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Lyceum Theatre, Rochester - Freethought Trail - New York
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Ingersoll made four subsequent appearances: on Sunday, March 10, 1895, when he <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-about-the-holy-bible-lecture-in-rochester/">presented</a> his controversial religious lecture "<a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044024508921&view=1up&seq=13">About the Holy Bible</a>"; on Sunday, February 23, 1896, when he <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-foundations-of-faith-lecture-in-rochester/">gave</a> his controversial lecture "The Foundations of Faith"; on Sunday, January 31, 1897, when he <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-why-i-am-an-agnostic-lecture-in-rochester/">delivered</a> his controversial lecture "Why I Am an Agnostic"; and on Wednesday, January 5, 1898, when he <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-unknown-lecture-in-rochester/">spoke</a> on an unknown subject.</p> <p><strong>The Building and Site. </strong>The Lyceum was built in 1888, financed by leading Rochester business figures, and operated by owner Abe E. Wollf and his family. The ornate 2,000-seat theatre quickly dominated fast-growing Rochester’s artistic scene, hosting performances by noted talent including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Booth">Edwin Thomas Booth</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Bernhardt">Sarah Bernhardt</a>, a young <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Hayes">Helen Hayes</a>, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrymore_family">Barrymores</a> ... and, of course, Ingersoll, who routinely lectured in the finest theatre of any city in which he appeared.</p> <p>With the 1920s, the development of new movie houses along East Main Street eroded the Lyceum’s prestige. The grand old opera house deteriorated and closed permanently in 1934. It was soon destroyed and replaced by a series of parking lots. In the 2010s, the site was redeveloped as Midtown Commons, an attractively designed urban park.</p> <p>Across South Clinton Avenue from Midtown Commons stands <a href="https://www.themetropolitanroc.com/">The Metropolitan</a>, a mixed-use skyscraper previously known as Chase Tower which occupies the former site of the <a href="/trail-map/location:whitcomb-house-hotel/">Whitcomb House Hotel</a> (built 1872, demolished 1947).</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-white-bg app-box-shadow"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/bd596d89c794e0caa03e9e3114fd18a9.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="Lyceum Theatre"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/157227b787b9b9fda1208a66ac36aaff.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/157227b787b9b9fda1208a66ac36aaff.jpg 1x, /cache/images/7b9eb24e9870e5ce6cade9824d7df4a3.jpg 2x" alt="Lyceum Theatre"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> Lyceum Theatre</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>Colored postcard image of the Lyceum Theatre, probably late nineteenth century.</p></div> </div> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/7016ee593fdbbc28b5c94f9681c88628.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="Lyceum Location"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/eb6c5b933a7fa66b376d955281f6e6c5.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/eb6c5b933a7fa66b376d955281f6e6c5.jpg 1x, /cache/images/5637a729857778e72ad8c85ccd19b8f6.jpg 2x" alt="Lyceum Location"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> Lyceum Location</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>Lyceum Theatre located on an early map of Rochester. Yellow arrow points to location. South Clinton is the unlabeled north-south thoroughfare running to left of the site.</p></div> </div> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/a85b338a367d78b3470fb718c8208ae7.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="Lecture ad"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/1906e3785e1c9144fd7f94b998f7449b.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/1906e3785e1c9144fd7f94b998f7449b.jpg 1x, /cache/images/5270e3d32080555cc94a3f4404771d83.jpg 2x" alt="Lecture ad"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> Lecture ad</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>Newspaper ad promoting Ingersoll Rochester lecture "The Foundations of Faith," delivered February 23, 1896. Reclaimed from microform by Doug Schiffer.</p></div> </div> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/5ae6e3662d1fbaa7322da9c7a89278f9.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="Lyceum Site Today"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/a1c22593b0b7f86753e36c33828a4b00.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/a1c22593b0b7f86753e36c33828a4b00.jpg 1x, /cache/images/a5a10aedfd5289c3a16ecb9413e5eb48.jpg 2x" alt="Lyceum Site Today"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> Lyceum Site Today</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>Midtown Commons, site of the former Lyceum Theater, as viewed from straight across South Clinton Avenue.</p></div> </div> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/12bb0dcca6d147c9fc6e0af5f093b8ae.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="Lyceum Site, Alternate View"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/21efd7cd594b556d472221d3e1f542da.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/21efd7cd594b556d472221d3e1f542da.jpg 1x, /cache/images/408fb9ce7d691c7b58d30233accb6e19.jpg 2x" alt="Lyceum Site, Alternate View"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> Lyceum Site, Alternate View</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>This slightly angled view gives a fuller sense of the structures that surround Midtown Commons.