Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-27
Play Houses in shakspeare,s Time.

In Shakspeare's time there were no less than
seven principal theatres in London, besides sucb
occasional houses as the Swan and the Rose
The Blackfriars, which Shakespeare ioined in
the nIst instance and never left, was built In the
year 1856. There was a space in front 70 tnIn
fSaehes In and part of the ground is stl called
same company, and was their summer house
There were playbills issued, containing onIy the
name OF the play. They were pasted up on posts
nately applied to all bills pasted up on walls
Hence, also, the term "Knights of the Post ,, an.
piled to the fellows who l1rked about the posts
at the inns OF courts and the doors Of the sheriff
ready to give fictitious bail or take false oaths
The Globe was open at the top; the pit separa-
ted from the stage by paling, was without floor
or seats, and its occupants Were called ground
lings," whose "inexplicable dumb show and
noise'' are alluded to by Hamlet There was a
scaffoid for gallery, with boxes underneath and
the orchestra, consisting chiefly OF trumpets cor
nets hautboys, recorders and viols, Were placed
in lofty balcony, or upper stage bob. The price
of admission to the the boxes was Is. DESCENDING
in other parts Of the house to Cd ID and i'd
The prices Were doubled, and sometimes trebled,
on the night of a new play. .
The performance commenced commenced at 4:
but the hour was afterwards altered to 3: which
continued through subsequent reigns to the 18th
century The proscenium was divided from the
stage by curtain which opened in the middle
AT the first sound of the trumpet the curtain was
opened at the third the performance commenced
by Prologue coming in in long velvet dress
There were traverses, or curtains; at the hack of
the stage. and a balcony 10 represent battlements
or any other elevation that might be reouired
The changes of scene were indicated bv sipn-
boards. The roof Of the stage was painted sky
blue to represent heaven; and when starless or
temPestuous night was required it was hung with
black.
The stage was lighted by two branches. and the
body of the house by cresSet lights formed of
ropes, wFeathed and pitched. and placed I'm omen
iron lanterns, occasionally interspersed with wax
tapers in the boxes. The stage was strewn with
PUSHES Young gallants, entering through the
firing house, sat on stools on the stage for which
they paid extra to exhibit their nery and play at
cards. The audiences were generally very vocif-
erous, playing at cards. eating fruit, and smok-
ing tobacco.
When tragedy was played, the stage was hung
with black. The performance generally lasted
two hours, and ended with dance
Actors were paid by shares-a primitive system
still observed by many Of the travelling booths i'm
the country. Ii was estimated that first rate az
tor might realize about 9s. a night; or about COCA
year The average receipts of the Globe or Black
frlars, after deducting the daily expenses amount
ingto i6s., had been estimated at about fg
Authors profits Were derived either from the
sale of their copyrights or by the proceeds of the
second night of performance, afterwards changed
to the third. Shakespeare is said to have received
Is for Hamlet, but the usual sum for a play was
&c lbs. 4d.