• Industrialization: The development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale.
• Segregation: The enforced separation of groups of people, often based on race.
• Minstrel: A member of a band of entertainers, typically white actors who performed with blackened faces.
• To Go on Strike: To refuse to continue working because of a disagreement with an employer about working conditions, pay levels, or job losses
• Magnate: A wealthy and influential businessman or businesswoman.

Key Dates & Events

• 1865 - The Civil War ended in America.
• 1869 - Known as “Overland Route”, the first transcontinental railroad was completed in November.
• 1873 - Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner published their novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today.
• 1878 - Gilbert and Sullivan’s first operetta, H.M.S. Pinafore, premieres on Broadway.
• 1890 - Creole Show premieres, becoming the first Broadway show to feature an all-Black cast.
• 1898 - A Trip to Coontown premieres on Broadway, becoming the first show written, performed, and produced by an exclusively Black team.
• 1899 - The New York newsies went on two-week strike against the wealthy publishing magnates who had raised their distribution prices.
• 1946 - Annie Get Your Gun opens on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre.
• 1964 - Hello, Dolly! premieres on Broadway.
• 1996 - Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens, and Terrence McNally’s musical Ragtime has its world premiere in Toronto, before transferring to Broadway in 1998.