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Algonquin Round Table

The Algonquin Round Table was a renowned group of New York City writers, critics, actors, journalists, and wits who gathered daily for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel from the late 1910s through the early 1930s, becoming a symbol of the era's vibrant literary and theatrical scene.^[1]^[2] The group originated in June 1919 when publicists John Peter Toohey and Murdock Pemberton organized a roast for New York Times drama critic Alexander Woollcott upon his return from World War I service, hosting the event in the hotel's Pergola Room (later the Oak Room).^[3] The gathering's success led to near-daily meetings around a large round table in the Rose Room, attracting a rotating cast of about a dozen to twenty participants who engaged in sharp-witted banter and intellectual discourse.^[1]^[4] Prominent members included Dorothy Parker, a poet, critic, and short-story writer known for her acerbic humor; Robert Benchley, a humorist and drama critic; George S. Kaufman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright; Alexander Woollcott, the theater critic who inspired the group's start; Edna Ferber, a novelist and playwright; Heywood Broun, a journalist; Harpo Marx of the Marx Brothers; and Franklin P. Adams, a columnist whose "Conning Tower" featured contributions from many members.^[1]^[3] Women such as Parker, Ferber, and Ruth Hale (a journalist and Benchley's wife) played central roles, challenging the male-dominated literary world of the time.^[1]^[5] The Round Table's activities extended beyond conversation to collaborative projects, including the 1922 one-night satirical revue No Sirree!, and contributions to the founding of The New Yorker magazine by Harold Ross in 1925, which many members helped shape with their sophisticated humor.^[1]^[2] These gatherings fostered a culture of verbal sparring and creative exchange, often captured in press photographs and cartoons that immortalized the group's camaraderie.^[4] By the early 1930s, the Round Table gradually dissolved due to members' evolving careers, marriages, and the Great Depression's impact, though it never ended abruptly but "just sort of faded," as playwright Marc Connelly later recalled.^[1] Its legacy endures as a benchmark for artistic collaboration in American cultural history, influencing modern notions of literary salons and celebrated in works like the 1987 documentary film The Ten-Year Lunch.^[1]^[5]

Formation and Early Years

Origins

The Algonquin Round Table originated as a practical joke orchestrated by theatrical publicist John Peter Toohey in June 1919, aimed at roasting New York Times drama critic Alexander Woollcott upon his return from World War I reporting in Europe.^[6] Toohey, annoyed by Woollcott's self-promotional tendencies and his absence from New York theater circles for nearly two years, collaborated with press agent Murdock Pemberton to host a mock welcome-home luncheon that would playfully mock the critic's ego.^[7] The event drew about twenty friends from Broadway and journalism circles, transforming a one-off gag into the spark for ongoing gatherings.^[8] The first meeting took place in June 1919, in the Algonquin Hotel's Pergola Room, a space chosen for its central Midtown location and the hotel's popularity among theatrical professionals.^[6] Early invitees included columnist Franklin P. Adams, sportswriter Heywood Broun, and playwright Marc Connelly, who joined Toohey, Pemberton, and Woollcott at pushed-together rectangular tables for the satirical roast.^[8] Woollcott, far from offended, embraced the humor and encouraged repeat lunches, drawing in more participants from the city's literary and entertainment scenes by the summer's end.^[7] As the lunches became a daily fixture, the group earned the moniker "The Vicious Circle" from hotel staff and observers, reflecting their sharp, self-deprecating wit that often bordered on biting sarcasm.^[8] This name, adopted by the members themselves, underscored the informal yet influential nature of their early assemblies at the Algonquin, a venue already favored by New York's creative elite for its discreet atmosphere.^[6]

