Moscow Art Theatre, Part 1: 1899-1908

Moscow Art Theatre was the outstanding Russian theatre company that hugely influenced the acting world and the development of modern American theatre and drama. MAT was founded in 1898 by two teachers of dramatic art, Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko. Its purpose was to establish a theatre of naturalism, in contrast to the melodramas that were Russia's dominant form of theatre at the time, with a fresh approach to its function.

Uncle Vanya (1899)

Russian postcard. Vasili Luzhski as Serebryakov in 'Uncle Vanya (Russian: Дядя Ваня – Dyadya Vanya, 1899) by Anton Chekhov, and first performed in 1899 at the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT).

The 1899 Moscow Art Theatre production of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s play, 'Uncle Vanya', was directed by Konstantin Stanislavski, who also played the doctor. To Stanislavski’s consternation, Chekhov declined to explain or expand upon the text of the play, a study of aimlessness and hopelessness. However, as Stanislavski was later to relate, Chekhov’s refusal forced Stanislavski to dig beneath the surface of the text to find psychological truth. The exercise changed Stanislavski’s life and work.

Vasily Luzhski was born in 1869 in Shuya, Vladimir Governorate, Russian Empire (now Ivanovo oblast, Russia). In 1898, he joined Konstantin Stanislavski's original troupe and played Shuisky in the Moscow Art Theatre's very first production, that of 'Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich' by Alexey K. Tolstoy. The same year, he played Sorin in what came to be recognised later as the groundbreaking production of Anton Chekhov's 'The Seagull' and soon became the first Russian performer of the part of Prozorov in 'The Three Sisters'. He was also the first performer of the parts of Serebryakov ('Uncle Vanya' by Anton Chekhov, 1899), Andrey ('The Three Sisters', 1901), Bessemenov ('The Philistines' by Maxim Gorky, 1902), Bubnov ('The Lower Depths' by Gorky, 1902), and Lebedev ('Ivanov', 1904). In all, he had 64 parts in the Moscow Art Theatre and was a co-director of its 23 productions. He died in 1931 in Moscow.


Russian postcard, no. 1000. Collection: Didier Hanson. Photo: Anton Chekhov reading a play to actors; next to him, Konstantin Stanislavski and his wife.

Three Sisters (1901)


Russian postcard. Photo: K. Fisher / Moscow Art Theatre. Vasily Kachalov as Baron Nikolaj Lvovich Tuzenbach and Vera Vsevolodovna Baranovskaya as Irina, the youngest sister in 'Tri sestry' (Three Sisters) by Anton Chekhov. 'Tri sestry' was written in 1900 and first performed in 1901 at the Moscow Art Theatre. Collection: Didier Hanson.


Russian postcard. Photo: K.A. Fisher, Moscow / Moscow Art Theatre. Vasily Kachalov as Baron Nikolaj Lvovich Tuzenbach in 'Tri sestry' (Three Sisters) by Anton Chekhov, first performed in 1901 at the Moscow Art Theatre.


Russian postcard. Photo: K. Fisher / Moscow Art Theatre. Vasily Kachalov as Baron Nikolaj Lvovich Tuzenbach in 'Tri sestry' (Three Sisters) by Anton Chekhov, first performed in 1901 at the Moscow Art Theatre. Collection: Didier Hanson.


Russian postcard. Photo: Moscow Art Theatre. Konstantin Stanislavski as Lieutenant-colonel Aleksandr Ignatyevich Vershinin in 'Tri sestry' (Three Sisters) by Anton Chekhov, first performed in 1901 at the Moscow Art Theatre. Collection: Didier Hansonn.

High-quality art that was available to the general public

Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko wanted to reform Russian theatre to high-quality art that was available to the general public. Sharing similar theatrical experience and interests, the cofounders met, and it was agreed that Stanislavsky was to have absolute control over stage direction while Nemirovich-Danchenko was assigned the literary and administrative duties. Nemirovich was in charge of the literary decisions, and Stanislavski was in charge of all production decisions.

