Arthur Cheney scrapbooks

1867-1875

Arthur Cheney (1837-1878) was a theatre manager and proprietor. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Cheney was the son of Ward Cheney, a silk manufacturer, and Caroline Jackson. Arthur Cheney married Emeline Lewis (1841-1915) in 1860.

Cheney's interest in theatres led him and others to invest in the Selwyn Theatre built in 1867. The theatre was located at 598 Washington Street, near the corner of Essex Street, in Boston. The Selwyn Theatre was managed by British-American actor and scenic painter John H. Selwyn (1836-1873). In 1868, Selwyn left the theatre, to pursue other theatrical interests. The Selwyn Theatre was subsequently managed by Edward and George Hanlon. The Hanlons were part of a family team of six acrobatic brothers.

In 1870, the Selwyn Theatre was destroyed by a fire. A year later, Cheney rebuilt on the same site, establishing the Globe Theatre. The Globe Theatre and the Selwyn Theatre were a popular venue for theatrical entertainment.

One of the employees, George B. Farnsworth, worked as treasurer for both theaters. After Cheney died, the Globe Theatre would continue to operate under the management of John Stetson. The Globe Theatre burned down in 1894 from a gas explosion (New York Times, January 2, 1894).