The Lottery of Life

The play debuted at the Howard Athenaeum in Boston in September 1867,[1] and had a four week run at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia in November-December 1867.

[6] The play had its New York debut at Wallack's Theatre on June 8, 1868, to open their "summer season," and ran for nine weeks.

[7] Brougham played the role of Irish immigrant to New York, Terence O'Halloran, who leaves a life of crime to become an amateur detective.

"[13] By August 1868, the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph reported that "Brougham has already made $1700 out of the piece of trash called "The Lottery of Life."

"[14] Nevertheless, Brougham also converted the play into his first novel, which commenced a run in Fireside Companion that same month, and netted him an additional $2,000.