After some 70 rehearsals, the Moscow Art Theatre (or MAT; Russian: Московский Художественный академический театр (МХАТ), Moskovskiy Hudojestvenny Akademicheskiy Teatr (МHАТ)) opened with Aleksey Tolstoy’s 'Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich' in October 1898. The Theatre's first season also included 'The Sunken Bell' by Gerhart Hauptmann and 'The Merchant of Venice' by William Shakespeare, but it wasn't until MAT staged Anton Chekhov's 'The Seagull', with Stanislavski in the role of Trigorin, that the theatre achieved fame.

In its first production, Anton Chekhov’s 'The Seagull' had failed. With its revival of 'The Seagull', the Moscow Art Theatre not only achieved its first major success but also began a long artistic association with one of Russia’s most celebrated playwrights. The MAT productions of his four major plays were among the company's greatest triumphs.

In Chekhov’s artistic realism, the Moscow Art Theatre discovered a writer suited to its aesthetic sensibilities. In 'The Seagull', as in their productions of 'Uncle Vanya' (1899), 'Three Sisters' (1901) and 'The Cherry Orchard' (1904), the MAT emphasised the subtext, the underlying meaning of the playwright’s thought. Chekhov was a literary artist of laconic precision who probed below the surface of life, laying bare the secret motives of his characters.

Artistically, the Moscow Art Theatre tried all that was new. Its repertoire included works of Henrik Ibsen, Maxim Gorky, L.N. Andreyev, Leo Tolstoy, Maurice Maeterlinck, and Gerhart Hauptmann, among others, and it staged works of political and social significance as well as satires, fantasies, and comedies.


Russian postcard. Collection: Didier Hanson.

Konstantin Stanislavski (1863-1938) was a wealthy Russian businessman turned stage director. He founded the Moscow Art Theatre and originated the Stanislavski System of acting.|This acting system was spread over the world by his students, including Michael Chekhov, Aleksei Dikij, Stella Adler, Viktor Tourjansky, and Richard Boleslawski.


Russian postcard. Sent by mail in 1904. Collection: Didier Hanson.

Russian film and stage actor Vasily Kachalov (1875-1948) was one of Konstantin Stanislavsky's best-known performers. He led the so-called Kachalov Group within the Moscow Art Theatre. He also appeared in four films.

The Lower Depths (1902)

Russian postcard, no. 8572. Ivan Moskvin as Luka and Vasily Kachalov as the Baron in 'The Lower Depths' (Russian: На дне) by Maxim Gorky, first performed on 18 December 1902, under the direction of Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko at the Moscow Art Theatre. Collection: Didier Hanson.


Russian pre-revolutionary postcard, no. 2568. Ivan Moskvin as Luka in 'The Lower Depths' by Maxim Gorky, first performed in 1902 at the Moscow Art Theatre.


Russian postcard. Alexander Zagarov as Kleshtch in 'The Lower Depths' by Maxim Gorky, first performed in 1902 at the Moscow Art Theatre.


Russian postcard. Policeman Medvedev (actor unknown) in 'The Lower Depths' (Russian: На дне) by Maxim Gorky. Vladimir Gribunin originally played Medvedev in the 1902 version of The Lower Depths by the Moscow Art Theatre. It is not clear whether this card refers to that version.

Fostering community and trust

The original ensemble of the Moscow Art Theatre was made up of amateur actors from the Society of Art and Literature and from the dramatic classes of the Moscow Philharmonic Society, where Konstantin Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko had taught. Influenced by the German Meiningen Company, Stanislavsky began to develop a system of training for actors that would enable them to perform realistically in any sort of role and situation.

Konstantin Stanislavski interviewed all his actors, making sure they were working hard and devoted as well as talented. He made them live together in common housing for months at a time to foster community and trust, which he believed would raise the quality of their performances. Stanislavski's system, in which he trained actors via the acting studios he founded as part of the theatre, became central to every production the theatre put on. The system had a huge influence on the development of method acting.

