Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-06-18
For the Southern Standard.
a History Of the City Of New York.
FROM THE TIME OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND
IN 1909, TO THE PRESENT DATE.
Chapt. XVI.


The first Theatre of which we have any infor-
nation was in Nassau street. From an old paper
we find the play for October 22d, 1853, was
Love for Love- and ''Tom Thumb
In 1860 new effort was made By Mr.. Miller,
in a miserable wooden building in Beekman (then
Chappel) street, few doors below Nassau street,
where house No &c now stands. 1t was first
Iopened November l8th 1861. Ii was advertised
that on the night of May 5.h 1866, that the
Comedy of the Twin Rivals. and the King and
the Miller of Mansfield would be performed
The of the repeal of the Stamp Act had
just been received, and the manager, having OBJ
tanned permission from his excelIency the Cover
nor, hoped the public had no objections to the
performance. Many of the inhabitants however
deemed it highly improper that such entertain
ments should take place in time of such public
distress, when SO many poor could scarcely find
means of subsistence and talked freely of their
opposition to the play, that many were prevented
from gone. The British officers present at the
performance cheered the piece which was con-
demned and Kissed by the masses Of the people.
The multitude from without then burst open the
doors and entered with tumult The audience
escaped as they could, and the citizens generally
called Liberty Boys, tore down the building, car
red it TO the Commons, (now the Park and con-
sumed it in bonfire.
The next Theatre was in John street, between
: Nassau and Broadway. Itwas opened December
7th 1867. During the time the Royal troops held
possession of the city. the British Officers some
l+;r -, for tl,air
amusement The building was destroyed by fire
in 1899.
The Park Theatre was on Park Row. 1t was
commenced in 1895 and completed in 1898, at an
o expense of $4,000 but was afterwards sold at
y Auction for $50, 900. 1t was opened for public
n performances in 1898, under the management OF
j the celebrated Hodgknson formerly of the John
. street theatre. This gentleman must have been
;; gifted with great powers as an actor, from the
strong and universal praise bestowed upon him
by those who were familiar with his presentations
Since his death the theatre has passed under the
a direction of William Dunlap, Cooper, Stephen
Price and Edmund Simpson.
: In May, 1920, late one night after the perform
ance of the evening, the building was discovered
e to be on fire. The interior was wholly consumed
a but the walls, which were of immense thickness
lie left standing; their height also prevented the
extension of the confagraton, and heavy shower
Of came on very opportunity to the assistance of th
is iremen in the preservation of the surrounding
III buildings No one who witnessed the destruction
of the Park Theatre can ever forget the grandeu
and sublimity of the spectacle. The sky wa
completely obscured with Clouds and shroudeC
a. the scene in impenetrable gloom, which great,
70 heightened the intense spendor of the fire light
E. The flames ascending several hundred feet, cas-
a glare of lurid radiance circle of man,
miles, and illuminated the city with vivid brlan
y, CIV and beauty. Crowds of citizens, lured by th
IN awful grandeur of the sight, thronged by thou
W. sands to the spot. 1t was several months afte
i, the fire before the proprletors rebuilt the edfct
The interior was much improved; but the exterio
retained its unpromising aspect. 1t twas re-opene
August 1921, with prize address fom the pc
of Charles Sprague
On Saturday night, December 16th 1913, til
theatre was again destroyed by fire. 1t was neve
ny rebuilt but lofty stores occupy the groun
formerly devoted to the drama
Bowery Theatre. Three Theatres have bee
built and burned on the ground occupied b
! this building. The corner stone of the first tht
nd atre was laid in 1896, with great pomp and cer
err mony, by Philip Hone, then Mayor of the cit
1t was finished and decorated in very super,
style, and opened for theatrical representatio,
ar in the October following. The management W
is conducted with great spirit, and the popularity
ov the theatre became very great. The Bowe
theatre continued to increase in favor and pro
er perity until the evening of March 22d 1899, VIII
like its rival, the Park, it was totally consume
Ks, the confagration presenting one of the grande
me and most sublime spectacles ever witnessed in t
city. 1t was rebuilt, and again destroyed by f
on the 22d September 1886. 1t was not Ion
however, before another magnificent building re
in renovated splendor from its ruins. 1t
q signed from the Temple of Thesus, at Atnel
n and was said to be the finest specimen of do
the architecture then in the United States. The
ZEN tablature above the portico ornamented W
: If boldly executed eagle, in bass relief, richly q
are ed, which had noble effect. This building shal
mot the fate of its predecessors in 845. The pres
the building was erected during the spring of 1845
It is of the same size of the former one, but W
superior accommodations
ould The Astor-Place Opera House is located
rate Astor-place, between Broadway and the Bowe
sell ,o1c .4: .o...s... :,