Initial Gatherings

By the fall of 1919, the informal luncheons that began as a one-off roast in June of that year for critic Alexander Woollcott—organized by publicist John Peter Toohey and publicist Murdock Pemberton—had evolved into a near-daily ritual limited to weekdays, reflecting the professional schedules of the participants.^[3]^[9] Initially comprising just four to six attendees from journalistic and theatrical circles, the group expanded to as many as 16 regulars, drawn together by shared ties to New York City's burgeoning post-World War I cultural scene, where writers, critics, and performers sought camaraderie amid the city's creative resurgence.^[10]^[9] The Algonquin Hotel's general manager, Frank Case, played a pivotal role in formalizing these gatherings, relocating the group from makeshift setups in the Pergola Room to a dedicated round table in the adjacent Rose Room to accommodate the growing numbers and foster an inclusive dynamic.^[3]^[10] Case, a former actor attuned to the value of publicity, encouraged the routine by reserving the space indefinitely, providing complimentary coffee and hors d'oeuvres, and running a monthly tab that members often settled irregularly, thereby enhancing the hotel's allure during the era's economic optimism.^[10]^[11] This supportive atmosphere, infused with lively banter and verbal sparring, led the group to adopt the name "Round Table," evoking the egalitarian ideals of King Arthur's legendary fellowship, though they were also derisively known among hotel staff as the "Vicious Circle" for their sharp-witted exchanges.^[9]^[3] As Prohibition took effect in January 1920, the gatherings' regularity solidified, with the weekday lunches serving as a sober prelude to after-hours visits to nearby speakeasies, where the group's theatrical and journalistic connections facilitated access to illicit venues amid New York's vibrant, if regulated, nightlife.^[9]^[12] By mid-1920, this routine had become a fixture, mirroring the city's post-war cultural boom that emphasized intellectual ferment and social experimentation among creative elites.^[10]^[9]

Membership

Core Members

The core members of the Algonquin Round Table, often referred to as the "Vicious Circle," consisted of approximately 10 to 12 individuals who attended the nearly daily luncheons at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City from 1919 to 1925, distinguishing themselves through consistent presence and influential contributions to the group's intellectual and humorous exchanges. These figures, primarily writers, critics, playwrights, and performers, shared professional ties to major publications such as Vanity Fair and The New York Times, as well as the burgeoning theater scene, which facilitated their interconnections and shaped the group's collaborative dynamics. Their gatherings emphasized verbal sparring and satire, with attendance patterns reflecting a tight-knit inner circle amid the broader literary milieu of postwar Manhattan.^[3] Among the most prominent was Dorothy Parker (1893–1967), a poet, short-story writer, and critic who joined as a founding member in 1919 and became synonymous with the group's acerbic wit, often delivering incisive one-liners that challenged social norms. As drama critic for Vanity Fair from 1916 to 1920, she honed her satirical edge before contributing poetry and reviews to The New Yorker after its 1925 launch, embodying the Round Table's blend of humor and vulnerability. Parker's role extended to advocating for social justice, though her personal struggles with depression underscored the emotional undercurrents of the group's high-stakes banter. Complementing her was Robert Benchley (1889–1945), a humorist and managing editor at Vanity Fair who brought gentle, self-deprecating satire to the table, frequently performing impromptu monologues that diffused tensions. His work as drama editor for Life magazine and later as an actor in short films highlighted his versatility, with his near-daily attendance reinforcing the core's journalistic backbone. Alexander Woollcott (1887–1943), the group's catalyst and self-appointed master of ceremonies, served as drama critic for The New York Times and The New York World, delivering theatrical monologues that dominated discussions and inspired later portrayals like the character in The Man Who Came to Dinner. His influence extended to radio broadcasting, where he amplified the Round Table's cultural reach.^[13]^[14] The playwrights and journalists formed another pillar, with George S. Kaufman (1889–1961) as a central figure, serving as drama editor for The New York Times and authoring over 45 plays, including 26 Broadway hits that earned him two Pulitzer Prizes. His collaborative spirit and position in theater circles made him a hub for creative exchanges, often mediating the group's dynamics with his dry humor. Marc Connelly (1890–1980), a playwright who co-authored works with Kaufman, won a Pulitzer for The Green Pastures (1930) and contributed to the Round Table's theatrical focus through his consistent participation. Robert E. Sherwood (1896–1955), drama editor at Vanity Fair and a prolific playwright, attended regularly and later won four Pulitzers, his evolving political views adding depth to the conversations. Journalists like Franklin P. Adams (1881–1960), whose column "The Conning Tower" in the New York World showcased emerging talents, and Heywood Broun (1888–1939), a sportswriter and columnist who co-founded the American Newspaper Guild, brought investigative rigor and labor advocacy to the table, their daily presence linking the group to print media's evolution. Ring Lardner (1885–1933), a short-story writer known for his cynical sports journalism, participated frequently in the early years, infusing Midwestern realism into the urban wit. Deems Taylor (1885–1966), a music critic and composer who wrote the libretto for The King's Henchman, provided artistic breadth, narrating Disney's Fantasia and attending as a steady voice in cultural critiques. Harold Ross (1892–1951), the founder and editor of The New Yorker, was a regular attendee whose vision for the magazine was shaped by the group's wit and collaborations.^[15]^[13] Entertainers and novelists rounded out the core, including Harpo Marx (1888–1964), the silent comedian and harpist of the Marx Brothers, whose voluble off-stage personality and card-playing prowess added levity and a performer's perspective, contrasting his mute film roles while challenging the group's verbal intensity through physical humor. Edna Ferber (1887–1968), a novelist and playwright who won a Pulitzer for So Big (1924) and collaborated with Kaufman on hits like The Royal Family, represented literary ambition, her frequent attendance highlighting gender dynamics where women like her and Parker navigated a predominantly male environment marked by relentless roasting yet mutual professional respect. Ferber dubbed the group the "Poison Squad" for its merciless critiques but valued their endorsement in the competitive literary world. Neysa McMein (1888–1949), an illustrator known for her portraits of prominent figures, contributed artistic insights and hosted related salons that complemented the group's gatherings. John V. A. Weaver (1893–1938), a poet and playwright noted for his use of vernacular language, added a distinctive voice to the table's literary discussions. Overall, these members' interactions fostered a male-dominated yet inclusive space— with women comprising a minority but pivotal in subverting expectations—propelling innovations in American humor and drama through shared affiliations in Vanity Fair, theater productions, and the foundational ethos of The New Yorker.^[14]^[13]

