The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-19
THE NEW OPERA HOUSES.
The Academy OF NIusic-Description or thc
RullIinw.

The magnificent structure known the New
York Academy Of Music,n which is now in course OF
erection the corner Fourteenth street and irving
place, will be completed about the middle OF next
June. The institution was Incorporated on the lOtn
of June 1852 and the foundation oil the building
was laid about year ago. The amount OF capital
was fixed al two hundred thousand dollars, but It
has been found necessary since toincrease it to three
hundred thousand. Nearly the whole of this sum,
Mr.. Phalen, the President, informs US, has been
subscribed, and the stock is held by two hundred
persons. The ground upon which the building
stands bought about two years ago for sixty-ve
thousand dollars, by the President, who sold it at
its original COST on condition that it should be pat
10 the purpose to which it has been applied
The object Of the persons by whom the project was
conceived was to furnish building inwhch operate
performances could be given at price which woud
Nng them within the means of the great Of the
people. who have hitherto been prevented from at
fending such amusements by the excessive charges
In the New York Academy of Music, it is proposed
to fix the entrance fee at dollar and ahalf dol
lar; but this may be changed before the bgildng is
thrown open to the public. Mr.. Hackett, who Of
fered to take lease Of it, has it is said, entered into
an engagement with Grisi and Mario, according to
the terms of which both artists to appear at the
Dul IL ~ stl tudt NC VIII NC tuc
lessee, as several other propositions have been
Ceved and have not yet been acted upon. The COM
missioners are Mcssrs. James Phaen, John Payne,
VIM. c. H. Waddell, Cortland Palmer, Reuben
Withers, Thos. E. Davis and Charles A. Davis. Ac-
cordng to the plan adopted by the stockholders
and directors, the manager, whoever he may be- win
have to pay three hundred dollars night for the use
of the building, while each stakeholder (25O in ally
Sc Hold In Tho MI of
those privileged individuals is to be decided by lot
and the tickets will be transferable so that the ma
mayer will thus be deprived of the best places in the
house, and the public, by whom the enterprise must
be supported, of an equal chance with the stock
holders.
The New York Academy of Music will be used oc-
REASONABLY for concerts, balls, public meetings and
theatrical performances. 1t is calculated to hold
four thousand six hundred persons; and such is the
immense space in the interior that there will be suf-
fcient room for the same number standing in the
passages, Hobbies and halls.
The building, which is two stories high on the
exterior, has an extent of 2O4 feet Fourteenth
street. and 1928 on Irving place, while its height
from the level of the sidewalk is 79a feet The style
of architecture is the Roman of the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries and the general appearance of
beautiful. Four large pilastres, with Corinthian
capitals, at the wings, and six of smaller size in
the centre, support the main, cornce and parapet.
The moudings, ornaments and capitals of cast
iron, material which is coming into extern
sive use every day. in the construction of buildings
A magnificent balcony, seventy-four feet in length
and projecting several feet over the sidewalk on
Fourteenth street. win present cool and delightful
retreat in the summer evenings when the heat be-
comes oppressive This balcony will be illuminated
by parti-colored lamps, deliberately ornamented, and
viii form a promenade equal to anything OF the
Kind ever erected in this country. 1t was origi-
lally intended to construct similar balcony on
he Irving street side, which would at the same
anne form covered carrageway, but this plan
Has been abandoned, and q movable awning
has been adopted in its stead. Thirteen i'm
mense windows, each twenty-five feet in height,
and surmounted by Roman arch, open on the front
balcony, and four Of the same dimensions on the
side facing Irving place. There are, also, four
inches for statues emblematcal of the character of
the building. The projections of the main front are
formed by the pastres, but do hotextend more than
a foot from the main body of the structure The
whole exterior contrasted with the Astor Place Opera
House, will be light and elegant, and will compare
favorably with Of the finest structures OF the
kind in Europe.
The body of the interior, or what the Romans
would call the capea-the space appropriated to the
of the parquette, three tiers Of
boxes and the gallery. The means OF egress are
sufficient prevent any serious consequences in case
of fire. There thirteen doors on the ground floor,
including the main entrance on Irving place. whichis
twenty feet in width These lead to the parquete and
the first and second tiers of boxes but there is be-
Sides spacious outlet from the gallery on the north
side Of the building. The gallery stairs are made Of
cast iron, constructed as to prevent the posi-
bility of an accident in the event of sudden alarm
of fire. or from any other cause They are cylindri-
cal in FORM and guarded by strong iron ratings or
bannisters, while the walls are constructed OF fire
proof materials, and are three feet thick This is
part Of our public structures to which little attention
has hitherto been paid we are therefore, pleased
10 see that it has received that consideration to which
its Importance entities it.
1t was designed to divide the parquette into two
ections but we believe that this plan will not be adj
lered to- and that there will be distinctions made
Nth regard to the distribution of seats There is one
eature about this part of the interior which is par
icularly deserving Of notice: the floor can be elevat
d to level with the stage by means OF screws and
the whole theatre converted into magnificent ball
room one hundred and forty three feetin length and
ninety three in width. In this respect it will
be similar to some of the largest theatres in
Paris and Berlin, which can in few mi
nutes be transformed into SO many ball rooms
The entrance to the parquette is by two side doors
near the proscenium, and it can also be entered
in 'front.' The first tier Of boxes will be supported
by caryatides, which win give the interior
grand and classic appearance. The chairs will
be very capacious, the dimensions of each being
two feet by thirty-one inches, and win be so con-
structed that the seats be folded up to the back
30 to facilitate the passage of persons between
Them. The proscenium is twenty-seven feet deep
having on either side twelve boxes each containing