New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-18
TIE DRAMA.
EDWIN BOOTH's THEATER.


without home. 1t is however, the wise old provorb
afirms, an III wind which blows good to nobody. Edwin
Booth had long entertained the desire and the design Of
building thcater in New York. in conformity with his
ideal His design, though, might long have slept
and perhaps, might never have awakened to fulfmen
had the Winter Garden catastrophe supplied both the
freedom and for and vigorous enterprise
The occasion thus offered promptly improved.
During the Spring of 1867 Mr.. j. H. Magongle the bust
ness representative of Mr. Booth, made thorough in
specon OF all the building sites in the city that
deemed eligible for theater, and finally selected the lot
OF land the southeast corner OF Twenty trdst ana
the sxth-ave. This choice was approved by Mr. Booth
and by all concerned in the enterprise; the property
purchased and on the LIST OF July, 1861, work was com
menced on the enterprise The buildings that
stood upon the land had first to be removed This
was soon done. Their removal however disclosed
foundation of solid rock Part OF this was found neceS
sary TO blast away and the work of blasting is somewhat
tedious But no time was lost and, on the Sth OF April
1865 the labor of construction was so far advanced that
the cornerstone OF the theaer laid |; is the great
granite block the base the east end OF the building
II was laid on cold and clustering day IN the presence
Of only few persons Mr. James H. Hackett the veteran
comedian. the best living representative OF FdtstdB ana
one of tie most aflectionate and devOut students OF
Shakespeare performed the official ceremony and pro
noupced A brief address Some words also spoken
by Judge DAILY who said that the drama was Graded III
a booth and that by a Booth it would be perpctuated
From that day this the hand Of labor has never stayed
nor altered and now the strong and stately edihce-
close upon cOmpetionrears its noble front in air beau
fu monument Of pure taste and skllful labor 1t Is
built of granite the that best iypdes soidity in
that graceful style of architecture that IS known ms the
Renaissance. This rugged material so wrought together
becomes a truly poetic emblem of blended strength
and beauty Fair proportion, true in substance wisely
planned, and excellent in all details Edwin Booths new
theater is of the most magnificent buildings on the
70 ri Fr
try 10 show this in description. The front of the struc-
ture on is 4 feet in length. the theater
front measuring $50 feet The other "a feet the width
OF a wing of the main building which abuts upon It's
west end aud has frontage of &c feet on the sxhave
The lower part OF this wing arranged for stores while
the upper part contains offices, studios. miscellaneous
rooms and for Masonic Lodge The theaer 100
feet deem from north 20 SOUTH and feet in hight The
main entrance opens from Twentythrdst but there Is
another large entrance, opening from the sNthaVe Al
the east end Of the front great door to the stage cor
responding size and style, with the main entrance TO
the auditorium Between these are three smaller doors
which are 10 be used as means Of exit. Three large
panels surount these three doors which are TO contain
sculptured basrcliefs. All the doors are archcd.
Higher up and placed equi-distant along the
front Of the theater, are three large alcoves'
framed in Ionic pillars which TO contain enormous
statues white marble Shakespeare VIII stand In the
central arch, and Tragedy and Comedy Will occupy the
others There FOUR large ana hduu@phc NlHdoM1 vi
line with these alcoyes. Above runs beautiful cor
nice and above the side slopes inward to meet the
roof which j. srmOunted by three short towers In tie
front Of each tower there IS oval window, surrounded
by elaborate carvings. flag staff rises from the center
OF the fat roof Around the summit OF each tower runs
an ornamental trcis-work OF IRON and artfuy placed
on the ghtninSrods which trail towers and roof
are ded stars and crescens Entering at the principal
door, the visitor Will find himself IN commodions vestl'
bue paved with Italian marble thing, and lined with
Italian marble cementthe ceiling being resc"ed his
vestibule in semicircle along the rear OF the
auditorium 10 which entrance afforded by three archcd
doors The lower floor OF the theatcr comprises the
divisions OF parquette and orchestra spacious stone
staircase, the south end OF the vestbule,
leads 20 the balcony, IN the rear OF which
proysion has been made for cOmmodious
promenade. Above the balcony "a second gallery,
and ABOVE that is the amphitheater, which Is to be
reached by stone from the vesbule within
the sixth-aye. entrance. There are ten pro5ceniun
boxes-hye on each side OF the stage-and the house Will
afford comfortable seats for LOO persons, besides
standing room for at least 800 more. In shape the
auditorium follows the old horseshoe model only that
has been so sfully modified to result in shape OF
delightful symmetry. From every part Of the theater
the entire stage can be distinctly seen As yet the
chairs have not been put in, nor have the walls been
decorated; but the former to be OF new design,
especially proyden Of the sers comfort ana the latter
are TO be lined near the floor, with Italian marble
On the ceilings bright frescOes already beginning TO
shine forth. A vast chandelier will depend from the
center Of the roof aud this. together with all
the other lights in the building, VIII be III
by electricity. The ornamentation OF the prosce-
mum viii be simple aud beautiful. Marble pillars
adorned with statuesque figures, will arise on either sac
Of the boxes In the center OF the arch above massive
statue OF Shakespeare Will be placed-the work OF Turn
an Italian artist II represents the poet medang and
in act 10 write Other statues and emhematic devices
will surround this figure and complete the decoration OF
the arch There is neatly designed pit Tor the orches
trail performers sunk below the front OF the stage ana
below the level OF the main floor 30 that neither the per
formers nor their musical instruments can 0bstuct the
view Of the stage from the auditorium. The reader VIII
perceive that speak OF perfectly devised theatrical
Interior II will be easy alike Of and OF egress IL
will be superby lighted II will please the eye with ts
symmetrical shape and harmonious coors II VIII anofd
luxuriously comfortable accommodation. 1t viii be
so thoroughly and artfully heated and Yent-
lated-by hot-air pipes that beneath tho
floors and distribute their warmth equally, and by
masked ventators up beneath the roo-that It's atmo'
pbere will be kept as far that IS possible In public
building wholesome and pleasant. More than this could
not reasonably be desired and more than this certainly
has never been attained Passing TO the stage the visitor
finds that this is not less excellent than the AUDITORIUM
The distance from the foOghts to the rear wall 10 90
feet and the stage is 70 feet wide Beneath it IS pit 80
feet deep that was blasted ont Of the solid rock This
useful chasm is neatly paved with brick An entlre scene
can be sunk it, out Of sight On the stage as III every
other part Of the theater double floors are laid, and the
flooring OF re stage is secured entirely by scfewsh0t
single nail being where driven In each OF the rear
corners OF the stage spiral staircase which leads 10
the galleries, high mp beneath the roof These gale
res are four number two upon each side. Between
them mp aof depends the complex machinery requisite
for lifting and lowering the There are no OBJ
sructous upon the stage dressing rooms there none
OF those dirty and mysterious burrows which make many