#machinal

[peeterpatter]

hilarious message to receive from our stage manager^

[theatreocelot]

Young woman core

[newyorkthegoldenage]

The Ruth Snyder/Judd Gray trial in April and May of 1927 was one of the biggest sensations of the time. They were tried for, and eventually convicted of, murdering Snyder's husband for the insurance money. Journalists fought for entrance to the courtroom in the Queens County Courthouse in Long Island City. One, Sophie Treadwell, used the story as the basis of her hit play, Machinal,* which played on Broadway the following year, with Zita Johann in the Snyder-inspired role and a young actor making his Broadway debut, Clark Gable, in the Gray role.

*Note: If you click on the link above, which discusses the trial and the play in more detail, be prepared for a shocking photo of Snyder in the electric chair. It ran on the front page of the Daily News on January 12, 1928.

Photo: NY Times Photo Archives

[do-you-know-this-play]

Do You Know “Machinal”?

Yes, I’ve been in/worked on it

Yes, I’ve seen it

Yes, I’ve read it

No, but I’ve heard of it

No, never heard of it

Voting ended onDec 5, 2023

[come-see-our-show]

i've played a lot of roles in my day, kid. anywho let's see which one you are. WARNING: excessive potty mouth!!!!

new uquiz for all you theater bitches and non-theater bitches alike

[supermusicallee]

rip ruth snyder, you would have loved chicago the musical

[rebeccahalldaily]

Rebecca Hall and Morgan Spector photographed by Shawn Brackbill for The New York Times