Notable Associates

The Algonquin Round Table attracted a wide array of peripheral figures who participated irregularly or as guests, contributing to its vibrant social dynamic without being daily fixtures. Over the course of its decade-long run, approximately 50-60 such associates joined the gatherings, often invited by core members like Alexander Woollcott or Robert Benchley to enliven discussions or tie into specific events such as theater openings.^[3] Among the most notable was actress Tallulah Bankhead, who occasionally visited and brought her bold personality to the luncheons, particularly during the group's active years from 1922 to 1927.^[1] Composer Irving Berlin attended occasionally, bringing his sharp wit and insights from Broadway, which occasionally influenced the group's satirical bent on popular music and shows.^[16] Violinist Jascha Heifetz appeared as a guest, adding a touch of high-culture elegance and participating in informal musical interludes that bridged the literary crowd with performing arts.^[10] Poet Alice Duer Miller contributed occasional poetic insights, her suffrage background and elder-stateswoman presence enriching debates on literature and society in the early 1920s.^[9] Actress Ruth Gordon sat in sporadically, her emerging stage career and quick humor aligning with the group's theatrical interests, especially around Broadway premieres from 1922 onward.^[17] These associates' intermittent involvement, peaking between 1922 and 1927, helped sustain the Round Table's reputation as a nexus for New York's creative elite without overshadowing the core participants.^[3]

Activities and Events

Luncheon Discussions and Wit

The luncheon discussions at the Algonquin Round Table were renowned for their sharp, rapid-fire banter, characterized by puns, one-liners, and playful roasting that epitomized Jazz Age wit.^[1] Participants like Dorothy Parker delivered iconic quips, such as her response to an intruding telephone—"What fresh hell is this?"—while Alexander Woollcott contributed verbose, theatrical stories that often drew affectionate mockery from the group.^[10]^[6] This competitive yet egalitarian atmosphere encouraged verbal sparring among equals, where no one was spared, fostering an environment of high-stakes humor that influenced contemporary journalism and literature.^[1] A key element of these gatherings were the games and rituals that amplified the wit, including the popular "I can give you a sentence," where members crafted punning sentences around challenging words, such as Parker's famous line on "horticulture": "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think."^[10]^[6] Other pastimes like "Twenty Questions" and theater critiques served as impromptu forums, with the group's opinions on Broadway productions often shaping public reception through their columnists' writings.^[6] These activities not only entertained but also honed the members' skills in concise, cutting repartee, turning ordinary lunches into legendary sessions of intellectual one-upmanship.^[1] Topics spanned current events, literature, and Prohibition-era humor, with discussions frequently veering into personal scandals and cultural critiques that reflected the era's social upheavals.^[10] For instance, the group debated literary trends and political issues like the Sacco and Vanzetti case, blending serious commentary with satirical jabs at bootlegging and speakeasies.^[6] This mix created a dynamic, inclusive dialogue where humor dissected the absurdities of modern life, from Broadway flops to interpersonal dramas.^[1] The sessions occurred on weekdays from around noon until 3 or 4 p.m., spanning 1919 to 1929, and were immortalized in newspaper columns such as Franklin P. Adams' "The Diary of Our Own Samuel Pepys," which captured snippets of the banter for wider audiences.^[10]^[6] These accounts preserved the essence of the Round Table's verbal fireworks, ensuring their influence endured beyond the hotel's dining room.^[1]

