Born in Pittsburgh on November 10, 1867, he was the publisher/owner of the Pittsburgh Leader when he married the stage actress Lillian Russell, becoming her fourth husband.
One of the largest stars of the day, Lillian Russell, came for an extended visit and created quite a stir after she enjoyed a day of sunbathing and was covered in chigger bites.
It was subsequently given in Berlin at the Friedrich-Wilhelmstädtisches Theater on September 26, 1884, and in New York City in German at the Thalia Theater in 1885 and in English at the Standard Theatre in 1885 and again in 1887 with Lillian Russell as Carlotta, Eugène Oudin as Count Erminio and J. H. Ryley.
Diamond Jim Brady once lived in the house known as the South Branch Hotel, which he purchased for his mistress, Edna Maculey in 1903 paying $68,000 for it and altering it to suit his taste, "Going down to Brady's Farm" became the fashionable thing to do and Anna Held, Flo Ziegfeld, Lillian Russell and other famous personalities of the days were frequent guests.
Bertrand Russell | Russell Crowe | Frederick Russell Burnham | Russell Simmons | Kurt Russell | Russell Brand | Ken Russell | Lillian Gish | Leon Russell | Rosalind Russell | Russell Street | Russell Mulcahy | Nipsey Russell | George Russell | Russell Street, Melbourne | Lillian Hellman | James Russell Lowell | Russell Howard | Russell Drysdale | John Russell, 1st Earl Russell | John Russell | Jane Russell | Willy Russell | Russell | Lillian Russell | George Russell (composer) | Bill Russell | Russell Slade | Brenda Russell | Russell Square |
Stars who have visited the theater or appeared on the stage include Al St. John, Buster Keaton, Pearl White, DeWolf Hopper, Helen Hayes, Lillian Russell, Ethel Barrymore and Abbott and Costello.
His most famous composition (the lyrics, however, credited to Robert B. Smith) was "Come Down Ma Evenin' Star" from Twirly Whirly, written for the great diva of the day Lillian Russell and (as the story goes) found in the pocket of Stromberg's coat after he had committed suicide in July 1902, having ingested Paris Green insecticide.
Incidentally, the characters of Big Jim and Lily may be derived from the historical figures Diamond Jim Brady and his sometimes romantic partner, Lillian Russell, who had a long affair in and around operetta houses of New York before WWI.
Main Street Station offers a self-guided tour which includes a portion of the Berlin Wall, stained glass from the Lillian Russell Mansion, doors and facade from the Kuwait Royal Bank, doors from the George Pullman Mansion, Louisa May Alcott pullman car, chandeliers from the Coca-Cola building and Figaro Opera House, and various statues.