Felix Fantus Theater Scrapbook

Dates: 1899-1907
Size: .5 linear feet in 1 box
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605
Collection Number: spe.ctc-fft
Immediate source of acquisition: Materials found in collection, no documentation concerning the provenance of these materials exists.
Conditions governing use: Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Conditions governing access: Materials are open without restrictions.
Preferred citation: When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Felix Fantus Theater Scrapbook, [Page #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library
Finding aid author: Original author unknown. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Sarah Zimmerman, 2021.

Abstract

Felix Fantus (1886-1955) was an active theater-goer. He collected playbills from the Grand Opera House, Illinois, Powers’, Dearborn and McVicker’s theaters among others. Fantus included these programs and other clippings and ephemera in his theater scrapbook.

Biographical/Historical

Felix Fantus (1886-1955) was born in Austria, and immigrated with his family to the United States in the 1890s. His brother Dr. Bernard Fantus established the first hospital blood bank in the United States at Cook County Hospital in 1937.

By 1900, Felix Fantus lived in Chicago and attended North Division High School (now Lincoln Park High School) and served as the Webster Literary and Debating Society’s Recording Secretary. Fantus was an extremely active theater-goer, attending more than 75 shows at the Grand Opera House, Illinois, Powers’, Dearborn and McVicker’s theaters during the 1901-1902 season. Many of the programs he collected are annotated with his opinions of the performances.

On June 8, 1902, Fantus made his first appearance on the stage as a “supernumerary” at McVicker’s. Subsequently he played small parts with regional stock companies. Pages 329-336 of his scrapbook contain clippings, notes and programs of these early appearances.

In 1912, Fantus married Violet Renberg. They had three daughters, Helen, Adele and Murial. In 1919, he founded an industrial real estate company, Fantus Factory Locating Service. After his retirement, his son-in-law, Leonard Yaseen (Helen) then managed Fantus Co. which became a subsidiary of Dun and Bradstreet in 1966.

The Felix Fantus Theater Scrapbook is one of some 25 scrapbooks transferred to the Special Collections Division from various departments within the Chicago Public Library system.

Scope and Contents

The Felix Fantus Theater Scrapbook was originally used to contain the minutes of the Webster Literary and Debating Society of North Division High School, of which Mr. Fantus was Recording Secretary from October 1900 to January 1901.

Fantus began collecting theater programs and critiquing productions he saw during the 1901-1902 theater season. He included playbills, clippings, articles of interest and his own notes which make up the majority of the scrapbook.

The remainder of the volume contains additional theater programs from Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, New England and elsewhere, 1903-1907.

Arrangement

The scrapbook remains bound in its original order.

  • Pages 3-79 Minutes of the Webster Literary and Debating Society, 257th-304th meetings, February 17, 1899-January 18, 1900 (sic; i.e., 1901)
  • Pages 91-272 “Programmes and Criticisms of Plays seen by Felix Fantus, beginning with Season 1901-1902 . . .”
  • Pages 273-336 “A Collection of Pictures of Stage Celebrities and Theatrical Articles of Interest, Gathered by Felix Fantus, Chicago, Commencing Season 1901-1902.”
  • Pages 348-453 Additional programs, 1903-1907

The collection inventory lists only the scrapbook’s theater-related material and is organized alphabetically by production title. “L” designates a loose program. These programs have been housed together in a single folder. An asterisk indicates a production mounted outside Chicago.

Related Materials

  • Chicago Theater Collection, historical programs and scrapbooks
  • Bernard Fantus Collection, 1874-2009 (Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago)

Subject Headings

  • Fantus, Felix – Archives.
  • Theater – Illinois – Chicago – History – Sources.
  • Playbills – Illinois – Chicago – Sources.
  • Theater Programs.

