On this day, May 10, in 1849, a riot broke out at the Astor Opera House in New York City over a dispute between actors Edwin Forrest and William C. Macready, killing at least 22.
Forrest, the first American star, and Macready, the greatest British actor of his day, were in a simmering feud over who was the best Shakespearean actor.
The rivals had huge followings, largely divided by class. Forrest was the hero of the working man, Irish immigrants and the lower classes; Macready was praised by the well-heeled and literary leaders.
During Macready’s final performance of Macbeth, more than 10,000 people surrounded the theater and pelted it with stones.
Macready left, and troops arrived and fired into the crowd with fatal results.
Scott McCabe
