East in Eden: William Niblo and His Pleasure Garden of Yore

William Niblo was the pre-eminent coffee-house operator of New York City from 1813 to 1828 and then became world famous as the founder and operator of NIblo's Garden, a genteel indoor/outdoor pleasure garden modeled on London's famed Vauxhall Garden. In various incarnations on the same site, Niblo's Garden became the Radio City Music Hall of its days. Anyone who was or aspired to be famous on New York's stage appeared at Niblo's, be they opera singers, thespians, acrobats or more.