Collection Inventory

Box FFT Page 404 Abigail, Manchester Opera House, Manchester, N.H.* 1905 April 20
Box FFT Page 242 The Altar of Friendship, Powers’ Theatre 1902 November 17
Box FFT Page 118 Arizona, Grand Opera House 1902 January 27
Box FFT Page 371 Arrah-Na-Pogue, McVicker’s Theatre 1903 April 12
Box FFT Page 401 Arrah-Na-Pogue, [unidentified theater], Providence, R.I.* undated
Box FFT Page 188 At The White Horse Tavern, Dearborn Theatre 1902 March 16
Box FFT Page 168 The Auctioneer, Illinois Theatre 1902 April 20
Box FFT Page 259 Aunt Jeannie, Illinois Theatre 1903 January 19
Box FFT Page 387 Babes in Toyland, Grand Opera House 1903 July 26
Box FFT Page 266 Barbara Frietchie, Dearborn Theatre 1903 February 1
Box FFT Page 193 The Bauble Shop, Dearborn Theatre 1902 April 27
Box FFT Page 367 Beau Brummel, Grand Opera House 1903 April 6
Box FFT Page 154 Beaucaire, Grand Opera House 1902 March 3
Box FFT Page 175 Because She Loved Him So, Dearborn Theatre 1901 September 29
Box FFT Page 132 The Bells, Illinois Theatre 1901 December 2
Box FFT Page 126 Ben Hur, Illinois Theatre 1901 September 9
Box FFT Page 110 Beyond Human Power, Grand Opera House 1901 December 30
Box FFT Page 240 The Billionaire, Illinois Theatre 1902 November 24
Box FFT Page 114 The Bonnie Brier Rush, Grand Opera House 1902 January 13
Box FFT Page 178 Brother Officers, Dearborn Theatre 1901 October 27
Box FFT Page 391 The Burgomaster, Great Northern Theatre 1903 August 9
Box FFT Page 399 Buster Brown, Great Northern Theatre undated
Box FFT Page 447 Captain Careless, Chicago Opera House 1907 May 12
Box FFT Page 144 Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, Illinois Theatre 1902 January 13
Box FFT Page 373 The Cardinal, Powers’ Theatre 1903 April 13
Box FFT Page 372 Carmen, Bush Temple 1903 April 12
Box FFT Page 424 Carmen, Herald Square Theatre, New York* 1905 December 18
Box FFT Page 378 Carrots, Powers’ Theatre 1903 April 20
Box FFT Page 239 Charley’s Aunt, Dearborn Theatre 1902 November 30
Box FFT Page 225 Children of Satan, Dearborn Theatre 1902 October 19
Box FFT Page 385 A Chinese Honeymoon, Illinois Theatre 1903
Box FFT Page 228 Chow-Chow, Orpheon Music Hall undated
Box FFT Page 243 The Christian, Bush Temple undated
Box FFT Page 162 The Climbers, Powers’ Theatre 1901 December 2
Box FFT Page 405 Comedy of Errors, [unidentified theater] undated
Box FFT Page 378 The Country Mouse, Powers’ Theatre 1903 April 20
Box FFT Page 402 The County Fair, Empire Theatre, Providence, R.I.* 1905 May 29
Box FFT Page 223 The Cricket on the Hearth, Powers’ Theatre 1902 October 6
Box FFT Page 380 The Crisis, Grand Opera House 1903 April 27
Box FFT Page 437 Cumberland ’61, Bush Temple Theatre 1907 June 10
Box FFT Page 172 The Curl and the Judge, Grand Opera House 1902 May 19
Box FFT Page 413 Damrosch, Walter and the New York Symphony Orchestra, New York Hippodrome, New York* 1905 November 19
Box FFT Page 158 D’Arcy of the Guards, Illinois Theatre 1902 March 30
Box FFT Page 227 Daughter of Hamilkar, McVicker’s Theatre 1902 November 9
Box FFT Page 124 Divorcons, Grand Opera House 1902 February 24
Box FFT Page 177 Divorcons, Dearborn Theatre 1901 October 20
Box FFT Page 260 Dolly Varden, Illinois Theatre 1903 January 26
Box FFT Page 181 Don Caesar De Bazan, Dearborn Theatre 1901 November 24