Stanislavski and Danchenko's initial goal was an 'open theatre', one that anyone could afford to attend. This goal was quickly destroyed when they could neither obtain adequate funding from private investors nor from the Moscow City Council.

After Anton Chekhov died in 1904, the theatre experienced a huge changeover. Chekhov had envisioned fellow playwright and friend Maxim Gorki as his successor as the Theatre's leading dramatist, but Nemirovich and Stanislavski's reaction to his play 'Summerfolk' was unenthusiastic, causing Gorki to leave. He took with him Savva Morozov, one of the theatre's main investors at the time.

Now in dire straits, the Moscow Art Theatre decided to accept invitations to go on an international tour in 1906. The tour started in Berlin and included Dresden, Frankfurt, Prague, and Vienna. It was a huge success, gaining the theatre international acclaim.

Julius Caesar (1903)

Russian postcard. Vasily Kachalov as Julius Caesar and Alexander Vishnevsky as Mark Antony in William Shakespeare's play 'Julius Caesar', directed by Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko in 1903 at the Moscow Art Theatre.

Aleksandr Vishnevsky (1861-1943) was a Russian actor and one of the founding members of the Moscow Art Theatre.


Russian postcard. Leonid Leonidov as Cassius in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, performed at the Moscow Art Theatre (1903).

Leonid Mironovich Leonidov (1873-1941) was a Russian and Soviet actor and stage director.


Russian postcard. An unknown as a vestal virgin in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, performed at the Moscow Art Theatre (1903).


Russian postcard. Unknowns as Romans in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, performed at the Moscow Art Theatre (1903).


Russian postcard. 'On the Streets of Rome' in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, performed at the Moscow Art Theatre (1903).


Russian postcard. Chadrin or Shadrin as the tavern owner in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, performed at the Moscow Art Theatre (1903).


. Russian postcard by Phototypie Scherer, Nabholz & Co., Moscow 1903. 'Roman nobility' in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, performed at the Moscow Art Theatre (1903). The flower seller seems to refer to literature like 'The Last Days of Pompeii' and paintings like those by Lawrence Alma-Tadema.


Russian postcard by Phototypie Scherer, Nabholz & Co., Moscow 1903. Leonid Leonidov as Cassius and A.L. Zagarov as Pindarus in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, performed at the Moscow Art Theatre (1903).


Russian postcard by Phototypie Scherer, Nabholz & Co., Moscow 1903. Vasily Kachalov as Julius Caesar in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, performed at the Moscow Art Theatre (1903).

The Inspector General (1908)

Russian postcard, no. 47. A.F. (Apollon) Gorev as Kleshtakhov, the presumed General Inspector in 'The Inspector General' (Revizor) by Nikolai Gogol, performed by the Moscow Art Theatre in 1908. From the Art Magazine by I.I. Kornilova & Co., Moscow.

Apollon Gorev (1887-1912) was a Russian stage actor who worked at the Moscow Art Theatre, but he died at a young age. He was the son of the actors F.P. Gorev (1850-1910) and Elizaveta Goreva (1859-1917). As a regular of MAT, he acted in 'The Seagull' (1898), 'Uncle Vanya' (1899), etc., lastly in 1909.

To be continued next week.

Sources: Britannica and Wikipedia (English).

Photo by Scoffone

Riccardo Scoffone (1889-1965) was the Turin-based studio portrait photographer, active from the 1920s to the 1950s. He was the successor to the Montabone photographic studio at 25 Piazza Castello in Turin and a refined portraitist. Scoffone portrayed many of the stars of Italian silent cinema.


Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 350. Photo: Scoffone.

Lyda Borelli (1887-1959) was the first Italian film diva. La Borelli was already an acclaimed stage actress before she became a star of the Italian silent cinema. The fascinating diva caused a craze among female fans, which was called 'Borellismo'.


Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 204. Photo: Scoffone. Italia Almirante Manzini in L'arzigogolo (Mario Almirante, 1924), an adaptation of the play by Sem Benelli.

