Beefsteak Club: Difference between revisions
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There was also a '''Rump-Steak Club''' (also called '''The Patriots Club''') of London which was in existence in 1733-34 and were "eager in opposition to Sir Robert Walpole".<ref>Timbs, 1872</ref> |
There was also a '''Rump-Steak Club''' (also called '''The Patriots Club''') of London which was in existence in 1733-34 and were "eager in opposition to Sir Robert Walpole".<ref>Timbs, 1872</ref> |
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The '''Sublime Society of Beef Steaks''' (or SSBS) was established in 1735 by [[John Rich (producer)|John Rich]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Covent Garden]], of which he was then manager. One version of its origin has it that Charles Mordaunt, 4th [[Earl of Peterborough]] supping one night with Rich in his private room, was so delighted with the steak the latter grilled him that he suggested a repetition of the meal the next week. Out of this began the society, the members of which delighted to call themselves "The Steaks." The early core of the society was made up of actors, artists, men of wit and song, among them [[William Hogarth]], [[David Garrick]], [[John Rich (producer)|John Rich]], [[John Wilkes]], [[John Philip Kemble]]. Arnold (1871) and Timbs (1872) both state that the Samuel Johnson who joined the SSBS in 1780 was the famous Dr Johnson.<ref>A professional historian stated in 2008 (personal correspondence) stated the contrary opinion</ref> The society soon became much celebrated and these men of the arts were joined by noblemen, royalty, statesmen and great soldiers: In 1785, [[George IV of the United Kingdom|the Prince of Wales]] joined, and later his brothers the dukes of [[William IV of the United Kingdom|Clarence]] and [[Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex|Sussex]] became members. [[Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk]], Premier Duke and Earl Marshal of England joined in 1779. They met at Covent Garden until the fire of 1808, when the club moved first to the Bedford Coffee House, and thence the following year to the [[Lyceum Theatre, London|Old Lyceum Theatre]]. On the burning of the Lyceum in 1830, "The Steaks" met again in the Bedford Coffee House until 1838, when the Theatre reopened, and a large room there was allotted the club. These meetings were held till the club ceased to exist in 1867. [[Sir Henry Irving]] revived the traditions of the society on an informal basis during his ownership of the New Lyceum until his death holding an unknown number of regular "Revival Dinners of the The Sublime Society of Beef Steaks. The society was again re-formed in 1966 since when it has met continuously, first at the Irish Club in Eaton Square, then at the Beefsteak Club in Irving Street and today meets in a private room at the Boisdale Club and Restaurant in [[Pimlico]] and, annually, at [[White's Club]] where it is able to dine at the society's original table. Although other of the society's symbolically most potent relics (such as the original 'Grid Iron', 'Sword of State', 'Halberts', the 'President's Chair') have passed down to current members or to the society, the SSBS leaves such items in safety, keeping less fragile replicas and proxy items for its normal meetings in Central London. |
The '''Sublime Society of Beef Steaks''' (or SSBS) was established in 1735 by [[John Rich (producer)|John Rich]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Covent Garden]], of which he was then manager. One version of its origin has it that Charles Mordaunt, 4th [[Earl of Peterborough]] supping one night with Rich in his private room, was so delighted with the steak the latter grilled him that he suggested a repetition of the meal the next week. Out of this began the society, the members of which delighted to call themselves "The Steaks." The early core of the society was made up of actors, artists, men of wit and song, among them [[William Hogarth]], [[David Garrick]], [[John Rich (producer)|John Rich]], [[John Wilkes]], [[John Philip Kemble]]. Arnold (1871) and Timbs (1872) both state that the Samuel Johnson who joined the SSBS in 1780 was the famous Dr Johnson.<ref>A professional historian stated in 2008 (personal correspondence) stated the contrary opinion</ref> The society soon became much celebrated and these men of the arts were joined by noblemen, royalty, statesmen and great soldiers: In 1785, [[George IV of the United Kingdom|the Prince of Wales]] joined, and later his brothers the dukes of [[William IV of the United Kingdom|Clarence]] and [[Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex|Sussex]] became members. [[Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk]], Premier Duke and Earl Marshal of England joined in 1779. They met at Covent Garden until the fire of 1808, when the club moved first to the Bedford Coffee House, and thence the following year to the [[Lyceum Theatre, London|Old Lyceum Theatre]]. |
