The Portland daily press., 1868-04-01
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
Wednesday Morning, April !, 1868.


Theotre--Pike's Opera House-Nev York
Circas-San Francisco Minstrel Troupe
Public HqHs-Political.
NEW YORK, March 27, 1868.
To the Editor Of the Press:
As the season is at hand when great many
people from Maine visit New York for busi-
ness or pleasure or both combined, have
thought it would be interesting to your read
ers to give brief directory OF the most select
places OF amusement Our theatres and
opera-houses are so numerous that it Is al
most impossible for strangers, on brief visit,
to make judicious selection in pleasure GO
ing. propose, therefore, only to notice the
best, and from time to time can give you in
brief the benefit of my information of the
changes that may be made.
AT the head of what Is called the
Legitimate Drama" stands Wallack's on
Broadway, near Fourteenth street. Mr.. Les
ter Wallack adds to his reputetion as an ac-
Tor, MS generally conceded success as man.
aser and taste in the selection OF his company
which is uniformly good. His idea is that
a good general caste is better than star actors
and actresses with poor support, and the pub
lc applaud him. However Wallack's has its
celebrity also. Mr.. Wsllack Is himself the
star at present, and is successful in the pre-
sentation OF that charm ing play Rosedale'
la few days Mr.. E. L. Davenport aud MIR.
j. W. Wallack will commence a season at this
theatre, opening with "Olver Twist" 1t
may be said of Waliack's that it is not only
always pleasant, but its character Is a.ways
unexceptionable.
| The Olympic Theatre is among our best
managed institutions. Mr.. G.. L. Fox Is u Q
attraction at present. Mr.. Fox is not only
good manager but an original and popular
comedian and pantomimist. He has lust
brought out his new pantomime "Humpty
Dumpty" with excellent success. Added to
the fun of this play is an excellent ballet,
skating carnival, and lovely spectacular dis
play. This presentation will probably be
kept up for long time, SO that all those sis-
iting here during the spring months can avail
themselves of it.
Worrell Sisters New York Theatre, 1928.
broadway, is very worthily managed, and
has proved one OF our most popular attrac-
tions. The three sisters are alone host, but
they add stars frequently from the outside
constellation. Kate Reignolds reigns at
present in some of her Attractive characters.
Her engagement is limited, but, judging from
the past, you cannot fail to find this place en-
| tertaining. .s g.
Barney Williams Broadway Theatre (near
Broome ST. has been presenting variety to
satisfy the most fastidious in the line of COM
edy. Lotta played short season, and was
most enthusiastically received. That ex-
cellent character in "Lord Dundreary"
"Sam" and "Joe," Chanfrau, is at present
holding forth. His fun is irresistible, and
after hard days tramp of labor in town, you
cannot better relieve yourself than go here
for hearty laugh. s5--
Scarcely belonging to the Drama, but pop
ular almost above anything else is the "Whte
Fawn' at Niblo's (under the Metropolition
Hotel successor to and improvement upon
the Black Crook. For its variety and spen-
dor of scenery it is probably unsurpasse
while the ballet troupe is said so be the best
in the world. 1t will probably run for long
/
oft. s34I la
Of especial interest to those who under
stand French-in fact, of general interest is
the French Theatre, on Fourteenth street FL.
l.. Bateman, Director. This handsome thea
tire is always adorned with the wealth and
beauty OF the city. The company Is always
entertaining, aud the scenery beautiful.
Il
suppose the most splendid theatre build
ing in town is Pixies Opera House, corner of
Eighth Avenue and Twenty, third street, re-
Gently opened, and devoted to a variety of
entertainments. Pixies and the Academy of
Music have been occupied recently by rival
Italian opera troupes.
1t will not be thought out of place to men,
ton Lent's New York Circus, on Fourteenth
street, as among the most popular open places
of amusements. 1t is not simply popular in
the general sense of travelling circus compa-
nies; but it is really one of our best places.
Mr.. Lent combines the best talent that can
be had among equestrians, acrobats, gym
nasts, and is always bringing out some new
feature. The vulgar features usually attend
ing such displays are carefully avoided, and
the company is always good, the house is neat
and everything is orderly.
In the same manner I mention the San
Francisco Minstrel Troupe, whose hall is op-
posite the Metropolitan Hotel. Negro min
strelsy has long been an Institution in New
York, but most of the companies are too much
like the travelling troupes, and can hardly te
recommended The San Francisco's are an
exception. Their entertainments are not OBJ
jectionable to the fastidious, while the COM
pany cannot he beaten for comical originality.
II you want to pass pleasant evening, you
cannot he better amused. The house is nice
one, and the audiences are always good.
I In their line, these places are all that are
desirable for families to visit. There are sew
eral other theatres of low order, and num-
berless minstrel halls which cannot be recon-
mended.
Steinway, Irving and Dodworth halls may
be mentioned as occasional centres of attrac-
tion for concerts, lectures, readings &c. Dick
ems commences his final course of readings
before departing for Europe, in the first
named April 18Th.
Your readers should not forget when visit
ing the city to look in upon the National Ac-
ademy of Design, if the season is opeoed
The parade of paintings and statuary by oul
best artists will repay long call and the &C.
ademy itself is worth the trouble of looking
up. The winter season recently closed an
other season will open before many weeks,
of which will give you notice.
Political matters are quiet in the city at
present. The only local item of interest is
the removal of the Union League Club to its
new and elegant head qr arters on Madison
Square. The building is new one, erected
by Mr. Leonard w. Jerome as sort of aris-
tocratic-private theatrical house, in one OF
the most popular parts of the town; but it is
said some embarrassing circumstances induced
Mr.. Jerome to lease to the club and certainly
they could not be better accommodated
As political power the club has done an i'm
mense service to the country, and it bids faiI
to continue long in its work.
Can't you pick up some fogy down in
Maine for Democratic candidate for Presi
dent? Every otter State has tried its hand
every profession, every stripe of politica
creed has been searched, but they don't sue
ceed. They sadly need an able and popular