Michael Ralph Thomas Gunn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Ralph Thomas Gunn
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Michael Gunn c. 1890
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| Born | 1840 |
| Died | 24 October 1901 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Theater manager |
| Known for | Gaiety Theatre, Dublin |
Michael Ralph Thomas Gunn (born 1840, died 1901) was a clever Irish businessman. He was also a theater manager who built and ran the famous Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. For many years, he worked closely with Richard D'Oyly Carte, who was known for the popular Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Michael Gunn even invested in some of Carte's projects. He also helped manage Carte's theaters and touring shows in England when Carte was in the United States.
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Michael Gunn's Early Life and Family Business
Michael Gunn's father, also named Michael, moved to Dublin from Scotland. He started working as a piano tuner. His mother, Elle, made corsets. Their sons, John and Michael, were born in Dublin in 1832 and 1840.
In 1850, the family opened a music business. They sold pianos and harmoniums. Later, they also sold and published sheet music. Young Michael loved music. He became very good at playing the violin and the piano.
The brothers, John and Michael, both worked in the family business. In 1861, their father died in an accident. A horse-drawn bus he was on backed into a canal lock. In 1862, his mother received money for damages. In 1864, their company, M. Gunn and Sons, moved to a larger store. It was on Grafton Street in downtown Dublin. They advertised "the finest collection of pianofortes ever brought together in Ireland." The company opened another store in Cork in 1869.
In 1872, Michael Gunn ran for a spot on the Dublin Municipal Council. He said he was a Liberal and supported Home Rule. This meant he wanted Ireland to have more control over its own government. He won the election and held his seat until 1878. He had to leave the council because his businesses needed too much of his time. Michael loved to travel. He spoke French and Italian very well, and some German too. While visiting France and Italy, he got the idea to build a modern theater in Dublin.
Building the Gaiety Theatre
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On April 21, 1871, John and Michael Gunn got a special license. It allowed them to open a theater for 21 years. They could put on any kind of play or show. The brothers built the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin in 1871. It cost £26,000 to build. The theater was finished very quickly, in just 28 weeks! The designer was Charles J. Phipps, who had designed many theaters before.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin laid the first stone on July 1, 1871. But by then, much of the building was already done. The Gaiety Theatre opened on November 27, 1871. The first play was She Stoops to Conquer.
From the start, the Gunns decided their new theater would be a "receiving house." This meant it would host touring theater groups. It would not have its own actors or plays. Other Dublin theaters had their own performers. But the Gaiety offered a stage for touring groups almost all year. At Christmas, they put on a pantomime show that they produced themselves. This gave the public more choices. It also gave touring groups a bigger audience. Plus, it saved money because the theater needed fewer employees.
The Gunns brought the best actors and groups to Dublin. They performed classic plays by Shakespeare and others. They also showed classical opera, light opera from Gilbert and Sullivan, and opéra bouffe. Famous performers like Adelaide Ristori and Sarah Bernhardt appeared at the Gaiety. Emily Soldene caused a stir when she wore tights and rode a horse onto the stage!
In March 1874, the Gunn brothers bought the Theatre Royal, Dublin. Michael Gunn opened the Theatre Royal on April 5, 1874. John and Michael Gunn still owned the Gaiety together. But John managed the Gaiety, and Michael managed the Theatre Royal. John died in April 1878 after a long illness. Michael then became the only owner and manager of both theaters.
Working with Richard D'Oyly Carte
In June 1875, a theater company managed by Richard D'Oyly Carte toured England and Ireland. They performed operas like La Périchole and Trial by Jury by Gilbert and Sullivan. After ten weeks in England, the company came to the Gaiety Theatre. Carte spent time with the Gunns. Michael Gunn became very excited about Carte's plans for comic opera in England. Michael Gunn became a close friend and business partner of Carte.
In June 1879, Carte went to the United States. He left Gunn in charge of his opera business in England. Gunn sent two groups to perform Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore across Britain. During Carte's absence, Gunn also handled legal issues for Carte.
In 1879, Carte became interested in building a new theater in London. In 1880, he involved Gunn. Gunn helped him find businessmen to form a group. Both Gunn and Carte had shares in this group. The new theater was first called the Beaufort Theatre. But it was later named the Savoy Theatre. It was named after the old Savoy Palace nearby. C. J. Phipps was hired as the architect. The Savoy Theatre opened on October 10, 1881. In 1881, Gunn made Gilbert upset. He booked a musical by another writer for the Savoy. Gunn had to move the show to a different theater.
In early 1882, Carte went to New York. Gunn was in charge of the Gilbert and Sullivan touring groups. He also managed the Savoy Theatre. Gunn kept investing in new projects in London. For example, he bought a large part of the Savoy Turkish Baths Company. When the Savoy Hotel opened in 1889, Gunn was listed as one of its directors.
Later Business Ventures
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The Theatre Royal in Dublin was completely destroyed by fire on February 9, 1879. After this, Gunn spent more time in Dublin. In 1883, he hired the architect Frank Matcham to make the Gaiety bigger. Matcham redecorated the inside of the theater. He also built an extension that held new bars.
In 1886, Gunn built a new theater called Leinster Hall. It was on the site of the old Theatre Royal. Famous singers like Adelina Patti and Nellie Melba performed there. The hall was used for concerts that were affordable for everyone. Gunn later opened the first commercial gym in Ireland next to the hall. After Gunn retired and moved to London, Leinster Hall became a new Theatre Royal in 1897.
Michael Gunn's Family Life
Gunn was interested in Barbara Johnstone, an actress in Carte's 1875 company. She used the stage name Bessie Sudlow. Richard D'Oyly Carte was Michael Gunn's best man when he married Johnstone. They got married on October 26, 1876, in London. After they married, Bessie only performed on stage one more time.
They had six children. These included Kevin (born 1880), Brendan (born 1881), Selskar, and Haidée (both born in 1883). Haidée and Agnes both became actresses. Agnes later became Lady Webb when she married Sir Ambrose Henry Webb. Selskar Gunn became well-known as an expert in public health.
The Gunns had a house in Dublin and another in London. They were one of the richest families in Dublin. They often held big parties at their house. Gunn was a close friend of John Stanislaus Joyce, who was the father of the famous writer James Joyce. James Joyce became friends with Michael's son Selskar. In James Joyce's book Finnegans Wake, Gunn is mentioned many times.
Michael Gunn died at his London home on October 24, 1901. He was 61 years old. His wife became the owner of the Gaiety Theatre. She owned it until 1909.
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