This branch of the Chute family was well known in Bristol and Bath for theater management and theater arts. James Henry Chute married the daughter of William Macready/McCready; the family is known as the "Macready Chutes" or the "Bristol Chutes".
Based on the writings of his contemporaries, James seems to started out in the theatre profession at quite a young age, beginning his career as a "light comedian", marrying into the Macready family and moving from there into assembly room and theater management, the profession for which he was best remembered.
In the 1860s the Theatre Royal, Bristol, was becoming dilapidated, with cramped scenic facilities, and the King Street area was becoming increasingly run down as the western suburbs developed into fashionable residential districts. Mindful of this, its lessee James Henry Chute decided on the bold move of creating a theatre of his own on the boundary of Bristol and Clifton, in Park Row which opened on 14th October 1867. It held nearly double the capacity of the King Street Theatre Royal. After this, the theatre on King Street was known as the Old Theatre Royal, until the 1880s, the era of Andrew Melville's management, when it was named the Theatre Royal on playbills again. When the New Theatre Royal opened the two Theatres Royal continued side by side for a few months, with some interchange of players. However, as a consequence of overstretched resources and James Henry Chute's near bankruptcy in 1868, the old Theatre Royal had to be closed for a while, and for the next 10 years the theatre was opened only spasmodically, mainly for visits by touring companies.Managers during the period covered by the playbills were: William M'Cready, James Henry Chute, A. Wood and Andrew Melville.
In 1878 James Henry Chute died, quite suddenly, and his sons James and George Macready Chute took over management of both theatres in Bristol. The playbills show a mix of touring companies, touring artistes, and the regular company of the New Theatre Royal.
Obituary Article, James Henry Chute
"The good old provincial school of actors and managers appears to be dying out. But amongst them all none deserves more respect or regret than Mr James Henry Chute, of the Bath and Bristol Circuit, who died last week at the age of sixty-nine. Mr Chute, whom we had the pleasure of knowing personally, was one of the few experienced, competent, liberal, and judicious directors who make themselves and their art respected. He began his career early, and was the comrade of the late Mr Compton in York. He was for a long while in Scotland and Ireland, and in 1841 joined the Bristol Company and met his future wife, Miss Macready, the sister of the great tragedian. They ran away together, but Mrs Macready seeing what a good fellow, handsome fellow, and clever actor Mr Chute was, freely forgave them. Mr Chute helped Mrs Macready in managing the theatre, and at her death became sole manager of the old, and afterwards of the new theatre. In Bristol and Bath he was invariably liked and admired both as actor and gentleman, and his fine old face will be sorely missed by many London stars."
"The Musical World", Volume 56, August 3, 1878. Page 505
Based on the writings of his contemporaries, James seems to started out in the theatre profession at quite a young age, beginning his career as a "light comedian", marrying into the Macready family and moving from there into assembly room and theater management, the profession for which he was best remembered.
In the 1860s the Theatre Royal, Bristol, was becoming dilapidated, with cramped scenic facilities, and the King Street area was becoming increasingly run down as the western suburbs developed into fashionable residential districts. Mindful of this, its lessee James Henry Chute decided on the bold move of creating a theatre of his own on the boundary of Bristol and Clifton, in Park Row which opened on 14th October 1867. It held nearly double the capacity of the King Street Theatre Royal. After this, the theatre on King Street was known as the Old Theatre Royal, until the 1880s, the era of Andrew Melville's management, when it was named the Theatre Royal on playbills again. When the New Theatre Royal opened the two Theatres Royal continued side by side for a few months, with some interchange of players. However, as a consequence of overstretched resources and James Henry Chute's near bankruptcy in 1868, the old Theatre Royal had to be closed for a while, and for the next 10 years the theatre was opened only spasmodically, mainly for visits by touring companies.Managers during the period covered by the playbills were: William M'Cready, James Henry Chute, A. Wood and Andrew Melville.
In 1878 James Henry Chute died, quite suddenly, and his sons James and George Macready Chute took over management of both theatres in Bristol. The playbills show a mix of touring companies, touring artistes, and the regular company of the New Theatre Royal.
Obituary Article, James Henry Chute
"The good old provincial school of actors and managers appears to be dying out. But amongst them all none deserves more respect or regret than Mr James Henry Chute, of the Bath and Bristol Circuit, who died last week at the age of sixty-nine. Mr Chute, whom we had the pleasure of knowing personally, was one of the few experienced, competent, liberal, and judicious directors who make themselves and their art respected. He began his career early, and was the comrade of the late Mr Compton in York. He was for a long while in Scotland and Ireland, and in 1841 joined the Bristol Company and met his future wife, Miss Macready, the sister of the great tragedian. They ran away together, but Mrs Macready seeing what a good fellow, handsome fellow, and clever actor Mr Chute was, freely forgave them. Mr Chute helped Mrs Macready in managing the theatre, and at her death became sole manager of the old, and afterwards of the new theatre. In Bristol and Bath he was invariably liked and admired both as actor and gentleman, and his fine old face will be sorely missed by many London stars."
"The Musical World", Volume 56, August 3, 1878. Page 505
This branch of the Chute family was well known in Bristol and Bath for theater management and theater arts. James Henry Chute married the daughter of William Macready/McCready; the family is known as the "Macready Chutes" or the "Bristol Chutes".
Based on the writings of his contemporaries, James seems to started out in the theatre profession at quite a young age, beginning his career as a "light comedian", marrying into the Macready family and moving from there into assembly room and theater management, the profession for which he was best remembered.
