The New York herald., 1870-09-05
THE NEW YORK THEATRE.

"Reminiscences of mn Edince, Both Church snd
Theatre, Where Preachers stood and
Where Actors Didn't Fiourish Much-Thc
Story Of Lucy RushtOn in Prose- and Of
Other PeopIe-Prescnt Rec0pstruction.
The partial dismantling OF the New York theatre,
formerly DIR. Deweys Unitarian church, recalls some
incidents OF local history which may be interesting
az this time. Standing where IL does on Broadway,
nearly opposite Waverley place and In the midst OF
Q neiehborhOod which has all the time been under
going reconstruction until it Is now the most modern
business portion or the city, 1t bears decidedly sim
gular ard antique appearance beside all that
IL 70 fresh and recent. Yet the building
itself cannot be called old though it looks
unmistaEably venerable 1t certainly wears
as antique a complexion az many edifces
In Europe which date back nve and six hundred
years. This in a measure may be the erect pro-
duced by the mi!dewed front OF dark gray granite,
built in imitation OF an DID, obsolete church design,
and erected amid the most modern style OF COM
mercial concerns. Though only quarter Of cen
tury old II has vicisstudes enough In its time
10 lay claim TO matnred existence.
SOMETHING OF ITS PAST.
II was the first Unitarian church built In New
York, and under the ministry and management OF
Dr. Dewey was one OF the most fashionable places
Of worship In the city. At that time 1t had ample
surrounds OF green trees and shrubbery; but IN the
course Of years 1t became jammed in by the course
OF uptown building, and finally its congregation.
moving with the tide Of travel, left it to It's fate
In DR.. Dewey's time II had large and wealthy
patronage. The furniture. organ, choir commu-
MON table and pastoral contributions were all on q
rich and liberal scale The pastor was In the prime
OF mis- trained and varied intellect and under the
spell OF his glowing eloquence The pulpit sat many
a Sunday morning and evening some Of The Oldest
and worthiest citizens Of New York.
END OF ITS RELIGIOUS USES.
After DR.. Dewey came Dr. Osgood, who is TOO well
known to the citizens OF New York 10 need any no.
tice But spite OF all the attraction in mental worth
and moral purity Of the new pastor, the church
was doomed TO find its congregation gradually d.
mnisiing In the uptown exodus. Clearly It could
no longer be deemed convenient nor suitable
for those whose places OF private resi- dence were
fast trenching the confines OF the Central PARK.
The congregation therefore deemed II best 10 dispose
OF the edince, and q customer was found in MI. E.
Fox. Money enough was raised TO build the splen-
dd structure called the Church OF the Messiah
ner Madison avenue and Twenty-cighth street, Rev.
Mr. Hepworth pastor, and there at present in the
holy Calm Of every sabbath morning and to the
many silvcry head and aged face is lifted in PRAYER
which was wont in olden days to Join among the
first or the worshippers In the now deserted church
on Broadway.
FOR WHAT 1T WAS THOUGHT FIT.
About SIX years ago Mr.. Fox sold ont the property
TO Mr.. A. T. Stewart, who found 1t considerable OF
an elephant on MS hands as It had ceased to be any
longer an attraction TO religious communities. For
almost all other purposes than those OF religion he
had numerous applications. Some wanted 1t for
gymnasium, others for livery stable. One man
offered lively rent TO be allowed to turn 1t into a
lager beer concert saloon, with waiter girls, bag
pipes nddles dancing nymphs, painted faces and
bare legs. To none Of these did Mr.. Stewart Yield
in lapse Of two years after he had maze the pur
chase
THE FIRST THEATRICAL ENTERPRISE
About this time an Engshman named Mr. Davis,
OF Drury Lane theatre, came to this country and
hired the Old church for the purpose OF turning It
into a vaudeville theatre. There came with him q
lady who was familiarIy known here few years
ago named Miss Lucy RushtOn. Both went to work
on the limited means in their mutual possession
and contrIved to make a toleraby fair show on the
opening night. Lucy furnished the theatrical and
Davis The business brains OF the concern; but 1t
became 1na!ly necessary that some one should fur
nish the snews OF war. II being known al the time
that the theatre as pecuniary speculation was fail
ule and that spite OF this 1t was still kept running,
some folks lightly circulated the rumor tnat 1t was
his pocket and from out his deep admiration for
Miss RushtOn. 1t was clear there was some mistake
here Tor If the theatre had secured such wealthy
and efrusive patron Miss Rushron might be acting
there STILL As 1t happened she called but once on
Mr.. Stewart, which was at his office, purely on
matter 0l business.
LUCY AND THE LAWYER
But there was one gay and and festive lawyer, who,
sive figure and her solid looks, came with rush TO
her rescue, and foated herself and Davis into smooth
water Tor at least aWnfle BuI paying money SIMPLY
for the SAKE Of admirng the lady OF his love at The
distant foO;lights In the theatre OF an even
ing was rather calculated to pail on the
fancy OF this ardent yet practical lawyer. He wanted
equivalent for the funds lie advanced, but laihng
TO get It and finding Lucy and Davis only cared Tor
his money, he cut the concern IN disgust When
the lawyer left them they could stand the strain no
longer. The theatre burst up ana Lucy and Davis
retired to the tower on top like folks IN ieudal times
who took refuge in the dOnjon keep from the enemy
at the gate. They lived some time IN The old tower,
but it must have been grim existence, unless 1t
was very exalted attachment for the Old tower
looks black a dungeon outside, and II was never
more than beliry within. In the end they capitI-
lated to the lord OF the manor, Mr.. Stewart, who
brought them out and took the keys OF the fortress.
OTHER THEATRICAL VENTURES.
After Miss Lucy came the pOndcrOus Mark Smith
which there was larger number ana greater va
rieiy Of legs compressed than had Dcep previously
exhibited. IL consequently had long run and paid
well. After this exhibition was carried away to the
country the WOrre sisters, for whom Reuben Lowell
leased the theatre, made their appearance and did
cellent show; not large, but comfortable and hand
some.
FINAL FATE OF THE BUILDING.
Laura keene who Is brave enough TO try her for
tunes IN any KIND OF theatre, applied 10 rent
it: but Mr.. Stewart declined, having another
lease it TO Mr.. Samuel X. Spencer, who
is at present engaged ia recOnstructng the building
for the purposes OF first class vaudeville theatre
He Will take down the tower, remove the front and
redecorate and reseat with swingback chairs the
whole interior. Hitherto its exterior has cen a
drawback Too much OF the church appearance
was lett and TOO little OF theatre gwen TO It. But
in the present uptown tendency Of theatres as well
as everything else, there is no doubt r Mr. Spencer
makes the proper kind OF improvement, his unuer-
n ittsr rVylIl hl .at