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On the burning of the Lyceum in 1830, "The Steaks" met again in the Bedford Coffee House until 1838, when the Theatre reopened, and a large room there was allotted the club. These meetings were held till the club ceased to exist in 1867. [[Sir Henry Irving]] revived the traditions of the society on an informal basis during his ownership of the New Lyceum until his death holding an unknown number of regular "Revival Dinners of the The Sublime Society of Beef Steaks. The society was again re-formed in 1966 since when it has met continuously, first at the Irish Club in Eaton Square, then at the Beefsteak Club in Irving Street and today meets in a private room at the Boisdale Club and Restaurant in [[Pimlico]] and, annually, at [[White's Club]] where it is able to dine at the society's original table. Although other of the society's symbolically most potent relics (such as the original 'Grid Iron', 'Sword of State', 'Halberts', the 'President's Chair') have passed down to current members or to the society, the SSBS leaves such items in safety, keeping less fragile replicas and proxy items for its normal meetings in Central London. |
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[[Thomas Sheridan]] founded a '''Beefsteak Club''' in [[Dublin]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Dublin|Theatre Royal]] in 1749, and of this [[Margaret Woffington|Peg Woffington]] was president. The '''Liberty Beef Steak Club''' sought to show solidarity with the radical [[John Wilkes]] MP and met at Appleby’s Tavern in Parliament Street, London for an unknown duration after Wilkes’ return from exile in France in 1768. |
[[Thomas Sheridan]] founded a '''Beefsteak Club''' in [[Dublin]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Dublin|Theatre Royal]] in 1749, and of this [[Margaret Woffington|Peg Woffington]] was president. The '''Liberty Beef Steak Club''' sought to show solidarity with the radical [[John Wilkes]] MP and met at Appleby’s Tavern in Parliament Street, London for an unknown duration after Wilkes’ return from exile in France in 1768. |
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Revision as of 21:12, 20 November 2010
| Founded | 1876 |
|---|---|
| Home Page | N/A |
| Address | 9 Irving Street |
| Clubhouse occupied since | 1876 |
| Club established for | Social |
Beefsteak Club is the name, nickname and historically common misnomer applied by sources to several 18th and 19th century clubs that celebrated the beefsteak as a symbol of patriotic and often Whig concepts of liberty and prosperity.
The Beefsteak Club of Irving Street, London
The Beefsteak Club that currently meets in Irving Street, London, is the most famous of beefsteak clubs. It was founded in 1876 in rooms above the Folly Theatre, in King William IV Street. It became an essential after-theatre club for the bohemian theatre set, such as John Lawrence Toole, Henry Irving, John Hare, W. H. Kendal, F. C. Burnand, Henry Labouchère, W. S. Gilbert, Corney Grain and two hundred of their peers.[1] It soon moved to Green Street.[2] Gilbert, who could not bring himself to attend his own plays' opening nights, often waited at the club until the performances were over.[2] That club occasionally performed amateur plays for their own amusement and to raise funds for charities. In 1878, they performed The Forty Thieves written by Robert Reece, Gilbert, Burnand, and Henry J. Byron.[3]
Other Clubs
The first known beefsteak club (the Beef-Stake Club, Beef-Steak Clubb or Honourable Beef-Steak Club) seems to have been that founded either shortly before 1705 or in 1709 in London. Richard Estcourt, actor, was steward and its most popular member. William Chetwood in "A General History of the Stage" is the much quoted source that the "chief Wits and great men of the nation" were members of this club. Famously it is also the first beefsteak club known to have used a gridiron as its badge.
There was also a Rump-Steak Club (also called The Patriots Club) of London which was in existence in 1733-34 and were "eager in opposition to Sir Robert Walpole".[4]
The Sublime Society of Beef Steaks (or SSBS) was established in 1735 by John Rich at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, of which he was then manager. One version of its origin has it that Charles Mordaunt, 4th Earl of Peterborough supping one night with Rich in his private room, was so delighted with the steak the latter grilled him that he suggested a repetition of the meal the next week. Out of this began the society, the members of which delighted to call themselves "The Steaks." The early core of the society was made up of actors, artists, men of wit and song, among them William Hogarth, David Garrick, John Rich, John Wilkes, John Philip Kemble. Arnold (1871) and Timbs (1872) both state that the Samuel Johnson who joined the SSBS in 1780 was the famous Dr Johnson.[5] The society soon became much celebrated and these men of the arts were joined by noblemen, royalty, statesmen and great soldiers: In 1785, the Prince of Wales joined, and later his brothers the dukes of Clarence and Sussex became members. Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk, Premier Duke and Earl Marshal of England joined in 1779. They met at Covent Garden until the fire of 1808, when the club moved first to the Bedford Coffee House, and thence the following year to the Old Lyceum Theatre.