Creative Collaborations

The Algonquin Round Table members extended their camaraderie into professional literary endeavors, particularly through their foundational roles in establishing The New Yorker. Harold Ross, a frequent attendee, founded the magazine in 1925 with financial backing from Raoul H. Fleischmann, a wealthy friend he met playing poker at the hotel, and he actively recruited contributors from the group, including Dorothy Parker as a book reviewer and Robert Benchley as a drama critic.^[4] Early issues prominently featured writings by these members, helping to define the publication's sophisticated tone and establishing it as a key outlet for their humor and criticism.^[1] Prior to The New Yorker, several members contributed sharp pieces to Vanity Fair, where Parker served as theater critic from 1917 to 1920, often reviewing Broadway productions with her characteristic wit, and Benchley acted as managing editor from 1919 to 1920, overseeing content that reflected the group's irreverent style.^[18] These collaborations not only advanced individual careers but also fostered a shared aesthetic of satirical commentary that permeated their joint outputs. In theater, George S. Kaufman emerged as a central collaborator, directing and co-writing plays inspired by the group's dynamics, such as Dulcy (1921) with Marc Connelly and Edna Ferber.^[1] Kaufman and Ferber further partnered on The Royal Family in 1927, a comedy satirizing theatrical dynasties that premiered on Broadway and ran for 253 performances, showcasing their combined talents in blending humor with social observation.^[19] Robert E. Sherwood, another core member and former Vanity Fair drama editor, drew encouragement from Round Table associates like Ferber to shift from criticism to playwriting; his efforts culminated in Pulitzer Prize-winning works, including Idiot's Delight (1936) and There Shall Be No Night (1940), which echoed the group's emphasis on intelligent, topical drama.^[20] Additional collaborations included Ring Lardner's incorporation of Round Table anecdotes into his short stories, infusing them with the sharp, observational humor honed during luncheons, as seen in collections like How to Write Short Stories (1924).^[1] Lardner also co-wrote the play June Moon (1929) with Kaufman, a comedic exploration of aspiring songwriters that captured the era's cultural milieu. These joint projects underscored the Round Table's influence in producing enduring literary and theatrical works, with the group's early support for The New Yorker contributing to its rapid ascent as a literary institution by the late 1920s.^[1]

