The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-01
,EsiINIsCENCEs OF TIE CHARLESTON DRAMA
IN THE OLDEN TIME


epoch In the history Of our city. We have thought
readers Of THE NEWS full and accurate dcscrip-
ton of the beautiful cdilce ITSELF but also to
viyc some rccollcctlons OF the rise anu progress OF
the drama In Charleston, and TO rescue from Oh
llvIon the history OF our former theatres, most OF
which fast passing from the memory of
the present generation. And NC nrc happy In
the conviction that the Management OF the Aca.
dcmy of Music under It's Gr5t lessee, Mr.. John T
Ford, Esq, will not unbcscem, 10 elegance, re-
1ncment una general merit, the palmcst days OF
the past, In our once wealthy and still fastidious
community.
THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
he Adgcr Building, now the Charleston
idcmy OF Music, was built in 1852 nj n cost of
1000, and wus occupied before the war by the
Messrs. Adgcr AMI others dry goods store,
somewhat in the style OF the mammoth establish
mcnt OF A. T. Stewart, OF New York. The hdger
building was then, perhaps, the largest und finest
dry goods store in the South. After the war II was
occupied as furniture store, and was 80 used
until bought by Mr. John Chadwick, who deter
r'ned to convert It into an opera house. For
this purpose II was well suited rs it has q front
OF GO feet, height OF 75 feet, and depth of 23l
feet. All the interior WAS ripped out, and the
building Is now n firstclass Temple Of Music and
ShC bIdilu, WIN accommodation lOT hOUul lsUU
persons; having, besides, two huge halls suitable
by their dimensions for concerts and lectures.
THE ENTRANCE.
The main entrance to the Academy Of Music Is
on King street, and has n breadth that will ac-
commodate the largest crowd OF pleasure seek
ers. Passing through the light iron gates, the
box office Is found on the left hand, and before
the vestlbule at the end OF the long corridor Is
reached one has time to admire the Corinthinn
decorations, the panelled ceiling and the long
range OF lights, which make brilliant the
scene. The vestibulc is rs feet high and 80
feet long, and is lighted by y handsome chan
delier. The walls OF the vestl Juc frcscocd In
colors with gilt hnishlngs, ani the ceiling is
pancled. At this point is tile witlc and lofty en-.
trance to the body OF the house, over the portal
might well be written, aye who cater, leave oil
care bchind.n
THE DRESS CIRCLE
Is reached by low AM. broad stairway leading
from the vestIbule and has seats for two hundred
and nfsy persons. The chairs In the front row
are luxurlously comfortable. and rs pleasant 10
the sight rs TO the touch. There are four private
boxes In the dress circle, so arranged that their
occupants can see ana be seen at VIII. These
boxes are spacious and comfortable, and arc
separated by richly gilded iron lattice work. They
are also elegantly upholstered, the fronts being
finished with light cornses and canopicd curtains.
1t may be remarked here that the architect has
succeeded eminently well in solving that great
problem in theatrical architccture-so to arrange
the house that good view OF the stage may be
had from every seat In the building.
THE FAMILY CIRCLE AND GALLERY.
Above the dress circle Is the family CIRCLE where
there are seats for $50 persons. The seats arc
we'll cushioned, and the appointments are as neat
and comfortable as In any other part OF the Acad-
cmy. Above and back OF this circle Is the gallery,
where the Charleston ''gods' may enjoy the
rhastc peasure or .he atase, ho"-inr ond sooIne q
just well, be 1t understood, as their high priced
brethren below.
THE ORCHESTRA STALLS.
The lower part OF the house Is known as the
orchestra chairs, and the orchestra circle. The
latter extends as far as the line Of the dress cir
clc and seats with case about $50 persons. The
"orchcstra chairs" occupy the centre OF the house
from the line OF the dress circle to the orchestra
proper. The chairs, OF which there are 2l2 are
| OF the latest patent. They have swing seats, SC
that persons may pass to ana fro without incon-
ycnIcncc. Tho chairs nre well stuffed and hand.
| somey covered. From tho orchestra circle i'm
metliatcly in the OF the orchestra chairs, We
| have fine view OF
THE PRoSCESIuM AND STAGE,
Which cannot Inc surpassed, IL they can be
equalled, In any city in the South. The stage is
| 40 feet deep, 53 feet wide, and 81 feet high. NJ
other theatre Of the same size has SO large and
| lofty stage Tile proscenium has an opening
OF over 30 feet. It is supported by columns carved
In imitation OF the palmetto, the lattice work O
the trunk being thrown ont by tasteful gliding
The columns arc surmountcd by sea nymphs
The cable mouldings OF the proscenIum are bott
rich and elegant, and the effect Of the whole |:
heightened by the rosy shading, tipped will
gold, OF the cornces and panels. Immediately ovel
| the middle OF the prosconiun-which III shape is NJ
eliptlcai arch-is q shield supported by instru
ments Of music, the mask, and other emblcms
and crowned with the palmetto.
THH DROP CURTAIN
| Is a gem OF scenic art. II was painted by Mr.
| Menard Lewis, OF Nlblo's Garden, and is we ven
turc to say one Of the most chastely bcautlfu
| drop curtains In America. Our readers must SCI
It for themselves It win, we hope, soon be rs fa
milinr as household words to MI South Carolina
Passing by the stage boxes, and standing In iron
Of the footlIghts, one can form some idea OF tn
beauty and graceful proportions OF
| THR HOUSE.
The gallery fronts are OF open iron work, ca:
fully gilded; the decorations in white and gold
being in elegant contrast with the crimson plus
railings. The cornices OF the circles are hand
somely bracketted and finished with grotcsqu
faces. The galleries ore supported by Iron col
umns moulded In imitation OF the trunk OF tn
palmetto. the bosses OF the bark being pIcke,
out In gold. flood of light Is shed through tn
house by the gas globes which jut out from tn
balcony and gallery fronts, and away over on
heads-Gfty .four feet from the orchestral sun
light fills the centre Of the dome with Il
hundred Jets OF ilame. The dome Is panelled an
enriched by cornices-in the inner circle arc clus
ters OF stai on an azure ground. The walls ar
handsomely panclled, and the decoration
throughout are in excellent taste. Standing o
the stage and looking OF the long OF galleries
the cosy orchestra cilnlrs and tho distant abod
OF the "uppcr ten," one can hardly believe tina
all this ia In Charleston. In truth, degree O
enterprise and activity has been displayed II
planning and building the Charleston Acadcm
OF Music which would have done honor to til
! ahaasa IaaaIia