The Life of David Belasco; Vol. 1

This is the first volume of the definitive biography of David Belasco, the theatrical titan who transformed American theater at the turn of the twentieth century. Known as "the Bishop of Broadway," Belasco rose from poverty in San Francisco to become the most powerful and controversial figure in American show business: actor, playwright, producer, and visionary manager who built an empire of spectacular productions. Winter, a contemporary theater critic who knew Belasco personally, chronicles the young impresario's formative years: his troubled childhood, his apprenticeship in the rough-and-tumble world of Victorian theater, and his relentless climb toward the spotlight. The biography captures the gaslit world of late nineteenth-century American theater, with its touring companies, rival managers, and enormous egos. We see Belasco discovering his gift for stagecraft, learning to command every element of production, and developing the perfectionism that would make him both revered and despised. This volume establishes the foundation of a remarkable life that would reshape what American theater could be.