The No Sirree! Revue

The No Sirree! Revue was a one-night satirical production staged by members of the Algonquin Round Table on April 30, 1922, at the 49th Street Theatre in New York City. Billed as "An Anonymous Entertainment by the Vicious Circle of the Hotel Algonquin," it featured a series of sketches and musical numbers parodying contemporary theater and society, drawing on the group's signature wit.^[21]^[6] Conceived amid the Round Table's daily luncheons at the Algonquin Hotel as a lighthearted counterpoint to the popular European revue La Chauve-Souris, the event showcased collaborative efforts from core members including writers Robert Benchley, Marc Connelly, George S. Kaufman, and Dorothy Parker. Heywood Broun opened the show as master of ceremonies, while performers included Broun, Benchley, Connelly, Kaufman, Robert Sherwood, Parker, Alexander Woollcott, Franklin P. Adams, and John Peter Toohey, joined by associates such as Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Ruth Gillmore, Lenore Ulric, Mary Brandon, and Jascha Heifetz.^[6]^[22] Highlights encompassed Benchley's monologue The Treasurer's Report, a comic rant on organizational finances delivered in his signature deadpan style; Connelly and Kaufman's three-act mini-play Big Casino Is Little Casino; parodies like The Greasy Hag (a spoof of Eugene O'Neill's dramatic style with an all-male chorus) and Zowie, or the Curse of an Akins Heart (targeting playwright Zoë Akins); and musical contributions such as Parker's "The Everlastin' Ingenue Blues," performed by Sherwood with chorus support. The title played on the American idiom "No, siree," emphasizing the revue's irreverent tone.^[6]^[22] Press accounts, including a New York Times review, lauded the sharp humor but critiqued the production's uneven pacing and amateur execution, attributing the latter to the participants' non-professional backgrounds. Limited to a single invited performance for friends, critics, and industry figures, No Sirree! nonetheless amplified the group's theatrical influence, with Benchley's monologue gaining lasting fame through later recordings and films that advanced his Hollywood trajectory. Surviving playbills, photographs, and reviews capture the event's spirit, marking it as the Round Table's most prominent collective stage endeavor.^[6]^[22]

Decline and Dissolution

Factors Contributing to End

By the mid-1920s, the Algonquin Round Table began to experience a gradual decline in its cohesion and regularity, influenced by a combination of personal upheavals among members and the evolving demands of their professional lives.^[1] Attendance, which had been nearly daily during the group's peak in the early 1920s, started to wane in the late 1920s as individual commitments pulled participants away from the routine luncheons.^[1] Personal life changes played a significant role; for instance, Robert Benchley, a core member and co-founder, prioritized family responsibilities after marrying Gertrude Darling in 1914 and raising two sons, eventually relocating to focus on his burgeoning career in writing and performance, which distanced him from the group's daily gatherings.^[23] Similarly, Dorothy Parker, renowned for her sharp wit at the table, endured profound emotional turmoil, including a separation from her husband in 1922 and multiple suicide attempts starting in 1923—one involving slashed wrists and another with Veronal—culminating in psychiatric treatment for alcoholism by 1926, which further eroded her consistent involvement.^[24] Professional success amplified these strains, as members' rising fame led to busier schedules that made the informal luncheons less feasible. Harold Ross hired Parker as a book reviewer and Benchley as drama critic for The New Yorker, launched in 1925.^[1] Other members, including Robert Sherwood, moved out of the Algonquin Hotel itself to accommodate growing workloads in theater and journalism, while the group's constant media scrutiny began to fatigue participants, diminishing the appeal of their once-private banter.^[1] Overall, these career ascents fragmented the group's unity.^[1] External economic and social pressures accelerated the waning by the late 1920s. The 1927 execution of anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti deeply affected the politically attuned members, with Parker describing it as a turning point that sobered the group's irreverent spirit and prompted reflection on broader societal issues.^[1] By 1927, meetings had become irregular, and the 1929 stock market crash ushered in the Great Depression, forcing many—like Benchley and Sherwood—to seek opportunities in Hollywood for financial stability, further dispersing the circle.^[1] These factors collectively transformed the vibrant daily ritual into sporadic encounters, marking the end of the Round Table's influential era by the early 1930s.^[1]

Final Years

By the late 1920s, the Algonquin Round Table's daily luncheons had become irregular as members pursued individual careers and personal lives.^[1] The group's last regular gatherings occurred around 1929, though sporadic lunches persisted into the early 1930s.^[1] In 1930, Algonquin Hotel owner Frank Case installed an oval "round table" in the Oak Room and invited surviving members for anniversary photographs, evoking the group's earlier camaraderie.^[10] The group's effective dissolution was underscored by Algonquin Hotel owner Frank Case's 1938 memoir Tales of a Wayward Inn, which fondly recalled the Round Table's heyday while noting its fade into memory amid members' aging and the distractions of World War II.^[25] Factors such as marriages had already pulled some members away from the table in the preceding years.^[1]

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Influence on Literature and Theater