Box FFT Page 381 Don Caesars’ Return, Grand Opera House 1903 May 6
Box FFT Page 370 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Grand Opera House 1903 April 10
Box FFT Page 360 Du Darry, Illinois Theatre undated
Box FFT Page 356 The Emerald Isle, Grand Opera House 1903 March
Box FFT Page 347 Everyman, Steinway Hall 1903 January 26
Box FFT Page 390 Facing the Music, Powers’ Theatre 1903 June 29
Box FFT Page 397 A Fair Rebel, Castle Square Theatre, Boston* 1904 August 15
Box FFT Page 416 Fantana, Lyric Theatre, [New York]* 1905 July 11
Box FFT Page 245 Faust, [unidentified theater] 1902 December 1
Box FFT Page 194 Floradora, Illinois Theatre 1902 May 11
Box FFT Page 209 Floradora, [unidentified theater] undated
Box FFT Page 430 The Fool’s Revenge, Colonial Theatre 1906 April 23
Box FFT Page 104 Francesca Da Rimini, Grand Opera House 1901 December 23
Box FFT Page 440 The Genius, [unidentified theater] 1907 January 21
Box FFT Page 98 A Gentleman of France, Grand Opera House 1901 November 4
Box FFT Page 382 Ghosts, McVicker’s Theatre 1903 May 7
Box FFT Page 198 The Girl and the Judge, Powers’ Theatre 1902 April 28
Box FFT Page 421 Girl of the Golden West, Belasco Theatre, New York* undated
Box FFT Page 451 Glorious Betsy, Garrick Theatre 1907 May 13
Box FFT Page 224 Go Leben Wir, Powers’ New Theatre 1902
Box FFT Page 250 The Governor’s Son, Great Northern 1902 December 21
Box FFT Page 438 The Great Divide, Princess Theatre, New York* 1907 February 4
Box FFT Page 187 Greater Than King, Dearborn Theatre 1902 March 9
Box FFT Page 214 The Harkriders, Dearborn Theatre 1902 September 28
Box FFT Page 441 Hedda Gabler, Princess Theatre, New York* 1907 November 26
Box FFT Page 156 The Henrietta, Grand Opera House 1902 April 6
Box FFT Page 172 Hoity-Toity, Grand Opera House 1902 May 19
Box FFT Page 196 The Hunchback, Grand Opera House 1902 April 28
Box FFT Page 247 If I Were King, Powers’ Theatre 1902 December 8
Box FFT Page 355 Impudence, Powers’ Theatre 1903 March 9
Box FFT Page 249 In Old Kentucky, McVicker’s Theatre 1902 December 2
Box FFT Page 170 In the Palace of the King, Grand Opera House 1902 April 21
Box FFT Page 252 Iris, Powers’ Theatre 1902 December 15
Box FFT Page 393 Isle of Spice, [unidentified theater], Boston* 1904 August 1
Box FFT Page 411 It Happened in Nordland, Grand Opera House 1905 June 25
Box FFT Page 258 The Joy of Living, Illinois Theatre 1903 January 12
Box FFT Page 190 Julius Caesar, Dearborn Theatre 1902 April 6
Box FFT Page 222 Julius Caesar, Grand Opera House 1902 October 25
Box FFT Page 408 Kafoozelum, Hyde and Behman’s Theatre 1905 June 11
Box FFT Page 185 A King and A Few Dukes, Dearborn Theatre 1902 February 2
Box FFT Page 136 King Charles I, Illinois Theatre 1901 December 9
Box FFT Page 444 The Kreutzer Sonata, Manhattan Theatre, [New York]* 1906 August 13
Box FFT Page 426 La Tosca, Lyric Theatre, [New York]* 1905 December 18
Box FFT Page 206 Lady of Lyons, Powers’ Theatre 1902 June 4
Box FFT Page 409 Land of Nod, Chicago Opera House 1905 June 19
Box FFT Page 95 The Last Appeal, Grand Opera House 1901 October 27
Box FFT Page 446 The Law and the Man, Manhattan Theatre, [New York]* undated
Box FFT Page 216 Lazarre, Grand Opera House 1902 September 22
Box FFT Page 223 Lend Me Five Shillings, Powers’ Theatre 1902 October 6
