The Lambs
Encyclopedia
The Lambs, Inc., is one of America's oldest theatrical organizations and is based in New York City
.
, the first Shepherd, looking to socialize with like-minded people. Several of those, most notably Henry James Montague
, came to the United States
and formed The Lambs of New York during Christmas week of 1874. It was later incorporated in 1877 in New York City
, and shortly afterward, the London Lambs closed.
The club's name honors the essayist Charles Lamb, and his sister Mary
, who during the early 19th century played host to actors and literati at their famed salon in London.
The Lambs, the Friars Club
, and The Players (Club) are often confused. The longtime syndicated columnist Earl Wilson
put it this way in 1964: "Long ago a New Yorker asked the difference between the Lambs, Friars, and Players, since the membership was, at the time, predominantly from Broadway." It was left to "a wit believed to have been George S. Kaufman
" to draw the distinction: "The Players are gentlemen trying to be actors, the Lambs are actors trying to be gentlemen, and the Friars are neither trying to be both."
The Lambs ® is a registered trademark of The Lambs, Inc; and the club has been commonly referred to as The Lambs Club and The Lambs Theater since 1874.
, and was erected in 1904–1905. When the club relocated to its current nine-story quarters at 3 West 51st Street
adjacent to Rockefeller Center
, it sold its own quarters to the Church of the Nazarene
which intended to use the old building as a mission in Time Square. The church leased part of the building for what would become the Off Broadway Lamb's Theatre
which is not related to the Club except for the name of the building.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on June 3, 1982.
In 2006 the Church of the Nazarene sold the building and theatre, which has been renovated by the Chatwal Hotel. They operate a restaurant in the hotel and named it The Lambs Club although there was no relation between the hotel and The Lambs other than what was left of the building.
adjacent to Rockefeller Center
. Its members have been instrumental in the formation of ASCAP, Actors' Equity and The Actors' Fund of America. Historically, The Lambs ® has been the spawning ground of plays, friendships and partnerships. "Mark Twain Tonight
" (with Hal Holbrook
) and Stalag 17
were first performed at The Lambs prior to their national successes.
Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe first met at The Lambs and teamed to make theatrical history, often trying works-in-progress on their fellow Lambs. Since its founding, there have been more than 6,000 Lambs including Fred Astaire
, Irving Berlin
, George M. Cohan
, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers
, John Philip Sousa
, Fred Waring
and Albert Hague
. Current luminaries include the Academy Award winning actor Cliff Robertson
, James Karen
, Abe Vigoda
, Joyce Randolph
, and the award-winning conductor/arranger, Donald Pippin.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
History
The Lambs was originally founded in 1868 in London by actors, led by John HareJohn Hare (actor)
Sir John Hare , born John Fairs, was an English actor and manager of the Garrick Theatre in London from 1889 to 1895.-Biography:Hare was born in Giggleswick in Yorkshire and was educated at Giggleswick school...
, the first Shepherd, looking to socialize with like-minded people. Several of those, most notably Henry James Montague
Henry James Montague
Henry James Montague was the stage name of Henry James Mann, , and American actor born in England.-Biography:He was born in 1844.He appeared in...
, came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and formed The Lambs of New York during Christmas week of 1874. It was later incorporated in 1877 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and shortly afterward, the London Lambs closed.
The club's name honors the essayist Charles Lamb, and his sister Mary
Mary Lamb
Mary Ann Lamb , was an English writer, the sister and collaborator of Charles Lamb.-Biography:She was born on 3 December 1764. In 1796, Mary, who had suffered a breakdown from the strain of caring for her family, killed her mother with a kitchen knife, and from then on had to be kept under constant...
, who during the early 19th century played host to actors and literati at their famed salon in London.
The Lambs, the Friars Club
New York Friars' Club
The Friars Club is a private club in New York City, founded in 1904 and famous for its risqué celebrity roasts. The club's membership is composed mostly of comedians and other celebrities. It is located at 57 East 55th Street between Park and Madison Avenues in a building it calls the Monastery...
, and The Players (Club) are often confused. The longtime syndicated columnist Earl Wilson
Earl Wilson (columnist)
Earl Wilson , born Harvey Earl Wilson, was an American journalist, gossip columnist and author, perhaps best known for his nationally syndicated column, It Happened Last Night....
put it this way in 1964: "Long ago a New Yorker asked the difference between the Lambs, Friars, and Players, since the membership was, at the time, predominantly from Broadway." It was left to "a wit believed to have been George S. Kaufman
George S. Kaufman
George Simon Kaufman was an American playwright, theatre director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. In addition to comedies and political satire, he wrote several musicals, notably for the Marx Brothers...
" to draw the distinction: "The Players are gentlemen trying to be actors, the Lambs are actors trying to be gentlemen, and the Friars are neither trying to be both."
