The Lambs

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The Lambs, Inc., (aka The Lambs Club) is one of America's oldest theatrical organizations.

1 History
2 Lambs Theatre
3 Current activity
4 External links

[edit] History

It was originally founded in 1868 in London by actors looking to socialize with like-minded people. Several of those, most notably Henry Montague, came to the US and formed The Lambs of NY during Christmas week of 1874. It was later incorporated in 1877 in New York City, and shortly afterward, the London Lambs folded. The club's name honors the essayist Charles Lamb, and his sister Mary, who during the early 1800s played host to actors and literati at their famed salon in London.

[edit] Lambs Theatre

The Club is often confused with the Lamb's Theater, which was run by the Church of the Nazarene in the same building that The Lambs, Inc. occupied until 1975. The building at 128 West 44th Street was designed by famed architect Stanford White, and was erected in 1904–1905. As part of a bankruptcy arrangement, The Lambs, Inc was forced to relinquish the building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1982 The Lambs Theater has now closed and the building is being gutted. Th facade is preserved and will be part of a hotel.

[edit] Current activity

The Lambs, Inc. is still active today in its quarters at 51st Street and 5th Avenue, where it has been for 35 years. Its members have been instrumental in the formation of ASCAP, Actors' Equity and The Actors' Fund of America. Historically, The Lambs has been the spawning ground of plays, friendships and partnerships. "Mark Twain Tonight" (with Hal Holbrook) and Stalag 17 were first performed at The Lambs prior to their national successes.

Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe first met at the Club and teamed to make theatrical history, often trying works-in-progress on their fellow Lambs. Since its founding, there have been more than 6,000 Lambs including Fred Astaire, Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, John Philip Sousa, Fred Waring and Albert Hague. Current luminaries include the Academy Award winning actor Cliff Robertson, James Karen, Abe Vigoda, Joyce Randolph, and the award-winning conductor/arranger, Donald Pippin.