The Algonquin Round Table significantly shaped 20th-century American literature by popularizing conversational wit in newspaper columns, magazine features, and short essays, transforming casual banter into a polished literary form that emphasized irony, brevity, and urban sophistication. Members such as Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley contributed acerbic commentary to publications like Vanity Fair and Life, where their pieces often drew from the group's daily repartee to critique society and culture with sharp, accessible humor.^[1]^[26] A key aspect of this literary influence was the Round Table's role in defining The New Yorker's early style, as founder Harold Ross actively recruited contributors from the group to infuse the magazine with their distinctive voice of wry observation and subtle satire. Parker's book reviews for the magazine under the "Constant Reader" column, known for their incisive takedowns of literary pretensions, and Benchley's humorous essays—numbering nearly 300 over two decades—exemplified this approach, blending personal anecdote with cultural critique to establish a template for modern journalistic humor.^[4]^[27]^[28] In theater, the Round Table advanced Broadway innovations through collaborations among playwrights like George S. Kaufman and Robert E. Sherwood, who co-authored satirical works that modernized dramatic comedy by incorporating rapid-fire dialogue and social commentary reflective of the group's wit. Their 1936 play Idiot's Delight, a farce critiquing fascism and show business, earned a Pulitzer Prize and influenced subsequent political satires on stage. The 1922 revue No Sirree!, staged by Round Table members including Benchley and Parker to mock theater critics, reinforced a tradition of self-referential satire in musical revues, paving the way for later ensemble-driven works like those in the 1930s Group Theatre productions.^[15]^[29] The group's broader cultural shift embodied the Jazz Age's embrace of cosmopolitan elegance and irreverence, serving as a mentoring nexus where established figures like Alexander Woollcott and Edna Ferber guided emerging writers and performers toward a more candid, modernist aesthetic in both prose and drama. This transition marked a departure from Victorian-era moralism in humor, favoring instead the playful cynicism that defined interwar American arts. James Thurber's 1959 memoir The Years with Ross chronicles how these dynamics influenced The New Yorker's evolution, underscoring the Round Table's enduring documentation of its own impact.^[1]^[14]^[30] Collectively, Round Table members amassed at least eight Pulitzer Prizes across literature and drama categories, including awards for Sherwood's four plays, Kaufman's two collaborations, Connelly's The Green Pastures, and Ferber's novel So Big, metrics that quantify their pivotal role in elevating sophisticated humor from salon talk to canonical works.^[30]

Modern Recognition and Revivals

The 1994 biographical drama film Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, directed by Alan Rudolph, depicted the Algonquin Round Table through the lens of Dorothy Parker's experiences, portraying the group's sharp wit and interpersonal tensions among its literary and theatrical members.^[31] The film, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh as Parker, received critical acclaim for its evocation of the era's bohemian intellectual scene, earning a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 32 reviews.^[32] In the 2000s, publications like Kevin C. Fitzpatrick's The Algonquin Round Table New York: A Historical Guide (2005) revived interest by mapping the group's haunts and contributions, serving as a key resource for understanding their cultural footprint in Manhattan. The 1987 documentary The Ten-Year Lunch: The Wit and Legend of the Algonquin Round Table, directed by Aviva Slesin, explored the group's history through interviews and archival footage, winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Short Subject and cementing its place in cultural memory.^[1] Scholarly and public engagement surged around the 2019 centennial of the Round Table's founding, with events including the Al Hirschfeld Foundation's podcast episode dedicated to its legacy and connections to Broadway caricatures.^[33] The Dorothy Parker Society highlighted lesser-known female participants, such as illustrator Neysa McMein, who hosted salons and contributed to magazines like McCall's, emphasizing the women's roles in a male-dominated circle.^[34] Earlier, the Bowery Boys podcast's 2017 episode explored the group's formation and enduring appeal, drawing over 100,000 listens and underscoring its influence on New York City's creative history. In 2024, the Algonquin Hotel announced the restoration and relocation of the original Round Table after six months of work, reinstalling it in the lobby to honor its historical significance.^[35] By early 2025, the hotel relaunched it as an artistic hub, hosting events for writers, artists, and thinkers to foster contemporary discussions inspired by the originals, as covered in Forbes.^[36] Time Out reported on these new gatherings in December 2024, noting their aim to recapture the spirit of collaborative wit amid modern creative networks.^[35] Recent scholarship has reframed the Round Table's legacy through contemporary lenses, spotlighting gender imbalances—such as the marginalization of women like Parker and McMein despite their central roles—and drawing parallels to #MeToo-era critiques of power dynamics in intellectual circles.^[37] This evolving perspective positions the group as a precursor to today's online wit communities, where rapid banter thrives on platforms like Twitter, though without the in-person camaraderie of the 1920s lunches.^[38]