In the 1860s the Theatre Royal, Bristol, was becoming dilapidated, with cramped scenic facilities, and the King Street area was becoming increasingly run down as the western suburbs developed into fashionable residential districts. Mindful of this, its lessee James Henry Chute decided on the bold move of creating a theatre of his own on the boundary of Bristol and Clifton, in Park Row which opened on 14th October 1867. It held nearly double the capacity of the King Street Theatre Royal. After this, the theatre on King Street was known as the Old Theatre Royal, until the 1880s, the era of Andrew Melville's management, when it was named the Theatre Royal on playbills again. When the New Theatre Royal opened the two Theatres Royal continued side by side for a few months, with some interchange of players. However, as a consequence of overstretched resources and James Henry Chute's near bankruptcy in 1868, the old Theatre Royal had to be closed for a while, and for the next 10 years the theatre was opened only spasmodically, mainly for visits by touring companies.Managers during the period covered by the playbills were: William M'Cready, James Henry Chute, A. Wood and Andrew Melville.
In 1878 James Henry Chute died, quite suddenly, and his sons James and George Macready Chute took over management of both theatres in Bristol. The playbills show a mix of touring companies, touring artistes, and the regular company of the New Theatre Royal.
Obituary Article, James Henry Chute
"The good old provincial school of actors and managers appears to be dying out. But amongst them all none deserves more respect or regret than Mr James Henry Chute, of the Bath and Bristol Circuit, who died last week at the age of sixty-nine. Mr Chute, whom we had the pleasure of knowing personally, was one of the few experienced, competent, liberal, and judicious directors who make themselves and their art respected. He began his career early, and was the comrade of the late Mr Compton in York. He was for a long while in Scotland and Ireland, and in 1841 joined the Bristol Company and met his future wife, Miss Macready, the sister of the great tragedian. They ran away together, but Mrs Macready seeing what a good fellow, handsome fellow, and clever actor Mr Chute was, freely forgave them. Mr Chute helped Mrs Macready in managing the theatre, and at her death became sole manager of the old, and afterwards of the new theatre. In Bristol and Bath he was invariably liked and admired both as actor and gentleman, and his fine old face will be sorely missed by many London stars."
"The Musical World", Volume 56, August 3, 1878. Page 505
Based on the writings of his contemporaries, James seems to started out in the theatre profession at quite a young age, beginning his career as a "light comedian", marrying into the Macready family and moving from there into assembly room and theater management, the profession for which he was best remembered.
In the 1860s the Theatre Royal, Bristol, was becoming dilapidated, with cramped scenic facilities, and the King Street area was becoming increasingly run down as the western suburbs developed into fashionable residential districts. Mindful of this, its lessee James Henry Chute decided on the bold move of creating a theatre of his own on the boundary of Bristol and Clifton, in Park Row which opened on 14th October 1867. It held nearly double the capacity of the King Street Theatre Royal. After this, the theatre on King Street was known as the Old Theatre Royal, until the 1880s, the era of Andrew Melville's management, when it was named the Theatre Royal on playbills again. When the New Theatre Royal opened the two Theatres Royal continued side by side for a few months, with some interchange of players. However, as a consequence of overstretched resources and James Henry Chute's near bankruptcy in 1868, the old Theatre Royal had to be closed for a while, and for the next 10 years the theatre was opened only spasmodically, mainly for visits by touring companies.Managers during the period covered by the playbills were: William M'Cready, James Henry Chute, A. Wood and Andrew Melville.
In 1878 James Henry Chute died, quite suddenly, and his sons James and George Macready Chute took over management of both theatres in Bristol. The playbills show a mix of touring companies, touring artistes, and the regular company of the New Theatre Royal.
Obituary Article, James Henry Chute
"The good old provincial school of actors and managers appears to be dying out. But amongst them all none deserves more respect or regret than Mr James Henry Chute, of the Bath and Bristol Circuit, who died last week at the age of sixty-nine. Mr Chute, whom we had the pleasure of knowing personally, was one of the few experienced, competent, liberal, and judicious directors who make themselves and their art respected. He began his career early, and was the comrade of the late Mr Compton in York. He was for a long while in Scotland and Ireland, and in 1841 joined the Bristol Company and met his future wife, Miss Macready, the sister of the great tragedian. They ran away together, but Mrs Macready seeing what a good fellow, handsome fellow, and clever actor Mr Chute was, freely forgave them. Mr Chute helped Mrs Macready in managing the theatre, and at her death became sole manager of the old, and afterwards of the new theatre. In Bristol and Bath he was invariably liked and admired both as actor and gentleman, and his fine old face will be sorely missed by many London stars."
"The Musical World", Volume 56, August 3, 1878. Page 505
Inscription
In loving memory of
A dear mother and father
Mazzarina Emily Chute
Died 27th March 1878
Aged 53 years
And James Henry Chute
Died 23rd July 1878
Aged 68 years
They rest from their labours
In loving memory of
James MacReady Chute
Died February 15th 1912 aged 55
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow
Of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me
William MacReady Chute
Left this world June 27th 1933
Aged 87 years
Well done thou good and
Faithful servant
In loving memory of
George MacReady Chute
Died at Aliwal
North Cape Colony
August 12th 1888
Aged 37 years
Henry M Chute
MRCS LROP
King William Town
South Africa
21st Nov 1927
Also of
Jenny Mazzy Chute
Died at Godesberg Rhenish
Prussia 1st August 1877
Aged 13 years
And Barbara Elise
Twin daughter of
Charles and Sybil Chute
Died May 3rd 1889
Aged 7 months
Gravesite Details
Age on memorial would appear to be incorrect
Family Members
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