Page 70 - Galveston Waves - January 2019

DID YOU KNOW ISLAND HISTORY

Henry Greenwall

(1832-1913)

enry Greenwall, nah and established the American
theater manager Theatrical Exchange in New York in
and a native of opposition to the Theatrical Syndicate,
Germany, was tak- which he refused to join. He then
Hen to New Orleans went to California, where he became
by his parents in 1837 when he was ill. In 1909, he sold his interests in
five years old. He worked in a broker- Galveston and Houston to Albert
age house until the end of the Civil Weiss, but he kept his property in
War, when he and his brother Morris Dallas, Fort Worth, and Waco, under
moved to Galveston to organize their the management of Phil Greenwall.
own brokerage firm. In 1867, Augusta
L. Dargon, an actress of note, became Henry Greenwall died on November
stranded in Galveston and indebted 27, 1913 in his apartment over the
to the Greenwalls. The brothers took Greenwall Theatre in New Orleans.
over management of her career. By At the time of his death he was said
November 1867 they had remodeled to be the oldest active theatrical man-
the Galveston Theatre. The following ager in the United States.
year they booked Sophie Miles in the Perkins Theatre,
Houston, when it was lighted by gas lights for the first
time. After being accused of mistreating the troupe, the
brothers countered with charges that the Houston con-
tract had been violated. Henry Greenwall became known
for keeping the opera house respectable. On January 7,
1869, he became involved in a disagreement with Maude
St. Leon and Isabelle Boyd, who were performing in the
play Rosedale, and the production was canceled.

While Augusta Dargon toured Australia under the di-
rection of Morris Greenwall, Henry persuaded Willard
Richardson, owner of the Galveston News, to build the
Tremont Opera House. In 1871, the Tremont was leased
to Morris and Henry Greenwall, and the Sweeney and
Combs Opera House in Houston was remodeled by the
Greenwall Theatrical Circuit and renamed the Houston
Theater. Greenwall added the Fort Worth Opera House
to his chain in 1890 and in 1892 he brought the Waco
Opera House under his supervision. Greenwall raised
$100,000 in 1894 to build the Grand Opera House (later Tremont Oprea Flyer, 1875.
renamed the Grand 1894 Opera House) in Galveston. He Research Sources include the Galveston Historical Foundation
leased houses in Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, and Savan- and Rosenberg Library. Have more history information?
Let us know at: www.wavesgalveston.com

70 | Waves Magazine | January 2019 Issue