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


vve some recollections Of the rise and progress o.
the drama in Charleston and to rescue from OBJ
liyion the history Of our former theatres, most o.
which are fast passing from the memory o.
the present generation. And VIC are happy II
the conviction that the Management of the Aca
DENY of Music under its first lessee, Mr.. John T
Ford, ESQ.,, will not unbeseem, In elegance, re-
hnement and general merit, the palmiest days OF
the past, in our once wealthy and still fastdiouS
community.
| THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
The Adgcr Building, now the Charleston
Academy OF Music, was built in 1852 at a cost OF
$16o, 900, and was occupied before the war by the
Messrs Adger aud others as q dry goods store,
somewhat in the style OF the mammoth establish.
ment OF A. T. Stewart, Of New York. The Adger
building then, perhaps, the largest and finest
dry goods store in the South. After the war 1t was
occupied as q furniture store, and was SO used
until bought by Mr.. John Chadwick who deter
mined to convert it into an operahouse. For
| this purpose 1t was we'll suited, as it has front
of so feet, height OF rs feet, and depth Of 23l
| feet All the interior was ripped out, and the
building is now frst-class Temple OF Music ana
the Drama, with accommodation for about 1900
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 breadth that will &C
commodate the largest crowd Of pleasure-seek-
ers. Passing through the light iron gates, the
| box ONCE is found on the left hand, and before
| the vestibule at the end Of the long corridor Is
reached one has time to admire the Cornthian
decorations, the panelled ceiling and the long
| range OF lights which make brilliant the
scene. The vestibule is 25 feet high and So
| feet long, and Is lighted by handsome chan
delier. The walls Of the vestibue are frescoed in
colors with gilt f1nishlngs, and the ceiling s
panelled At this point is the wide and lofty en-
trance to the body Of the house; over the portal
might well be written, "Ye who enter, leave all
| care behind"
THE DRESS CIRCLE
Is reached by low and broad stairway leading
from the vestibule, and has seats for two hundred
and fifty persons. The chairs in the front row
| are luxuriously comfortable, and as pleasant to
the sight as to the touch. There are four private
boxes in the dres' circle, so arranged that their
occupants can see and be seen at will. These
boxes are spacious and comfortable, and are
/
are also elegantly upholstered, the fronts being
finished with light corniees and canoped curtains.
It may be remarked here that the architect has
succeeded emlnently well in solving that great
problem in theatrical arclitccture-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 go persons. The seats are
well cushioned, and the appointments are as neat
and comfortable as in any other part OF the Acad-
envy. Above and back OF this circle Is the gallery
where the Charleston "gods'' may enjoy the
chaste pleasure OF the stage, hearing and seeing
Just as well, be it understood, as their highpriced
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 fa- as the line OF the dress cir
cle and seats with ease about 25O persons. The
"orchestra 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, so
that persons may pass to and fro without incon-
yenience. The chairs are well stuffed and hand
somely covered. From the orchestra circle i'm
mediately in the rear OF the orchestra chairs, we
| have fine view OF
THE PRoScENIUH AND STAGE,
Which cannot he surpassed, if they can be
equaed, in any city in the South. The stage is
40 feet deep, 50 feet wide, and 81 feet high. No
| other theatre Of the same size has so large and
| lofty stage. The prosceniun has an opening
OF over 80 feet. 1t Is supported by columns carved
In imitation Of the palmetto, the lattice work OF
the trunk being thrown out by tasteful gliding.
The columns are surmounted BY sea nymphs
The cable mouldngs OF the proscenium are both
rich and elegant, and the effect OF the whole Is
heightened by the rosy shading tipped with
gold, of the cornices aud panels Immediately over
the middle OF the proscenium-which in shape is an
| elipllcal arch-is shield supported by instru-
| ments Of music, the mask, and other emblems,
and crowned with the palmetto.
THE DRoP CURTAIN
| Is gem OF scenic art. 1t was painted by Mr..
Menard Lewis, OF Niblo's Garden, and is, we ven
ture to say, one OF the most chastely beautiful
drop curtains in America. Our readers must see
1t for themselves 1t will, We hope, soon be as ia
miliar as household words to all South Carolina.
Passing by the stage boxes, and standing in front
| OF the footllghts, one can form some idea OF the
beauty and graceful proportions OF
| THE HOUSE.
The gallery fronts are OF open iron work. care
| fully gilded; the decorations in white and gold,
being in elegant contrast with the crimson plush
ratings. The cornices OF the circles are hand
somely bracketted and finished with grotesque
faces. The galleries are supported by iron col.
umns moulded in imitation OF tho trunk OF the
palmetto, the bosses Of the bark being picked
out in gold. flood of light is shed through the
house by the gas globes which jut out from the
balcony anu gallery fronts, and away over our
heads-afty -four feet from! the orchestra-a sun
light fills the centre CT the dome with It's
hundred Jets of fame. The dome is panclled and
enriched by corniccs-in tic inuer Circle are clus-
ters OF stars on an azure ground. The walls are
handsomely panelled, ard the decorations
throughout are in excellent taste. Standing on
the stage and looking ct the long run OF galleries
the COSY orchestra chairs and the distant abode
OF the upper ten," one can hardly believe tha1
| all this is in Charleston. In truth, degree ol
enterprise and activity has been displayed IN
planning and building the Charleston Academy
OF Music which would have done honor 70 Tile
most 20 ahead people on earth.
THE STAGE,
As we have said, Is especially capacious. AL the
scenery ia raised out OF sight when not In use,
and the machinery is OF the most improved pat