Background
Sidney Mttron Hirsch was born in January 3, 1884 in Nashville, Tennessee. His father was a wealthy merchant.
Sidney Mttron Hirsch was born in January 3, 1884 in Nashville, Tennessee. His father was a wealthy merchant.
Hirsch was educated in public schools in Nashville and attended the Joseph West. Allen College in Carthage, Tennessee.
He was a model for sculptors Auguste Rodin and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. He was raised as an Orthodox Jew. He did not graduate from college.
Through his brother-in-law, he became acquainted with The Fugitives.
Hirsch joined the United States Navy and served in the Philippines and China for two years. Once off duty, he traveled in of Korea and India.
Hirsch returned to Nashville but soon moved to Paris, France, where he became a model for the sculptor Auguste Rodin. He was introduced to Gertrude Stein and George William Russell, who encouraged him to look at the double meanings of words in literary texts.
Meanwhile, he learned to read Latin, Ancient Greek and Hebrew.
Additionally, he learned some "Babylonian, Syrian, Chaldean, Arabic, Sanskrit, and ancient Egyptian."
Hirsch moved to New York City, where he modeled for sculptress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. Additionally, Hirsch published short stories and art criticism in literary reviews. He wrote his first play, Potiphar"s Wife, based on Potiphar.
The play was never performed in New York due to differences between Hirsch and the producers.
The group met at his sister"s house near the Vanderbilt University campus, where Hirsch lived. Hirsch was elected their first president in 1923.
As such, he was the one who started each meeting. lieutenant was performed at the May Festival of 1913 organized by the Nashville Art Association, outside The Parthenon in Centennial Park.
Meanwhile, the play attracted nationwide attention, from as far as Washington, District of Columbia and Santa Cruz, California.
The play was so successful that the United States Department of State considered organizing a performance at the Acropolis of Athens in Greece. However, the plan was abandoned in the wake of World War I.
Hirsch published The Mysteries of Thanatos in 1914, but the play was unsuccessful. His next play, The Passion of Washington Square, received good reviews.
lieutenant was performed in New York City and Chicago in 1915.
Meanwhile, Hirsch was asked to write a vaudeville sketch for actress Phyllis Neilson-Terry. Hirsch died on April 7, 1962 in Nashville, Tennessee.
A nude sculpture of Hirsch, designed by African-American sculptor William Edmondson, is in the collection of the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Artist
He was a member of The Fugitives. Hirsch returned permanently to Nashville, where he became a playwright and a member of The Fugitives.