WindyCityOperaman
Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.
Born on this day in 1865 American socialite and interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe.
On this day in 1881 Hérodiade premiered at the Théâtre de la Monnaie.
Born on this day in 1888 actress Gladys Cooper.
On this day in 1989 The Simpsons premiered on Fox.
On this day in 1809 Napoleon Bonaparte was divorced from the Empress Josephine by an act of the French Senate.
On this day in 1939 Gone with the Wind received its premiere at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Atlanta.
On this day in 1918 Giacomo Puccini’s Il Trittico premiered at the Met.
On this day in 1930 actress Bette Davis arrived in Hollywood, under contract to Universal Studios.
Today is the centennial of the birth of pop stylist supreme Frank Sinatra.
On this day in 1882 Victorien Sardou‘s melodrama Fédora opened in Paris, featuring Sarah Bernhardt in the title role.
On this day in 1955 Mighty Mouse Playhouse premiered on CBS.
Today is the centennial of the birth of soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
On this day in 1946 designer Christian Dior and his backer Marcel Boussac founded Maison Dior.
Born on this day in 1761 Madame Tussaud (not pictured.)
On this day in 1939 Cole Porter‘s musical DuBarry was a Lady premiered at the 46th Street Theatre, to run 408 performances.
On this day in 1890 Les Troyens premiered in Karlsruhe.
On this day in 1954 the floperetta Hit the Trail closed at Mark Hellinger Theater after four performances.
On this day in 1993, the first issue of parterre box, the queer opera zine was published.
On this day in 1840 Gaetano Donizetti’s opera La Favorite premiered at the Académie Royale de Musique in Paris.
On this day in 1968, the musical Promises Promises opened at the Shubert Theater, to run 1,281 performances.
On this day in 1955, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Pipe Dream, starring Helen Traubel as the proprietress of a small-town brothel, opened at Shubert Theater to run 245 performances.
Born on this day in 1797 composer Gaetano Donizetti.
Born on this day in 1881 Austrian author Stefan Zweig,
Born on this day in 1903 Broadway impresario David Merrick.