New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-09

St. Charles Theatre.

| st. Charles Theatre.
Since the close of this popular place Of
| amusement last spring number Of improve
mfnts have been made in the building. In
the first place the main entrance to the
theatre has been changed, and an archeo
doorway made that takes in almost the
whole width of the building, and the doors
go constructed as to fold when they are
| opened, and in this condition fastened, &c
that in case Of fire or an alarm, and rush
| of the2aud;ence to the street, the doors can
not be closed against their egress.
BY this change the front appearance OF
| the theatre is much improved, the conve
nience of the people for ingress and egress
! facilitated, and the danger Of closed doors
in case of fire entirely obviated. The ap
| pHoach to the ticket Office, so eOurtcously
! presided over by the rotund and popular
Gleason, has been changed by the cOnstruc-
| til n of railing, Immediately in front Of the
| ticket office, with a gate, so that but one
person can approach the amiable treasurer
| at a time: and in this way he is enabled to
| avoid confusion, and gentlemen cannot be
| crowded by pickpockets while in the act OF
| purchasing tickets. It is calculated. by this
! arrangement. it will not take half the time
| to- have an audience seated that it did when
all was scramble and confusion to obtain
| tickets.
After having all of these changes ex-
planned to US by Major Robert Strong, the
SUI MINER manager andi supervisor of i'm
provements in the 'Old Drury' in the
absence of its proprietor, Ben DeBar, we
w re invited by Major Strong 10 take a
further peep into the establishment and see
W hat changes had been effected in the into
ri@r of the largest theatre perhaps in the
co untry.
Arriving at the top of the stairway,
where the doorkeeper is seated who receives
thu tickets, we found very perceptible
change. Gaining an entrance here we found
about fifteen or more feet of an enclosure
wi th doors leading to the right and LETT, and
one Immediately in front Of that at the
he ad Of the stairs. few feet from it, all
leading to the dress circle.
The advertisement of Mr.. A. Z. Blackmar,
in another column, is well worthy of the
attention of all who wish to procure good
instruments at low prices and on terms
within the reach of persons of very shall
IN tans. The terms on which Mr.. Blackmar
sells his instrume nts are such that if piano
is merely rented, in no considerable time the
rental will amount to the price of the in
stiument, which then belongs to the party
hiring.
Instead of paving a considerable sum of
money down. or even giving note on Il
sh prt date, any one desiring it can procure
a superior instrument by paying small
monthly installments. and thus become the
ov ner without feeding the burden of pay
emit See Mr.. BIackmars advertisement
and pay his extensive establishment a visit.
Entering either of the side doors, we
folnd the partition, which formerly sepa-
rated this portion of the theatre from the
dress circle, removed and its appearance
very much improved. The flooring OF this
portion of the theatre has been raised. SO
TINT persons occupying either side have a
complete view of not only the dress circle
and parquetle. but of the stage. A railing
ab out four feet high separates this portion
OF the theatre from the seats III the dress
circle.
THE parquette has also been enlarged by
reducing the space assigned for the or
chhstra. These changes have certainly
adt led very much TO the appearance of both
dress circle and parquettc. and viii enable
the management to seat much larger
mum Der of persons-;ls many rs twenty-five
hundred at least. The painting and repairs
ma ve been thorough. extending to the stage,
anil embracing much new scenery.
There is nothing gaudy or unsubstantial
in the look Of cold Drury" as it now stands.
but there is an air of comfort and respccta-
bility in all things that will not fail to pro-
duec pleasant effect upon those who visit
it his winter.
At was the intention of the management
to open the theatre this evening with
CoIvilleS Combination of European Novel
ties, including the celebrated French Wrest-
leIs. but the rumOr of yellow fever in the
city has deferred the company from coming
here. and the consequence is the postpone
mont of the opening of the St. Charles to
some future time.
We are sorry TO learn. through the
Pit0yunc that 1.-THE heavy Legitimate will
play but comparatively occasional part in
thu entertainments ofsthe present fall and
winter at this establishment. We do not
believe that ''the popular voice calls loudly
iOf sparkling comedy. the sensational. the |
Gbp ndon Of burlesque and the amusing tri- |
hek of Pantomime." to the exclusion of the
''hravv legitimate
The st. Charles. under the management |
Of James H. Caldwell. its founder. was |
made to assume the role of the legitimate, |
AND our people appreciated his efforts to |
please and instruct them. The St Charles |
w;ls then the leading temple OF the drama |
in this city, ana there il no reason whv it !
SHOULD not approach the same standard |
NOW with IA good stock company. and the |
production of plays in the line of stcrlin" |
COMEDY and tragedy.
We are aware that the charming Lolita in |
tht pieces in which she appears is captivat-
ink and never fails to draw full houses, and |
thu same can be said OF the Lydia Thomp- |
son Troupe. The troupe is good one and |
thf pieces played are relished for awhile, |
butt at the same time our people have a
taste for the Legitimate" in acting, and
would, undoubtedly, patronize that branch
Of the drama whenever the attractions are
,obd, whenever the acting comes up to the
'htracter Of those sterling plays that are
-ht productions of great minds.
The st. Charles will probably open be-
-wIeen this and the first of November 1t
" I'LL be under the management of J. w.
A Dough, who succeeds Mr.. Pope.
ONLY TWENTY-FIVE CENrs.-Our neigh
-.