The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-02
New Places OF Amusement In New

York.
In spite of the sudden chill which has fallen
upon trade in consequence Of the radical re-
bellion at the North, new dwellings,, stores,
Offices, public buildings and places Of amuse-
ment are being erected in every part Of this
metropolis Almost all of these new erections
are to be magnificent specimens Of architec-
ture They will not only serve the purposes Of
their proprietors, but they will be splendid
ornaments to our already beautiful city. The
time has passed when mere piles Of brick and
mortar can satisfy our citizens The utmost
attention is now paid to those details which
render our edifces elegant, as well as to those
modern conveniences which add to their COM
fort and utility. Broadway, which was dis
figured BY wooden shanties only few years
ago, L. now lined with palatial stores, with
hardly an unsightly building to break its
splendid uniformity. That which is being &C
complished in Paris by means Of stringent laws
and an official architect is achieved here by the
good sense and good taste Of our citizens them
selves, and the most parsimonious owner Of
real estate would not think Of putting up
plain, monumental store or house upon any
Of our grand avenues The progress Of
public opinion in this regard has been
most remarkable. In certain sections of the
city the purchaser of land Is bound by the
terms of his bargain to build houses of desig-
mated style or forfeit his deed. The result will
be that in very few years we shall have the
most elegant city in the world.
The same refinement of taste displayed in
our architecture is beginning to reform our
places Of amusement Besides the two new
theatres recently opened upon Broadway, and
the new French theatre in course OF compile
lion, other still more important enterprises are
in contemplation. Manager Wood, of the
Broadway, will remodel his house during the
summer, and make it one of the handsomest,
as il is already one Of the most popular, OF our
metropolitan theatres The want Of a grand
concert hall, which has been very severely fell
by our musical public, is to be supplied by
the Messrs. Steinway, who are about to build
such an institution in the rear of their marble
store on Fourteenth street. The estimated ex-
pense is about ninety thousand dollars The
hall will be perfect In its proportions and its
acoustic properties, and win be supplied with
an immense organ, costing thirty-1ve Thousand
dollars. The great organ OF Boston will then be
as entirely eciipsed ~ lbs Common is now sur
passed by our Park. The Messrs. Stsinway de-
serve every credit for their enterprise and pub
lie spirit in originating an institution which has
been 50 long needed In New York; and we are
certain that it win prove to be ~ profitable to
them as 1t viii be beneficial to the arts and to
our people. There Is no question that the ma
jority of our present places OF amusement are
far behind the requirements Of the age, and
that this is the reason why they are being com
parativciy deserted. With no ventilation, no
means Of rapid egress in case of fire, no conve-
niences either for the spectators or tho per
formers, and with seals expressly contrived to
be uncomfortable, these theatres subject their
audiences to, y species Of mild nstlyrdom In
order to crafty that managerial cupidity which,
like vaulting ambition, doth o'erleap itself.
We anticipate thorough reform In these mat
ters when the new theatres are opened.
But the most necessary and most popular
improvement of all yet remains to be noticed.
A company Of twenty gentlemen have secured
the plot Of ground on Fourteenth street, oppo-
site Irving place, which is now occupied by
stables and their Ct ceteras, and propose TO erect
new opera house. The plot runs through
to Thirteenth street, and is amply large
for the purpose. The opera house is to be OF
q comfortable size and furnished with every
possible accommodation and convenience.
Rows of small boxes win take the place of the
uncomfortable seats which are appropriately
called stalls, and those who attend the per-
formances will be able to see the actors
and each other without the aid of
telescopes The auditorium will not be
30 barn;ikc as to crack the voices
OF those singers who make heroic but ineffec-
t,ial efforts to be heard, nor will II have that
unhealthy dampness which reminds one so for
chilly OF the gloomy catacombs. II will be
what an opera house ought 10 be-the per-
fiction Of acoustic skill, architectural beauty
and refined luxury As 1t will be owned and
manass.a by twcc.....y wealthy and educated
gentlemen, and put in charge Of competent
director, the public will not be thrust into the
worst seats in order 10 give way 70 band OF
three hundred stockholders, as much devoted
to the pass and deadhead systems as were
Leonidas and his three hundred Sparians, In
stead or being attended only by persons from
the country, who fondly imagine that they are
fashionable because they 60 to the opera, sit
IL out at the risk Of colds in The head and soacc
themselves for not hearing the music by an
attentive perusal Of the Hbretto, we expect that
the new opera house win have It's crowd Of
habituts who win throng II in blaze Of beauty
and real fashion on every opera evening.
This opera house will, we presume, altogether
supersede the mis-termed Academy which will
then be entirely devoted TO mass meetings and
political gatherings--and, with the new thea
tres and steinway's new hall, viii completely