On the burning of the Lyceum in 1830, "The Steaks" met again in the Bedford Coffee House until 1838, when the Theatre reopened, and a large room there was allotted the club. These meetings were held till the club ceased to exist in 1867. Sir Henry Irving revived the traditions of the society on an informal basis during his ownership of the New Lyceum until his death holding an unknown number of regular "Revival Dinners of the The Sublime Society of Beef Steaks. The society was again re-formed in 1966 since when it has met continuously, first at the Irish Club in Eaton Square, then at the Beefsteak Club in Irving Street and today meets in a private room at the Boisdale Club and Restaurant in Pimlico and, annually, at White's Club where it is able to dine at the society's original table. Although other of the society's symbolically most potent relics (such as the original 'Grid Iron', 'Sword of State', 'Halberts', the 'President's Chair') have passed down to current members or to the society, the SSBS leaves such items in safety, keeping less fragile replicas and proxy items for its normal meetings in Central London.
Thomas Sheridan founded a Beefsteak Club in Dublin at the Theatre Royal in 1749, and of this Peg Woffington was president. The Liberty Beef Steak Club sought to show solidarity with the radical John Wilkes MP and met at Appleby’s Tavern in Parliament Street, London for an unknown duration after Wilkes’ return from exile in France in 1768.
John Timbs writes of a Beef-Steak Club which met at the Bell Tavern, Church Row, Houndsditch, and was instituted by "Mr Beard, Mr Dunstall, Mr Woodward, Stoppalear, Bencroft, Gifford etc". Timbs (1872) gives no date for this club.[6] Timbs also states that 'The Club in Ivy-Lane, of which Dr Johnson was a member, was originally a Beef-Steak Club'.
Many beefsteak clubs of the 18th and 19th centuries centuries have used the traditional grilling gridiron as their symbol and some are even named after it: the Gridiron Club of Oxford, England was founded in 1884, and the Gridiron Club of Washington D.C. was founded the year after. These two clubs also still exist.
A German-made mug dated (according to Heritage Auctions Texas 14 December 2005 and ebay.com 2 October 2008) to 1915 commemorates an apparently American club known as the Ned Harringdon Popularity Beefsteak Club. The mug celebrates "Our Commodore Hon. Alfred E. Smith".
See also
Notes
- ^ Elliot, p. 109
- ^ a b Stedman, p. 138
- ^ Hollingshead, John. Good Old Gaiety: An Historiette & Remembrance, pp. 39–41 (1903), London: Gaity Theatre Co
- ^ Timbs, 1872
- ^ A professional historian stated in 2008 (personal correspondence) stated the contrary opinion
- ^ Timbs (1872) gives no date for this club but cites Memoirs of Charles Lee Lewis, vol ii. p. 196 as his source.
References
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - Allen, Robert J., The Clubs of Augustan London 1933 Harvard, pp. 137–145
- Arnold, Walter, Life and Death of the Sublime Society of Steaks (1871)
- Chetwood, William, A General History of the Stage, Dublin 1749, p. 143
- Obituary, Lord Michael Pratt, 21 September 2007 The Daily Telegraph
- Elliot, William Gerald. Amateur Clubs and Actors (1898) London: E. Arnold
- New York Times, Thirty Years of Gridiron Club Dinners, 24 October 1915
- Rogers, Ben, Beef and Liberty, Roast Beef, John Bull and the English Nation, p. 137
- Stedman, Jane W. (1996). W. S. Gilbert, A Classic Victorian & His Theatre. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-816174-3.
- Timbs, John, Clubs and Club Life in London, London 1872, p. 136
Further reading
- Shelley, Henry C., "Inns and Taverns of Old London" (1909)
- Horne, Colin J. “Notes on Steele and the Beef-Steak Club”, The Review of English Studies, Vol. 21, No. 83 (Jul., 1945), pp. 239–244
- Town, Mr. "The Connoisseur". By Mr. Town, Critic and Censor-General (London, 1761), i, p. 153 and/or Issue 29, 6 June 1754
- Pick, John, "Irving’s Audience", Annual Lecture of The Irving Society