Broadside for the Holliday St. Theater - Appearance of Mr. Charles Dillon, Great Impersonation of Belphegor - 1861 dated Americana

Broadside announcing the appearance of Mr. Charles Dillon, great impersonation of Belphegor!

Charles J. Dillon, an English actor-manager and tragedian, was born in 1819 and passed away on June 27, 1881. In 1840, he made his debut at the City Theatre in London, portraying Hamlet, which garnered some critical acclaim. To enhance his reputation, he embarked on extensive tours. In 1848, he partnered with comedian Henry Widdicombe to become the actor-manager of the Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton. At the age of 37, in 1856, he returned to London and performed at Sadler’s Wells, where his success was pivotal. From “the Wells,” he moved to the Lyceum, where he became manager on September 29, 1856. Later, in 1857, he took over as the manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
In 1860–61, he embarked on a global tour with his wife, Clara. Their first stop was America, where he graced the stage at the Winter Garden on April 18, 1861, portraying Belphégor. However, the American Civil War was raging at the time, impacting theater trade. In California, he received a warm welcome, performing for an impressive 100 consecutive nights at the Metropolitan Theatre in San Francisco.

Their journey continued to Australia, where they arrived in Melbourne aboard the ship Torrent in October 1862. Mrs. Dillon made her debut on the Australian stage at the Royal Haymarket in February 1863. Later that month, she played Ophelia to her husband’s Prince Hamlet at the Lyceum. They spent two years touring Australia, with Tasmania serving as their final destination. In December 1864, the Dillon family embarked on a new adventure, traveling to New Zealand. Afterward, they returned to America, filling engagements across the country. Their journey culminated in their arrival in New York City in the spring of 1866. On May 16, 1866, he graced the stage at Niblo’s Garden, once again portraying Belphégor. Following these tours, George Wood managed his subsequent tours of American cities, but unfortunately, they were not as successful. Consequently, the Dillon family returned to England, where they continued their touring endeavors until his passing.

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