were also among the principals, as was Hollywood's George Houston (actor). The company was known for the youth and attractiveness of its performers. During January and February 1928 the American Opera Company brought seven weeks of opera to Broadway at New York's Gallo Opera House, including a notable adaptation of Faust with a new libretto by music critic for The New Yorker Robert A. Simon and sets by designer Robert Edmond Jones. In addition to new English productions of familiar operas, the company subsequently premiered several works composed by American composers, including The Sunset Trail by Charles Wakefield Cadman, The Legend of the Piper by Eleanor Everest Freer, and Yolanda of Cyprus by Clarence Loomis. Three ambitious North American tours were completed, with the opera company performing in 42 cities across the United States and Canada, but the Crash of 1929 caused bookings for the Fall 1930–31 season to disappear. The American Opera Company won an official endorsement from President Herbert Hoover in February 1930 in a letter to the Speaker of the House, calling for it to become "a permanent national institution", but Presidential support was not enough as the country sank further into the Great Depression. Among the company's last performances were a two week run at the famous Casino Theatre on Broadway just before the beloved New York theater's demolition in early 1930. Trenton's American Opera Company The American Opera Company in Trenton was founded in 1937 by conductor H. Maurice Jacquet. It presented two performances only that year before disbanding. Philadelphia's American Opera Company The American Opera Company in Philadelphia was founded in 1946 by conductor Vernon Hammond. It closed in 1950. Notes and references Culture of Manhattan Culture of Philadelphia Musical groups established in 1886 Musical groups disestablished in 1887 Musical groups disestablished in 1930 Musical groups established in 1937 Musical groups disestablished in 1937 Musical groups established in 1946 Musical groups disestablished in 1950 Musical groups from Philadelphia New York (state) opera companies Pennsylvania opera companies