Box FFT Page 417 Lew Dockstader and his Great Minstrel Company, Van Curler Opera House, [Schenectady, N.Y.]* 1905 July 26
Box FFT Page 186 The Liars, Dearborn Theatre 1902 February 23
Box FFT Page 160 The Liberty Belles, Illinois Theatre 1902 April 6
Box FFT Page 427 The Lion and the Mouse, Lyceum Theatre, [New York]* 1905 December
Box FFT Page 152 The Little Duchess, Illinois Theatre 1902 March 29
Box FFT Page 294 The Little Duchess, [unidentified theatre] undated
Box FFT Page 377 The Little Duchess, Grand Opera House 1903 April 12
Box FFT Page 412 Little Johnny Jones, Illinois Theatre 1905 July 2
Box FFT Page 192 The Little Minister, Dearborn Theatre 1902 April 20
Box FFT Page 189 Lord and Lady Algy, Dearborn Theatre 1902 March 30
Box FFT Page 140 Louis XI, Illinois Theatre 1901 December 16
Box FFT Page 138 The Lyons of Mail, Illinois Theatre 1901 December 16
Box FFT Page 134 Madame San-Gene, Illinois Theatre 1901 December 2
Box FFT Page 106 Magda, Grand Opera House 1901 December 30
Box FFT Page 423 Man and Superman, Hudson Theatre, New York* 1905 December 18
Box FFT Page 361 The Manxman, McVicker’s Theatre 1903 March 15
Box FFT Page 113 Mariana, Grand Opera House 1902 January 6
Box FFT Page 332 The Married Bachelor, Stone Hill Theatre, Peoria, Ill.* undated
Box FFT Page 226 Mary of Magdala, Grand Opera House 1902 October 27
Box FFT Page 183 The Masked Ball, Dearborn Theatre 1901 December 8
Box FFT Page 130 Merchant of Venice, Illinois Theatre 1901 December 2
Box FFT Page 431 Merchant of Venice, Illinois Theatre 1906 April 23
Box FFT Page 251 A Message From Mars, Illinois Theatre undated
Box FFT Page 150 The Messenger Boy, Illinois Theatre 1902 March 2
Box FFT Page 432 The Mexicana, Garrick Theatre 1906 April 29
Box FFT Page 405 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, [unidentified theater] undated
Box FFT Page 403 The Millionaire Detective, Empire Theatre, Providence, R.I.* 1903 May 8
Box FFT Page 122 Miranda, Grand Opera House 1902 February 17
Box FFT Page 436 The Misanthrope, Grand Opera House 1906 May 8
Box FFT Page 102 Miss Bob White, Grand Opera House 1901 December 15
Box FFT Page 182 Miss Hobbs, Dearborn Theatre 1901 December 1
Box FFT Page 452 Miss Pocahontas, Studebaker Theatre 1907 June 10
Box FFT Page 100 Miss Simplicity, Grand Opera House 1901 November 17
Box FFT Page 232 Miss Simplicity, Grand Opera House 1902 November 16
Box FFT Page 334 Miss Texas, Stone Hill Theatre, Peoria, Ill.* undated
Box FFT Page 244 Mr. Pickwick, Grand Opera House 1902 November 30
Box FFT Page 246 Mrs. Dane’s Defense, Dearborn Theatre 1902 December 7
Box FFT Page 395 Mrs. Temple’s Telegram, Powers’ New Theatre 1905 June 26
Box FFT Page 442 Mrs. Wilson-Andrews, Chestnut Street Theatre, [Philadelphia]* 1907 February 2
Box FFT Page 405 Much Ado About Nothing, [unidentified theater] undated
Box FFT Page 353 The Mummy and the Hummingbird, Powers‘ Theatre 1903 February 23
Box FFT Page 422 The Music Master, Bijou Theatre, New York* 1905 December 18
Box FFT Page 132 Nance Oldfield, Illinois Theatre 1901 December 2
Box FFT Page 138 Nance Oldfield, Illinois Theatre 1901 December 16
Box FFT Page 167 Nathan Der Weise, Powers’ Theatre 1902 April 7
Box FFT Page 148 The New Yorkers, Illinois Theatre 1902 February 9
Box FFT Page 179 A Night Off, Dearborn Theatre 1901 November 3