Italia Almirante Manzini (1890-1941) was one of the divas of the Italian silent cinema. She starred in the classic epic Cabiria (1914).


Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 521. Photo: Scoffone. Italia Almirante Manzini.

A refined portrait photographer

Professional photographer Riccardo Scoffone was born in 1889 in Turin. His brothers, Adriano and Corrado, also became photographers in Cuneo and Acqui, respectively.

Riccardo was the nephew of photographer Luigi Montabone, and in 1912, he took over his studio in Turin at Piazza Castello no. 25.

He was a refined portrait photographer, and he remained active till the 1950s.

In 1923, he was the General Secretary of the Superior Jury of the First International Exhibition of Photography, Optics and Cinematography in Turin, where he received an award for photography outside of the competition.

In the same year, he was awarded the Grand Prize at the International Exhibition in Rio de Janeiro. Riccardo Scoffone died in 1965 in his hometown of Turin.


Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 526. Photo: Scoffone. Italia Almirante Manzini in L'arzigogolo (Mario Almirante, 1924).


Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 528. Photo: Scoffone. Italia Almirante Manzini in L'arzigogolo (Mario Almirante, 1924).


Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 529. Photo: Scoffone. Italia Almirante Manzini in L'arzigogolo (Mario Almirante, 1924).


Italian postcard, no. 539. Photo: Scoffone.

Luigi Almirante (1886–1963) was an Italian stage and screen actor. He started his cinema career in the silent film La bellezza del mondo (1926), directed by Mario Almirante and starring his aunt Italia. With the advent of sound, he began to emerge in comical roles. With his slender body, wiry face and shrill voice, he became one of the best character actors of his time.


Italian postcard by Ed. Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 536. Photo: Scoffone.

Oreste Bilancia (1881-1945) was an Italian stage and film actor who was highly active in Italian silent and sound cinema and German late silent film. He mostly appeared as a supporting actor, but occasionally he played the main character.


Italian postcard by Ed. Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 537. Photo: Scoffone. Oreste Bilancia.


Italian postcard by Vettori, Bologna. Photo: Scoffone, Turin. Caption: Oreste Bilancia. Turin, April 1924.


Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 31. Photo: Scoffone. Oreste Bilancia.

Sources: Associazione per la Fotografia Storica (Italian) and Musei Civici del Comune di Trieste (Italian).

Rosanna Arquette

Rosanna Arquette (1959) is an acclaimed American actress, director, and producer known for her diverse and often boundary-pushing roles across independent and mainstream cinema. Born into an acting dynasty, she rose from a promising young talent in the hit film Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) to a versatile Hollywood presence through her work with auteur directors like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and David Cronenberg.


German collector card by Kino.


British postcard, no. FA 213. Rosanna Arquette and Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan (Susan Seidelman, 1985).


Dutch collector card.

A cultural phenomenon and a commercial hit

Rosanna Lauren Arquette was born in 1959 in New York City. Her parents were the actors and activists Lewis Arquette and Brenda Denaut, and she inherited a deep connection to the performing arts. Rosanna and her siblings, Alexis, Richmond, David, and Patricia Arquette, became synonymous with Hollywood talent. The family frequently moved, living briefly in Virginia before settling in Los Angeles.

Rosanna’s immersion in a creative, albeit unconventional, household set the stage for her own entry into the world of film and television. Arquette left home as a teenager to hitchhike across the United States, an experience that honed her independence before she launched her acting career. Her early work in the late 1970s included television movies and guest appearances on popular shows, quickly establishing her presence in the entertainment industry.

Arquette’s breakout role came in the critically acclaimed independent film Desperately Seeking Susan (Susan Seidelman, 1985). She starred as Roberta Glass, a bored suburban housewife who becomes obsessed with a free-spirited New York City transient named Susan (played by Madonna). The film was a cultural phenomenon and a commercial hit, earning Arquette a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress and establishing her as a unique leading lady capable of nuanced comedic performance.

