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EPISODE 289: In old New York, one hundred and seventy years ago, a theatrical rivalry between two leading actors of the day sparked a terrible night of violence \u2014 one of the most horrible moments in New York City history.\n\nEngland\u2019s great thespian\xa0William Macready\xa0mounted the stage of the\xa0Astor Place Opera House\xa0on May 10, 1849, to perform Shakespeare\u2019s\xa0Macbeth, just as he had done hundreds of times before.\xa0But this performance would become infamous in later years as the trigger for one of New York City\u2019s most violent events \u2014\xa0the Astor Place Riot.\n\nMacready, known as one of the world\u2019s greatest Shakespearean stars, was soon rivaled by American actor\xa0Edwin Forrest, whose brawny, ragged style of performance endeared the audiences of the Bowery.\xa0To many, these two actors embodied many of America\u2019s deepest divides \u2014 rich vs. poor, British vs. American, Whig vs. Democrat.\n\nOn May 10th, these emotions overflowed into an evening of chaotic bloodshed as armed militia shot indiscriminately into an angry mob gathering outside the theater at Astor Place.\xa0By the next morning, over two dozen New Yorkers would be murdered, dozens more wounded, and the culture of the city irrevocably changed.\n\nboweryboyshistory.com\n\n\xa0\n\n\xa0\n\nSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/boweryboys