Box FFT Page 402 Northern Lights, [unidentified theater], Providence, R.I.* undated
Box FFT Page 112 The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith, Grand Opera House 1902 January 6
Box FFT Page 435 The Octoroon, Bush Temple Theatre 1906 April 23
Box FFT Page 415 Oliver Twist, Proctor’s Fifth Avenue, New York* 1905 July 10
Box FFT Page 174 The Only Way, Dearborn Theatre 1901 September 21
Box FFT Page 368 The Optimist, Powers’ Theatre 1903 April 6
Box FFT Page 396 Our New Minister, Great Northern Theatre 1904 July 10
Box FFT Page 397 Our Pastor, Majestic, Utica, N.Y.* undated
Box FFT Page 390 Over A Welsh Rarebit, Powers’ Theatre 1903 June 29
Box FFT Page 389 The Parish Priest, [unidentified theater], Pawtucket, R.I.* 1905 May 1
Box FFT Page 369 A Parisian Romance, Grand Opera House 1903 April 9
Box FFT Page 394 Pawn Ticket 210, [unidentified theater], Boston* undated
Box FFT Page 354 Peggy From Paris, [unidentified theater] undated
Box FFT Page 420 Peter Pan, Empire Theatre, New York* undated
Box FFT Page 349 Pretty Peggy, Grand Opera House 1903 February 9
Box FFT Page 164 The Price of Peace, McVicker’s Theatre 1901 December 8
Box FFT Page 116 Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels, Grand Opera House 1902 January 19
Box FFT Page 262 The Primrose Path, Dearborn Theatre 1903 January 11
Box FFT Page 414 The Prince Chap, Joe Webber’s Theatre, New York* 1905 November 13
Box FFT Page 236 The Prince of Pilsen, [unidentified theater] undated
Box FFT Page 401 The Princess and the Butterfly, [unidentified theater], Providence, R.I.* undated
Box FFT Page 374 The Professor’s Love Story, Powers’ Theatre 1903 April 13
Box FFT Page 291 Quality Street, [unidentified theater] undated
Box FFT Page 379 Resurrection, Bush Temple 1903 May 3
Box FFT Page 418 Richter’s Wife, Proctor’s Fifth Avenue, New York* 1905 July 17
Box FFT Page 220 Rip Van Winkle, Powers’ Theatre 1902 October 6
Box FFT Page 404 Rip Van Winkle, Stone Opera House, Peoria, Ill.* 1905 October 25
Box FFT Page 221 The Rivals, Powers’ Theatre 1902 October 13
Box FFT Page 439 The Road to Yesterday, Herald Square Theatre, New York* 1907 February 4
Box FFT Page 352 Robin Hood, McVicker’s Theatre 1903 February 8
Box FFT Page 350 The Rogers Brothers in Harvard, Illinois Theatre undated
Box FFT Page 146 The Rogers Brothers in Washington, Illinois Theatre 1902 January 19
Box FFT Page 383 Romeo and Juliet, Grand Opera House 1903 May 11
Box FFT Page 449 The Round Up, McVicker’s Theatre 1907 May 12
Box FFT Page 348 A Royal Family, Dearborn Theatre 1903 February 8
Box FFT Page 94 A Royal Rogue, Grand Opera House 1901 October 13
Box FFT Page 363 Rubes and Roses, La Salle 1903 March 16
Box FFT Page 238 Rupert of Hentzau, Dearborn Theatre 1902 November 23
Box FFT Page 191 Sag Harbor, Dearborn Theatre 1902 April 13
Box FFT Page 366 Sally In Our Alley, McVicker’s Theatre 1903 April 5
Box FFT Page 128 San Toy, Illinois Theatre 1901 November 17
Box FFT Page 436 The Scarlet Letter, Grand Opera House 1906 May 7
Box FFT Page 108 The Second Mrs. Tanqueray, Grand Opera House 1901 December 30
Box FFT Page 257 The Second Mrs. Tanqueray, Grand Opera House 1903 January 19
Box FFT Page 256 Sergeant James, Grand Opera House 1903 January 11
Box FFT Page 254 Sherlock Holmes, Powers’ Theatre 1903 January 12
