Albert H. Woods
Encyclopedia
Albert Herman Woods born Aladár Herman, was an American
theatrical producer
who sometimes worked with Sam H. Harris
.
Born in Hungary
, Woods emigrated to the United States
where he produced over one hundred of the most successful shows on Broadway
during the 1910s and 1920s, sometimes under the name of the production company Al Woods Ltd. or A. H. Woods. Woods also built the Eltinge Theatre, named for one of his most successful and profitable stars, Julian Eltinge
.
Woods initially made his success with unpretentious melodramas, like "Nellie the Beautiful Cloak Model" and "Bowery After Dark", that appealed to common people. His modus operandi was to come up with a catchy title and an eye-catching poster, then have a writer pen the play to fit. Woods had a stable of favorite playwrights, including Theodore Kremer, Owen Davis
and Hal Reid
. At this time Woods earned the sobriquet 'King of Melodramania'.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theatrical producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
who sometimes worked with Sam H. Harris
Sam Harris (playwright)
Sam H. Harris was a Broadway producer and theater owner.-Career:After a stint as a cough drop salesman and boxing manager, Harris's first production was Theodore Kremer's The Evil That Men Do co-produced with Al Woods in 1903. Harris found success in 1904 as the producing partner of George M...
.
Born in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Woods emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he produced over one hundred of the most successful shows on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
during the 1910s and 1920s, sometimes under the name of the production company Al Woods Ltd. or A. H. Woods. Woods also built the Eltinge Theatre, named for one of his most successful and profitable stars, Julian Eltinge
Julian Eltinge
Julian Eltinge , born William Julian Dalton, was an American stage and screen actor and female impersonator. After appearing in the Boston Cadets Revue at the age of ten in feminine garb, Eltinge garnered notice from other producers and made his first appearance on Broadway in 1904...
.
Woods initially made his success with unpretentious melodramas, like "Nellie the Beautiful Cloak Model" and "Bowery After Dark", that appealed to common people. His modus operandi was to come up with a catchy title and an eye-catching poster, then have a writer pen the play to fit. Woods had a stable of favorite playwrights, including Theodore Kremer, Owen Davis
Owen Davis
Owen Gould Davis, Sr. was an American dramatist. He received the 1923 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his 1923 play Icebound, and penned hundreds of plays and scripts for radio and film. Before the First World War, he also wrote racy sketches of New York high jinks and low life for the Police Gazette...
and Hal Reid
Hal Reid
Hal Reed was the second head football coach for the University of Missouri Tigers located in Columbia, Missouriand he held that position for the 1891 season. His career coaching record at Missouri was 3 wins, 1 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him...
. At this time Woods earned the sobriquet 'King of Melodramania'.