Broadside for "Our American Cousin" - 1859 Broadside for the Play Lincoln Attended while Assassination

Broadside for Wheatley's Arch Street Theatre - Inventory Number:  PRI 196

The Play Abraham Lincoln was watching while Assassinated - Our American Cousin - The play quickly rose to great renown during its first few years and remained very popular throughout the second half of the 19th century. Despite achieving critical and audience acclaim throughout its production history, Our American Cousin is best known as the play that U.S. president Abraham Lincoln was attending in Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer who attempted to time the sound of his gunshot with the audience's laughter on a particularly famous line.

Our American Cousin is a three-act play by English playwright Tom Taylor. It is a farce featuring awkward, boorish American Asa Trenchard, who is introduced to his aristocratic English relatives when he goes to England to claim the family estate. The play premiered with great success at Laura Keene's Theatre in New York City in 1858, with Laura Keene in the cast, the title character played by Joseph Jefferson, and Edward Askew Sothern playing Lord Dundreary. The play's long-running London production in 1861 was also successful.

Broadside for Wheatley's Arch Street Theatre presenting Our American Cousin on Friday, February 18th, 1859. Philadelphia: Brown's Steam Power Book and Job Printing Office, 1856. Cast includes Mr. J.S. Clarke, Mr. Wheatley, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Wallis. Followed by Still Waters Run Deep. In excellent condition measures 10” x 19 ½”.

Comes housed in 14 x 20 riker display case with black velvet and descriptive card.

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Inventory Number:  PRI 196