Box FFT Page 180 The Sixth Commandment, Dearborn Theatre 1901 November 10
Box FFT Page 264 Sky Farm, McVicker’s Theatre 1903 January 25
Box FFT Page 398 Sky Farm, [unidentified theater] 1905 June 17
Box FFT Page 212 The Sleeping Beauty and the Beast, Illinois Theatre 1902 September 28
Box FFT Page 425 A Society Circus, New York Hippodrome, New York* 1905 December 13
Box FFT Page 253 Soldiers of Fortune, Powers’ Theatre 1902 December 29
Box FFT Page 400 Soldiers of Fortune, Keith’s Theatre, Providence, R.I.* 1905 May 8
Box FFT Page 184 The Starbucks, Dearborn Theatre 1901 December 15
Box FFT Page 386 The Stickiness of Gelatine, Grand Opera House 1903 May 18
Box FFT Page 204 The Storks, Dearborn Theatre 1902 May 25
Box FFT Page 142 The Strollers, Illinois Theatre 1902 January 5
Box FFT Page 443 Strongheart, Garrick Theatre, [Philadelphia]* 1907 February 11
Box FFT Page 355 The Stubbornness of Geraldine, Powers’ Theatre 1903 March 23
Box FFT Page 208 The Suburban, McVicker’s Theatre 1902 June 1
Box FFT Page L Sultan of Sulu, [unidentified theater] undated
Box FFT Page 364 The Sword of the King, Grand Opera House 1903 March 9
Box FFT Page 450 The Tattooed Man, Grand Opera House 1907 May 12
Box FFT Page 362 The Tempest, McVicker’s Theatre 1903 March 22
Box FFT Page 376 The Tenderfoot, Dearborn Theatre 1903 April 19
Box FFT Page 433 Texas, Great Northern Theatre 1906 April 20
Box FFT Page 429 The Three Graces, Chicago Opera House 1906 April 30
Box FFT Page 453 The Three of Us, Garrick Theatre 1907 June 2
Box FFT Page 448 The Time, The Place and the Girl, La Salle Theatre 1907 April 28
Box FFT Page 375 Tom Pinch, Powers’ Theatre 1903 April 13
Box FFT Page 265 Too Much Johnson, Bush Temple 1902 December 29
Box FFT Page 358 The Toreador, Illinois Theatre 1903 March 2
Box FFT Page 263 Trelawny of the Wells, Dearborn Theatre 1903 January 25
Box FFT Page 386 Twirly-Whirly, Grand Opera House 1903 May 18
Box FFT Page 200 Under Southern Skies, Grand Opera House 1902 May 5
Box FFT Page 120 The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch, Grand Opera House 1902 February 3
Box FFT Page L Vaudeville, Proctor’s 23rd Street, [New York]* 1905 November 19
Box FFT Page 388 Vaudeville, Keith’s Theatre, Boston* 1904 August 8
Box FFT Page 218 The Vinegar Buyer, Grand Opera House 1902 October 5
Box FFT Page 445 The Virginian, Academy of Music 1906 August 9
Box FFT Page 248 The Way of the World, Illinois Theatre 1902 December 7
Box FFT Page 176 The Way to Win a Woman, Dearborn Theatre 1901 October 13
Box FFT Page 333 What Happened to Brown, Stone Hill Theatre, Peoria, Ill.* undated
Box FFT Page 384 When Johnny Comes Marching Home, McVicker’s Theatre 1903 May 10
Box FFT Page 202 When Knighthood Was In Flower, Powers’ Theatre 1902 May 26
Box FFT Page 230 The Wild Rose, Illinois Theatre 1902 November 9
Box FFT Page 210 The Wizard of Oz, Grand Opera House 1902 July 13
Box FFT Page 410 The Woggle Bug, Garrick Theatre 1905 July 2
Box FFT Page 392 Woodland, Tremont Theatre, Boston* undated
Box FFT Page 419 A Yankee Circus on Mars, New York Hippodrome, New York* 1905 November 20
Box FFT Page 234 Zaza, Great Northern 1902 November 16
Box FFT Page 428 Zira, Princess Theatre, New York* 1905 December 11
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