This success was followed by a pivotal, darker role in Scorsese’s black comedy After Hours (Martin Scorsese, 1985), released the same year. Arquette played Marcy Franklin, a mysterious young woman whose casual encounter with a word processor employee (Griffin Dunne) leads him down a surreal and increasingly dangerous rabbit hole in SoHo. The film, directed by Scorsese, became a cult classic and showcased Arquette’s ability to handle highly stylised, offbeat material.

She continued to work with acclaimed directors throughout the decade. In Le Grand Bleu / The Big Blue (Luc Besson, 1988), Arquette starred as the love interest Johanna Baker. Although a French production, the film gained international attention and further diversified her portfolio. She balanced these high-profile roles with smaller, character-driven projects, consistently choosing material that challenged expectations of a conventional Hollywood starlet.


Canadian postcard by Canadian Postcard, no. A-189.


French postcard by News Productions, Beaulmes, no 56063. Photo: Eric Coiffier. Director and cast of Le Grand Bleu (Luc Besson, 1988) at the Festival de Cannes, 1988. Within the front row from left to right: Marc Duret, Jean-Marc Barr, Rosanna Arquette, Luc Besson, Sergio Castellitto and Andréas Voutsinas.


French postcard by Especially for you, Ref. 30. Photo: publicity still for Le Grand Bleu (Luc Besson, 1988). Jean-Marc Barr, Rosanna Arquette and Luc Besson at the set.

A compromised but kind-hearted drug dealer’s wife

The following decade saw Rosanna Arquette transition seamlessly into character roles that leveraged her unique presence. The most notable of these was her role as the compromised but kind-hearted drug dealer’s wife, Jody, in Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994). Though her screen time was relatively brief, her character’s memorable interactions with John Travolta’s character Vincent Vega are a highlight of the film, which redefined independent cinema and remains a cultural touchstone.

She maintained a busy schedule, appearing in a wide range of genres. She worked again with a highly regarded auteur in the dark urban thriller Crash (David Cronenberg, 1996), based on the J.G. Ballard novel. Arquette played Gabrielle, a complex character involved in a fringe subculture obsessed with car crash injuries and sexual arousal. The film was highly controversial but critically lauded for its bold vision.

As the new millennium approached, Arquette expanded her career to include work behind the camera. She made her directorial debut with the documentary Searching for Debra Winger (2002), in which she interviewed several prominent actresses about the challenges women face in the film industry, particularly regarding ageism and the balance of career and family life. The film was well-received at film festivals for its frank and insightful exploration of Hollywood’s dynamics.

She also directed other projects, including the 2011 documentary It's a Very Sordid Wedding. Throughout her career, Rosanna Arquette has remained a vocal advocate for various social and political causes. She is a dedicated activist who uses her platform to raise awareness about issues ranging from women’s rights to environmental concerns.


Arquette was romantically involved with Peter Gabriel for several years, after his 1987 divorce from Jill Moore. Arquette's first three marriages ended in divorce: to director Tony Greco, film composer James Newton Howard, and restaurateur John Sidel. She has one daughter with Sidel, Zoë Bleu (1994), who is also an actress. In 2013, Arquette married her fourth husband, investment banker Todd Morgan, following a two-year engagement. In 2022, Morgan filed for divorce from Arquette after 8 years of marriage.


French postcard by Ciné Passion, no. GB 6. Photo: Jean-Marc Barr and Rosanna Arquette in Le Grand Bleu / The Big Blue (Luc Besson, 1988).


French poster postcard by Editions "Humour à la Carte", Paris, no. A-C 159. Rosanna Arquette and Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan (Susan Seidelman, 1985).


French postcard by Editions F. Nugeron, no. E 489. Image: Gaumont. French poster by Malinowski for Le Grand Bleu / The Big Blue (Luc Besson, 1988).


French postcard by Sonis, no. C. 492. Photo: Bac Films. Uma Thurman on the French poster for Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994). Caption: Affiche du film.

Sources: RosannaArquette.com, Wikipedia, and IMDb.

