"Freedom of the Theatre" and "Practical Censorship": Two Theater Riots in the Early Twentieth Century.

RIOTS; CENSORSHIP; AMERICAN theater; SYNGE, J. M. (John Millington), 1871-1909; VERA Violetta (Theatrical production); PLAYBOY of the Western World, The (Play : Synge); AUDIENCES; PERFORMING arts audiences; PSYCHOLOGY; TWENTIETH century

The article presents an examination of two theater riots that occurred nine days apart from each other in 1911. The first riot, led by members of the Yale football team, took place at the Hyperion Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut on November 18, 1911 over the censorship of a dancer's act in the play "Vera Violetta." The second riot occurred in New York City at the opening of the play "The Playboy of the Western World," by J. M. Synge, due to poor depictions of Irish characters. The article discusses earlier theater riots from the 19th century and examines how the 1911 riots fit into the American censorship debate.