The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-22
THE NEW THEA TIRE AND THE 4 CA DENY OF
FINE A RTS

FINE ARIS.
We publish below communication in relation to
the proposed new theatre on the site Of the Academy
OF Fine Arts and we are able to lay before
readers the following information in regard to the
subject. The lot and building of the Academy of
the Academy Of Fine Arts has been pnrchase for the.
sum OF s14000O. The lot has front OF IS feet and
depth of $50 feet ThepreseHt walls OF the Academy
will be used and its intended to make the most
elegant and confnOdous theatre in the city, capable
of holding from 1900 to 23OO people, A handsome
front will be erected upon Chestnut street, with q
wide entrance hall in the middle, and handsome
stores on either side Of it, Above there will be fine
concert roOm the rental of which, with the stores,
willbring in a considerable income independently of
the receipts OF the theatre There is certainly room
for such theatre this proposed to be, and If it
il well managed, it ought to be profitable invest
ment as well as a handsome ornament to the city.
The following is the communication referred to-
Editors of The EUening Te,egraph:- n
Having noticed in your article of last evening on
'The New Chestnut Street Theatre" a refer ence to
an advertisement which lately appeared in sever al
of the city papers, we would state in regard to it
hat thinking it bore on its face the obvious marks
offoTgery, we determined to pass itb by in silence.
Butas its artful wording seems to have deceived the
continuity we pronounce ltgentrey unauthorized
and destitute OF truth,4t Is intended to erect on
the site of the Hcademy OF the Fine Arts theatre
in every respect rst-class which we hope will not
be tco gears in establishing itself in the favor OF the
city, to which we hope TO make 1t an ornament and
an attraction. Believing that enterprise will
meet with the approval OF our felOw-ctiZens
soon as we are enabled TO lay 1t before them we beg
their indulgence till that time with the assurance
that we shall bring it TO their notice through other
channels than anonymous advertisements or mali
ciOus umors. Respectfully,
THE PURCHASERS OF THE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.
Philadelphia, July ~.
In this connection we would remark that we un-
derstand the directors OF the Academy OF Fine Arts
propose to suspend the operations OF that institution
for two years. and they anticipate that by that time
the necessity for an Academy will be felt so severely
that they will be entreated 10 commence operations
again on any terms They need not wait so long,
however as the camor for new Academy has be-
gun already, and we hope that there will be no more
delay than is absolutely necessary in giving us one
We are not sorry that the old building has been sold
and that the directors have concluded that is best
for them TO suspend business. The dissatisfaction
with the institution under its present organization Is
wide spread and there is now an excellent Opportu-
nifty to do away with the superannuated ideas that
have clung around the present building and to
make a fresh start with some hope OF success. SO
long as the Academy OF Fine Arts exists under its
old organization 1t stands directly in the road OF
something better and il is best that 1t should be
swept out of existence. The collection Of works OF
art will make an excellent nucleus for Aca-
deny; and II the matter is prosecuted with energy
and enlightened enterprise there is probably enough
wealth and art culture in Philadelphia to endow a
genuine Academy OF the Fine Arts in the most
liberal manner. This is a cOnsummation devoutly
to be wished; and a thoroughly organized art
school in this city will give impetus to the study
of art throughout the whole country, and bring
about results that only be dimly estimated at the
present time