Hans Heinz Bollmann

German tenor Hans Heinz Bollmann (1889-1974) was a German opera and operetta star during the 1920s and 1930s. Bollmann also performed in Paris, London, and the USA. He was especially very popular as a chamber singer in Germany. In the 1930s, Bollmann was the star of such extremely successful Operetta films as Die Lindenwirtin (1930) with Käthe Dorsch, Der Bettelstudent (1930) with Jarmila Novotná, and Friederike (1932) with Mady Christians.


German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 6480/1, 1931-1932. Photo: Edith Barakovich, Wien


Austrian postcard by Iris Verlag, no. 6055. Photo: Felsom-Film / Sascha-Film.

A highly successful musical career that spanned decades

Hans Heinz Bollmann was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1889. Initially intending to become a dentist, Bollmann pivoted to a highly successful musical career that spanned decades and included international guest appearances and a notable filmography.

His musical journey began with studies in Hamburg and further vocal perfection under Enrico Rosario in Milan. He made his stage debut during the 1912-1913 season at the Stadttheater in Bochum.

After serving during the First World War, he resumed his career, singing at the Stadttheater of Nuremberg in 1919 and joining the Hamburg Opera from 1921 to 1925. He then moved to the Berlin State Opera, later focusing on operetta in various Berlin theatres, including the Theater des Westens and the Admiralspalast.

His repertoire was extensive, encompassing roles like Don José in 'Carmen', Max in 'Der Freischütz', Rodolfo in 'La Bohème', and Count Almaviva in 'The Barber of Seville'.

A renowned radio star in the 1930s, Bollmann also made numerous gramophone recordings for labels such as Electrola, Homocord, and Odeon. He was married twice and was the father of the actress Hannelore Bollmann.


German song text postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 123/3. Photo: Felsom-Film. Text: Bruno Hardt-Warden. Hans Heinz Bollmann and Käthe Dorsch in Die Lindenwirtin / The Inn at the Rhine (Franz Seitz Sr., 1930).


Austrian postcard by Iris Verlag, no. 6161. Photo: Tobis / Lux-Film-Verleih / Aafa. Hans Heinz Bollmann and Jarmila Novotna in Der Bettelstudent / The Beggar Student (Victor Janson, 1931).

Music always remained his primary passion

The advent of sound film provided another avenue for Hans Heinz Bollmann's popularity, though music always remained his primary passion. His film appearances often featured him as a singer, capitalising on his vocal talents.

His film roles include Dr. Heinz Trieborn in Die Lindenwirtin / The Inn at the Rhine (Franz Seitz Sr., 1930) and Symon in Der Bettelstudent / The Beggar Student (Hans Schwarz, 1931).

He also appeared as Johann Wolfgang Goethe in Friederike / Frederica (Fritz Friedmann-Frederich, 1932), Harald in Frasquita (Carl Hoffmann, 1934), and as the singer in Der König lächelt – Paris lacht (Henri Diamant-Berger, Karel Lamač, 1936).

Bollmann's later film work included the role of Orgass in Die Dubarry (Georg Wildhagen, Arthur Maria Rabenalt, 1951). He made his final stage appearance in 1953 in a production of Lehár's 'The Merry Widow' at the new Hamburg Operettenhaus.

Hans Heinz Bollmann died in 1974 in his native town of Hamburg. He was 84.


German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 128/3. Photo: Aaafa Film. Hans Heinz Bollmann as Symon and Fritz Schulz as Jan Der Bettelstudent / The Beggar Student (Victor Janson, 1931).


German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 128/4. Photo: Aafa Film. Jarmila Novotná, Paul Westermeier and Hans Heinz Bollmann in Der Bettelstudent / The Beggar Student (Victor Janson, 1931).


German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 166/2. Photo: Indra-Film. Mady Christians and Hans Heinz Bollmann in Friederike / Frederica (Fritz Friedmann-Frederich, 1932).

Sources: Ashot Arakelyan (Forgotten Opera Singers), Wikipedia (German and English) and IMDb.