The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-23

fPOlW Ue AttO lOfH fupefS OF IO-ddg.
On Monday night Mr. Manager Grau entertained
O few trends at the Academy OF Music III Irving
place. little thinking OF the tremendous house warm
ing that his hiends we're preparing for him about
the same time. The curtain had slowly descended,
the last player had reured, the lights were turned
down, and Eugene, with ms friend, the watchman,
lantern in hand prepared to make the grand in
search OF lost articles, sleepy odgels, or dangers of
any Kind As tne ta o sauntered lesureiy down the
man alsl9' eugene pusLea up ms silver spectaces,
raised ms iantern and said, 'how internally dusty
the place is tonight second passed, and then
with the revelation OF gance be cried, "Were ON
fire. frel fire frep' Instantly he rushed, folowed
by the watchman, to the street, whose friendly
echoes Joined the loud hurrah, and notified the
world that danger and trouble were at hand
Back INTO the building with the rapidity of
thought, and the generosity of gentleman, he ran
Tor far above the smoke and flame there cleft two
lovely children and an aged DAME besides the iant-
tor huffman and his wife. With great difficulty
these were gotten out, uncothed, remb ing. ana in
fright, while the great bells changed aloud the cry
for nelp, and the streets fairly rang with SHOUTS ana
yells OF men and boys, and the whistling engines
shTieked ike devils on spree.
Che Academy OF Music belonged to an association,
and was first opened to the public use by hanager
Hackett, with Mario and Grisi, in October, 1854
Its original cost, inc udng ground, was 1886 0J0-
a sum much larger tnan was originally contem-
plated, out winch was unexpectedly swollen by the
item OF decorations. When finish ed It presented
an appearance of unusual beauty Unlike establisn-
Inents of a similar character, here and III Europe,
it depended on form rather than color. Colossal
figures supported the tiers of boxes, and ornaments
in stucco abounded IN every part of the house.
These were IN some way cumbrous, and, to a Ger
became loose and detached. The directors, who
have never neglected an opportunity OF improving
their property. perceived the defect OF the original
pan, esp eclay in view OF the lmpedlment 70 sight
which huge decorations presented.
The pIlars were shorn their proportions, the
gnomes and caryatides we're removed, and ONLY last
season the plaster ornaments of the ceiling were
taken down. The range OF vision was greatly ex-
tended, and The house assumed hat chaste and ele.
CANT appearance which must so long remain Iaml.
liar to u.s. IL was always bright and well ordered;
always ready for occupancy; always clean and IN
good order. In the early years Of Its existence it
was anything but successful. Ihe shares were seve.
raj times at very low ebb but as good mana cement
supplanted speculation, and the desire Ior operate
music became more general they gradually rose in
market value Under Mr.. Maretzek's direction they
bad bad attained then highest pnce. Each share of
$1,000 entitled the holder to an admission and seat
10 each public performance, consideration which
was sufficient.
The stockholders received moderate rent for
operate performances and of late years have been
fortunate IN renting the house Tor other purposes
Thanks to these causes the deb. with winch the
building was once burdened gradually liqui-
dated. at the lime OF the fire there renamed but
100000. insignificant as this sum may seem, it is
mad cash surplus OF S80,00O Ths, with the Insur.
ance of $50 O00 leave the directors $l50000 with
which to recommence operations, he insurance is
for small sums in rood offices, and will be speedily
arc easily recovered
1t NAV be added here that the real estate on which
the walls OF the Academy yet stand has vastly in
creased in value 1t could be sold to-day Tor three
times what II cost originally. AS q specuat then
it has pad, ana paid Handsomely But 1t is in
another regard that we depore its loss. IL was
the first important art Institut on (t except the
Aston Place Opera Housel erected IN this city. In
Tor, cratic music which, il eriGedRt, was vet exact
We have had the best singers here and Judged them
so ialry that The verdict OF New York audience IS
now regarded as good letter of Introduction to the
leading houses of London and Paris. Nor did ITS
value end here II led TO the erection of similar
opera houses in all the Urnclpa cities of the lst
and est and so extended the CIRCLE of refining and
delightful influence.
DEsoRIPTIoN OF THE HOUSE
From the centIe OF the parquette the theatre pre-
eeIted an exceeding handsome effect, although even
there the OrtuOus horseshoe shape struck the OBJ
server as somewhat singular. The balcony boxes,
or those nearly on a ovel with the parquette, had
banDister fronts, palnteu white with red yelv5t
cushions. 1he first tier was paL eled, and in inches
small juvenile figures in aster were inserted
bematic OF musical art. there were three different
kinds of fgures-one playin0 the flute, another the
castanets, aud third the cymbals. The secoud
tier was embossed with Tyres. The third tier was
plain. There we're twentY-One chandelier brackets
OF elaborate workmanship executed IN zinc, to each
tier All the different tiers, tORetherswith the pros
cenlum boxes, we're painted III dead white and gold.
There were eighteen prOscenIUm boxes, very spa
cious and elegant. Over these, on each side were
three large figures PLAYING trumpets, and between
these were tour plgeOnlke boxes called, for some
perfectly neXphcable reason, Shakespeare boxes "
In the parquette balcony, and first and second
tiers there were about 1000 iron arm chairs, fitted
with spring seats so that they folded up whom not in
use, and Afforded an oasy means OF ingress and
AllenI OF Boston. ProscenIum and private boxes
had ordinary chairs. The gallery, amphltheatre,
1900 persons The forms were comfortably backed,
and had good, easy leather cushions.
Since those early days, now nearly twelve years
since, great changes have taken place IN the ma.
nagement of the Academy the desires and capacIies
OF the people, and the character of the works pro
duced Numerous managers have had their pref
day upon the stage, OF whom we recall the follow
mg:-J ames III. Hackett opened the Academy IN 1854,
with Grsi and Mario, Max Maretzek next had Ote
Bull for brief season. Phalon & Colt, short sea-
sop. William Henry Payne, q season of forty
n ghs. Max Maretzek, season of thirty nights
Is. III mann, season of Two years StraxOsch &
UlmRnn. j.. GTau, short season. MaX Maretzak,
three years, and lastly, Grau, under lease OF Ma
retZek.
Among the prime do4sne who have warbled within
It's walls GrsI, StefhnOni, La Grange Poinsett,
Adellna Patti, La Borde, PIccolimini, Gazzanga,
Colson Hinckley Kellogg, Medori, C0rtesi, Phil
lips, Zucchi, SOntag, and others. A
AS Mr.. Marezek was the lessee OF the Academy, OF
whom Mr.. Grau sub-let il for brief season, we
deem his statement OF importance, and .herewith
present it;-
STATEMENT OF MAX MARErzER|
The first knew of the fire, Mr.. ----, altriend,
eamet 10 my house at Staten Island and told me the
Academy was burned down. am at loss to under.
slahu the cause OF tho re unless II was the act OIL
an lncendiaTy am COT Vinced. indeed, after careful
examination, and upon a review of all the circum
stances attending the fire. that it the de berate
act OF interested parties That not Interested
II evident from the tact that | have lost some
$4,000. The fire was first discovered under the
ROOF OF the Academy. The place beneath the par
quette has not been used, TO my knowledge, since
the Bal dOpera and no fire Is ever needed there.
Mauame Gazzaniga was, II seems, somewhat tardy
IN leaving the house alter the opera, aud
while yet In her dresslnR-rOom was accosted by
Two men, who said 10 heri-"Come hurry mp,
Madame, you are late" Al that time even the
house smelledi am lOld, as If it was alled with