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-tan-bg"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-12"> <h4>Associated Causes</h4> </div> <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-md-4 col-lg-3 mb-5"> <a href="/causes/cause:freethought-atheism-secular-humanism/" class="app-item"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/27aabec993ace73d7bf98b4065273141.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/27aabec993ace73d7bf98b4065273141.jpg 1x, /cache/images/f9be28a654e87c7f8c610cf2332b24c6.jpg 2x" alt="Freethought / Atheism / Secular Humanism"> <div class="app-dark-gray-bg-b-gradient"> <div class="p-3"> <h4 class="app-white-text">Freethought / Atheism / Secular Humanism</h4> </div> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-tan-bg"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-12"> <h4>Those Involved</h4> </div> <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-md-4 col-lg-3 mb-5"> <a href="/profiles/profile:ingersoll-robert-green/" class="app-item"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/0a03cd0f4936358cb4ed9b121c4605c9.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/0a03cd0f4936358cb4ed9b121c4605c9.jpg 1x, /cache/images/c6187ce06172d3039905d445091ea848.jpg 2x" alt="Ingersoll, Robert Green"> <div class="app-dark-gray-bg-b-gradient"> <div class="p-3"> <h4 class="app-white-text">Ingersoll, Robert Green</h4> </div> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-tan-bg-gradient"> <div class="container py-5"> <div class="row row-eq-height mb-3"> <div class="col-12"> <h4>Associated Historical Events</h4> </div> </div> <div class="row row-eq-height mb-3"> <div class="d-none d-md-flex col-md-5 col-lg-4 col-xl-3"> <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-shakespeare-lecture-in-rochester/"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg 1x, /cache/images/a41e62824ffa36b87f0b190bf9399137.jpg 2x" alt="Robert Green Ingersoll Gives "Shakespeare" Lecture in Rochester"> </a> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-7 col-lg-8 col-xl-9"> <h3><a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-shakespeare-lecture-in-rochester/" class="app-red-text">Robert Green Ingersoll Gives "Shakespeare" Lecture in Rochester</a></h3> <p>April 19, 1891</p> </div> </div> <div class="row row-eq-height mb-3"> <div class="d-none d-md-flex col-md-5 col-lg-4 col-xl-3"> <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-about-the-holy-bible-lecture-in-rochester/"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg 1x, /cache/images/a41e62824ffa36b87f0b190bf9399137.jpg 2x" alt="Robert Green Ingersoll Gives "About the Holy Bible" Lecture in Rochester"> </a> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-7 col-lg-8 col-xl-9"> <h3><a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-about-the-holy-bible-lecture-in-rochester/" class="app-red-text">Robert Green Ingersoll Gives "About the Holy Bible" Lecture in Rochester</a></h3> <p>March 10, 1895</p> </div> </div> <div class="row row-eq-height mb-3"> <div class="d-none d-md-flex col-md-5 col-lg-4 col-xl-3"> <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-foundations-of-faith-lecture-in-rochester/"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg 1x, /cache/images/a41e62824ffa36b87f0b190bf9399137.jpg 2x" alt="Robert Green Ingersoll Gives "Foundations of Faith" Lecture in Rochester"> </a> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-7 col-lg-8 col-xl-9"> <h3><a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-foundations-of-faith-lecture-in-rochester/" class="app-red-text">Robert Green Ingersoll Gives "Foundations of Faith" Lecture in Rochester</a></h3> <p>February 23, 1896</p> </div> </div> <div class="row row-eq-height mb-3"> <div class="d-none d-md-flex col-md-5 col-lg-4 col-xl-3"> <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-why-i-am-an-agnostic-lecture-in-rochester/"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg 1x, /cache/images/a41e62824ffa36b87f0b190bf9399137.jpg 2x" alt="Robert Green Ingersoll Gives "Why I Am an Agnostic" Lecture in Rochester"> </a> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-7 col-lg-8 col-xl-9"> <h3><a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-why-i-am-an-agnostic-lecture-in-rochester/" class="app-red-text">Robert Green Ingersoll Gives "Why I Am an Agnostic" Lecture in Rochester</a></h3> <p>January 31, 1897</p> </div> </div> <div class="row row-eq-height mb-3"> <div class="d-none d-md-flex col-md-5 col-lg-4 col-xl-3"> <a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-unknown-lecture-in-rochester/"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/948e52237f2eac3bb59e2a463858d341.jpg 1x, /cache/images/a41e62824ffa36b87f0b190bf9399137.jpg 2x" alt="Robert Green Ingersoll Gives Unknown Lecture in Rochester"> </a> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-7 col-lg-8 col-xl-9"> <h3><a href="/historical-events/event:robert-green-ingersoll-gives-unknown-lecture-in-rochester/" class="app-red-text">Robert Green Ingersoll Gives Unknown Lecture in Rochester</a></h3> <p>January 5, 1898</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-red-bg app-white-text"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-12 col-md-8"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 mb-3"> <h3>Browse Historical Sites</h3> </div> </div> <div class="row text-uppercase"> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <h4><a href="/causes/" class="d-block py-3 app-white-text app-border-bottom app-border-top">By Cause <i class="far fa-long-arrow-alt-right float-right"></i></a></h4> </div> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <h4><a href="/profiles/" class="d-block py-3 app-white-text app-border-bottom app-border-top app-no-border-top">By Those Involved <i class="far fa-long-arrow-alt-right float-right"></i></a></h4> </div> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <h4><a href="/regions/" class="d-block py-3 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