References

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The Algonquin Round Table | American Masters - PBS
Nov 8, 1998 · The group of a dozen or so tastemakers who lunched together at New York City's Algonquin Hotel. For more than a decade they met daily and came to be known as ...
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the wit and legend of the Algonquin Round Table - NYPL Archives
The Algonquin Round Table was a group of journalists, editors, actors and press agents that met on a regular basis at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. The ...
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History - Algonquin Round Table
According to Margaret Case, who grew up in the hotel and knew every member of the group, the “official” members were a who's who of writing and acting. The ...
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The Algonquin Round Table | The New York Public Library
A group of writers, artists, critics, and performers who met for lunch every day at the Algonquin Hotel on West 44th Street.
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The Algonquin Round Table | State University of New York Press
It was a meeting place and home away from home for such luminaries as famed wits/authors Alexander Woollcott and Dorothy Parker; Broadway and Hollywood stars, ...
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Algonquin Round Table - Spartacus Educational
Robert E. Sherwood, Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley all worked at Vanity Fair during the First World War. They began taking lunch together in the dining ...
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Algonquin Round Table
**Insufficient relevant content**: The provided text from the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature on the Algonquin Round Table lacks detailed information on the core members (e.g., Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, etc.), their biographies, professional backgrounds, roles, attendance patterns, group dynamics, gender dynamics, or interconnections with publications like Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. It only offers a general overview of the group, place, sensibility, and era without specific data on the requested individuals.
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The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection
In 1919, publicist John Peter Toohey had invited colleague Alexader Woollcott to lunch inside The Algonquin Hotel's Pergola restaurant. Toohey had publicly ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Opinion | The Vicious Fun of America's Most Famous Literary Circle
Jul 20, 2019 · Alice Duer Miller was more than an elder stateswoman at the Algonquin Round Table; she also played the role of one of its matchmakers.
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The Algonquin Round Table | Grateful American® Foundation
### Summary of Initial Gatherings of the Algonquin Round Table
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### Summary of The Algonquin Hotel (1902) Details
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Apr 3, 2013 · The Algonquin Roundtable members did like their booze. They just couldn't have it at lunch, because the hotel was dry. But after eating, they'd ...
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Margalo Gillmore (1897–1986): Actress and “the baby of the Round Table.” Starred in early Eugene O'Neill plays. Jane Grant (1892–1972): First female New York ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
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The Lonely Hearts of the Algonquin Round Table - JSTOR Daily
Jun 21, 2019 · Harpo Marx, who was only mute in the movies, provided a voluble “Marxist” perspective.
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Joining him were Kaufman, writers Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley, playwright Robert E. Sherwood, critic Heywould Hale Broun, comedian Harpo Marx, composer ...
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Coming to Love the Music of Irving Berlin - AMERICAN HERITAGE
It was during his Algonquin days that the Round Table member Alexander Woollcott wrote the one book about Berlin that he allowed to appear in his lifetime.Missing: associate | Show results with:associate
[17]
The Art of the Post: The Fabulous Neysa McMein
May 9, 2019 · An animated and gregarious hostess, McMein continued to live a fun and lively life, from playing the piano at parties to riding on an elephant ...
[18]
RUTH GORDON, THE ACTRESS, DIES AT 88 - The New York Times
Aug 29, 1985 · She was a favorite of Alexander Woolcott and the members of the Round Table at the Algonquin Hotel. Her friends ranged from Thornton Wilder ...
[19]
Brooklyn and the Algonquin Round Table - Dorothy Parker Society
