Once upon a time, NYC was the leader in American dislike for the British. What you gotta understand is that Great Britain and the US were almost thinking about going to war against each other… again. The whole “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” thing, among other disputes. This time though, it wasn’t the national governments that stopped it.
Still, it the common opinion in America to dislike all things British. Including actors. Which was weird, because at one point Americans in NYC, an American actor starting trying to out-act a British Actor performing in Shakespearian play.
Follow me here… two actors… one British, one American… were competing at performing Shakespeare. Specifically, Macbeth. Americans were encouraged to boo and hiss at the British actors while cheering the American ones.
And… on May 10, 1849 this competition, driven by class and national rivalry, got… well… like NYC… out of hand…
