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Cabinet Photo - Max Strakosch was born in Moravia, of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire on September 27, 1835. He followed his brother to the United States in 1853. He was not known as a musical performer as was his brother, but Max did gain recognition as a theatre manager and impresario. In January, 1862, Max wrote a letter to Gottschalk offering him the chance for a round of American concerts. Gottschalk accepted and began the concert series in New York in February (G. Chase 296). After Maurice left to tour Europe and manage his sister-in-law Adelina Patti’s concerts, Max remained in the United States and continued to put on operatic performances, including Don Pasquale, Norma, Il Trovatore, La Favorita, Don Giovanni, and Lucrezia Borgia (Tompkins and Kilby 156, 225). Max frequently found himself arguing with creditors and city officials as he tried to pursue his management career. In the fall of 1874 Max sued the New York City Police Commissioner who had broken up some of Max’s performances in order to “preserve the peace.” Max contended that the police were not concerned with preserving order, but only wanted to shut down his performance because it was performed on a Sunday (“Sunday Concerts: Is the Law Forbidding Them Constitutional - The Case of Max Strakosch against the Police Commissioners” The New York Times, November 26, 1874). Not unlike many impresarios, Max struggled to maintain the finances necessary for the production of his shows (“Max Strakosch Bankrupt,” The New York Times, May 27 1881). In 1878 Max was sued for a breach of contract of marriage and attempting to seduce a woman (“Max Strakosch’s Trouble,” The New York Times, June, 14 1878). He did achieve a measure of success and in 1883 Max opened his own theatre in New York (“Max Strakosch’s New Theatre,” The New York Times, June 1, 1883). In the obituary of Charles Ignatius Pfaff, Max is mentioned as one of the "Knights of the Round Table" who had made their impression on the establishment ("In and about the City: Death of Charles I. Pfaff," 2) In 1888 Max fell ill and struggled with his health for the remaining four years. He died on March 17, 1892 (“Max Strakosch Dead,” The New York Times March 18, 1892).

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