Sep 19, 2013 · John V. A. Weaver (1893–1938): Poet who wrote in street vernacular, literary editor of the Brooklyn Eagle; married Peggy Wood. Weaver was ...<|separator|>
[20]
When Dorothy Parker Got Fired from Vanity Fair
Feb 5, 2020 · In the days that followed, Parker's cronies who hung out in the Rose Room of the Algonquin Hotel made the firing and its fallout at Vanity Fair ...
[21]
The Royal Family (1927) | Edna Ferber
The Royal Family is a sparkling comedy that pays tribute to the golden age of the American stage. By George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber.
[22]
Robert E. Sherwood - Spartacus Educational
His friend, Edna Ferber from the Algonquin Round Table had a big hit with her novel Show Boat (1926). She told Sherwood that he was wasting his time with too ...
[23]
[Literature] [Algonquin Round Table] No Sirree! Lot 56
Out of stockThe one-night-only performance was held at the 49th Street Theatre on April 30, 1922. The invited audience was made up largely of writers, critics, and friends ...
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The Algonquin Round Table Onstage - Tumblr
Apr 30, 2022 · ... Jascha Heifetz, no less). It featured an all-male chorus line of F.P.A. (Franklin P. Adams), Robert Benchley, Marc Connelly, George S ...
[25]
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Robert Benchley and Dorothy Parker were close friends and shared an office. They were among the founders of the famed Algonquin Round Table in 1919.
[26]
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Aug 9, 1993 · When she wasn't joking about suicide, she was attempting it. Between 1923 and 1932, she tried four times to kill herself: once by slashing her ...
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TALES OF A WAYWARD INN. By Frank Case. Illustrated. 390 pp ...
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[29]
Celebrity Caricature in America | Algonquin Round Table
Caricature reflected the piquant humor of the Algonquin Round Table writers, a group of town wits who had converged on New York in the late 1910s.Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
[30]
Robert Benchley's Legacy in a Era of Fraught Comedy
Dec 26, 2019 · Nell Scovell reflects on Dorothy Parker, the Algonquin Round Table writer Robert Benchley, and how comedians' complaints about “political ...
[31]
Robert Benchley Latest Articles | The New Yorker
Robert Benchley. This inimitable humorist and charter member of the Algonquin Round Table was The New Yorker's drama critic from 1929 to 1939. May 24, 1993.Missing: essays | Show results with:essays
[32]
Where in the Hell is Dorothy Parker - Robert Benchley Society
It is April, 1922. The Algonquin Round Table members, a group of wise-cracking New York critics, are producing the ill-fated Broadway play "No, Siree ...Missing: date participants
[33]
The Algonquin Round Table | Minnesota Playlist
Feb 28, 2017 · Established stars sang in the chorus as violinist Jascha Heifetz played off-key in the wings. Benchley, Connelly and Kaufman joined ...
[34]
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) - IMDb
Rating 6.4/10 (5,052) Parker and the Vicious Circle ... Dorothy Parker remembers the heyday of the Algonquin Round Table, a circle of friends whose barbed wit, like hers, was fueled by ...
[35]
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 75% (32) Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!
[36]
Episode 24 – The Algonquin Round Table - Al Hirschfeld Foundation
Aug 15, 2019 · David and Katherine are back, this time celebrating the centennial of the Algonquin Round Table! Hear tales of the Round Table as they relate to ...Missing: Neysa McMein women
[37]
Algonquin Round Table Centennial Summer - Dorothy Parker Society
Jun 12, 2019 · The national literary landmark has planned an entire summer of events to celebrate the Vicious Circle, which began as a welcome home roast for ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[38]
The original Algonquin Round Table, steeped in literary fame, is ...
Dec 31, 2024 · The Algonquin Round Table was a famous literary movement, but it was also an actual round table inside midtown's Algonquin Hotel.Missing: creative collaborations outputs<|control11|><|separator|>
[39]
Historic Hotel In New York City Introduces Round Table To ... - Forbes
Jan 17, 2025 · Illustration of members of the famous Round Table at The Algonquin Hotel in New York City. Established in 1919, the Algonquin Round Table ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
[40]
Review | New York Women of Wit in the Twentieth Century
The second chapter turns to Parker, a Jewish woman doubly marginalized in the “The Vicious Circle” of the Algonquin Round Table. Fuchs Abrams analyzes ...
[41]
6 Women You Didn't Know Were Members of the Algonquin Round ...
Jan 5, 2015 · At least 30 men and women were Round Table members. These half-dozen women are unique and deserve to be remembered, and that's why they are in my book.