The Lambs ® is a registered trademark of The Lambs, Inc; and the club has been commonly referred to as The Lambs Club and The Lambs Theater since 1874.
128 West 44th Street
Until 1973 the Club occupied a building at 128 West 44th Street. The building was designed by architect Stanford WhiteStanford White
Stanford White was an American architect and partner in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, the frontrunner among Beaux-Arts firms. He designed a long series of houses for the rich and the very rich, and various public, institutional, and religious buildings, some of which can be found...
, and was erected in 1904–1905. When the club relocated to its current nine-story quarters at 3 West 51st Street
51st Street (Manhattan)
51st Street is a long one-way street traveling east to west across Midtown Manhattan.-East 51st Street:*The route officially begins at Beekman Place which is on a hill overlooking FDR Drive...
adjacent to Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
, it sold its own quarters to the Church of the Nazarene
Church of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
which intended to use the old building as a mission in Time Square. The church leased part of the building for what would become the Off Broadway Lamb's Theatre
Lamb's Theatre
Lamb's Theatre was an Off-Broadway theater located at 130 West 44th Street, New York City inside the Manhattan Church of the Nazarene, near Times Square in New York City. It seated approximately 350 and specialized in musical productions...
which is not related to the Club except for the name of the building.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on June 3, 1982.
In 2006 the Church of the Nazarene sold the building and theatre, which has been renovated by the Chatwal Hotel. They operate a restaurant in the hotel and named it The Lambs Club although there was no relation between the hotel and The Lambs other than what was left of the building.
Current activity
The Lambs, Inc. is still active in its nine-story quarters at 3 West 51st Street51st Street (Manhattan)
51st Street is a long one-way street traveling east to west across Midtown Manhattan.-East 51st Street:*The route officially begins at Beekman Place which is on a hill overlooking FDR Drive...
adjacent to Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
. Its members have been instrumental in the formation of ASCAP, Actors' Equity and The Actors' Fund of America. Historically, The Lambs ® has been the spawning ground of plays, friendships and partnerships. "Mark Twain Tonight
Mark Twain Tonight
Mark Twain Tonight! Is a one-man play devised by Hal Holbrook, in which he depicts Mark Twain giving a dramatic recitation selected from several of his writings, with an emphasis on the comic ones...
" (with Hal Holbrook
Hal Holbrook
Harold Rowe "Hal" Holbrook, Jr. is an American actor. His television roles include Abraham Lincoln in the 1976 TV series Lincoln, Hays Stowe on The Bold Ones: The Senator and Capt. Lloyd Bucher on Pueblo. He is also known for his role in the 2007 film Into the Wild, for which he was nominated for...
) and Stalag 17
Stalag 17
Stalag 17 is a 1953 war film which tells the story of a group of American airmen held in a German World War II prisoner of war camp, who come to suspect that one of their number is a traitor...
were first performed at The Lambs prior to their national successes.
Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe first met at The Lambs and teamed to make theatrical history, often trying works-in-progress on their fellow Lambs. Since its founding, there have been more than 6,000 Lambs including Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
, Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
, George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan
George Michael Cohan , known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer....
, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
, John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
, Fred Waring
Fred Waring
Fredrick Malcolm Waring was a popular musician, bandleader and radio-television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing." He was also a promoter, financial backer and namesake of the Waring Blendor, the first modern electric...
and Albert Hague
Albert Hague
Albert Hague was a German-born songwriter, composer, and actor.-Early life:Hague was born as Albert Marcuse to a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany. His father, Harry Marcuse, was a psychiatrist and a musical prodigy, and his mother, Mimi , a chess champion...
. Current luminaries include the Academy Award winning actor Cliff Robertson
Cliff Robertson
Clifford Parker "Cliff" Robertson III was an American actor with a film and television career that spanned half of a century. Robertson portrayed a young John F. Kennedy in the 1963 film PT 109, and won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Charly...
, James Karen
James Karen
James Karen is an American character actor of Broadway, film and television.-Life and career:Karen was born Jacob Karnofsky in Wilkes-Barre, in northeastern Pennsylvania, the son of Russian-born Jewish immigrants Mae and Joseph H. Karnofsky, a produce dealer. As a young man, Karen was encouraged...
, Abe Vigoda
Abe Vigoda
Abe Vigoda is an American movie and television actor. Vigoda is well known for his portrayal of Sal Tessio in The Godfather, and for his portrayal of Detective Sgt. Phil Fish on the sitcom television series Barney Miller from 1975–1977 and on its spinoff show Fish that aired from February 1977 to...
, Joyce Randolph
Joyce Randolph
Joyce Randolph is an American actress, best known for playing Trixie Norton on The Honeymooners.-Early life and career:...
, and the award-winning conductor/arranger, Donald Pippin.
External links
- The Lambs, Inc. website
- "The Lambs Club" - the NYC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.