Willie Hammerstein
William Hammerstein (September 26, 1875 – June 10, 1914) was an American theater manager. He ran the Victoria Theatre on what became Times Square, Manhattan, presenting very popular vaudeville shows with a wide variety of acts. He was known for "freak acts", where celebrities or people notorious for scandals appeared on stage. Hammerstein's Victoria Theatre became the most successful in New York.
Willie Hammerstein
June 10, 1914 (aged 38)
American
Theater manager
Victoria Theatre, Freak acts
- Alice Nimmo
- Annie Nimmo
2, including Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein I
Rose Blau
Arthur Hammerstein (brother)
Stella Hammerstein (sister)
James Hammerstein (grandson)
Elaine Hammerstein (niece)
Family and legacy[edit]
Hammerstein was unusual in making a sharp separation between his work in the theater, which he loved, and his home life.[2]
He would not pose for a photograph, and told his press agents not to use his name in publicity.[3]
Hammerstein married Alice Nimmo in 1893, and they had two sons, Oscar and Reginald. They lived at 315 Central Park West.
His wife died in 1910 and he married her sister, Annie Nimmo.[3]
He never took part in Broadway night life, and he did not want his two sons to get involved in theater.[2]
However, his son Oscar Hammerstein II became the most famous lyricist and musical comedy writer of the era.[4]
Willie Hammerstein suffered from a disease of the kidneys, and died in New York on June 10, 1914.[2]
He was aged 38.[3]
He had made the Victoria his own. His brother, Arthur, took over management but was unable to recapture the spirit.
The theater soon had to be closed.[7]
The Victoria Theatre was pulled down two years after Willie Hammerstein died, and the Rialto was built in its place, the first movie palace in Times Square.[19][b]