The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-07
OLD NIBLO's.
"Reminiscences OF the EARLY Days OF the
Theatre.

Theatre.
Mr.. William Niblo the founder OF NiblO's Theatre,
lives in comfortable retirement, amid the pictures
and statuettes and articles of biouerie for which
his long acquaintance with dramatic art and artists
has given him taste, in q brown stone front, No.
so West Twenty-eighth street. He is one OF the
few theatrical managers OF past generations who
made money and kept it. He has been out OF
dramatic circles now for twenty years, but his
name has been kept prominent in connection with
theatrical matters because 1t was borne by the
handsome theatre just destroyed Mr.. Niblo, how
ever, has not lost his taste for theatres nor his
regard for the members of the profession.
He is a gentleman, eighty-three years of age
that he looks less than sixty. On hearing the news
Of the fire yesterday he wcnded his way down to
the Of the disaster to tender his advice and
coincidence to old employees under the late manage
ment who had been employees under his own. He
was full Of "reminiscences OF the palmy Old days
when Niblos Garden was garden indeed.
In 1880 he opened the garden 1t was not in
tended to be theatre, but what its name might
imply-a garden, similar in appointment and pur-
pose to the then famous vauxhall Gardens OF Lon
don. Mr.. Niblo at that time was living on Pine
street, and as business commenced to encroach
upon his domestic domain he determined to
needs of commerce would never push him
to move again. SO he opened this garden
on the corner OF Prince street and Broadway, built
him dwelling house In a corner OF it, and permit
ted the public to roam about 1t and take refresh
ments, tee creams and lemonade at the tables. IT
not like the various city gardens $50 called OF
the present day. walled in by brick and mortar, cut
of from all the rays of the sun and all the breezes
Of heaven and unbessed by the beauty or fragrance
OF a single nower. 1t was real garden, with foun
tans OF real water and real strawberries, real green
houses req, afu [ea, roses real a ana
the NEW YORK HERALD was In existence. Many
gray-headed old citizens, who were then gay
on the Battery, living in their hand.
some residences on lower Broadway and
to Nibo's Garden behind spanking team to get a
breath OF the country air and enjoy evening
out Of town. Canal street had just been filled In
moved. Prince street was a lane. Bond street
was unopened. The only theatres in town were in
ington Irving, under the non, dc plume OF Jonathan
Oldstye, was writing criticisms upon the manners
OF the fine people who attended the Park
Theatre, near the corner of BeekmaD street. Billy
Burton was amusing the ''gOds' OF the pit Cham
beers street. Hamblin owned the Bowery. The pit
then was what is the parquet now Ladies never
entered 1t. 1t was only for the bhoys and the
bootbacks. There were no newsboys worth men,
tiontng. IL is not known VINO was the adventurous
individual that opened up this the best part OF the
theatre to the better class Of theatre-goers. Who
ever he was his name should be honored He
Notwithstanding the croaking OF some OF the
WORTHLESS of that day, who thought Niblo was going
too far rom the CITY, he prospered as well swas to
be expected. He prospered, indeed, well with
his garden that two years after he had erected 1t
he erected summer theatre, which was so far a
part OF the garden that the performances could be
viewed from the rcreshment tables In the open air.
He found that the extra expense OF this establish
ment was not adequately repaid by his little garden
patronage from the city. People had to walk all
the way from Chambers street. Park row and the
Battery or else hire carriage to enjoy an evening
at his place. Ii was considered something OF a
walk in those days up to Niblos Garden and Niblo
found he must do something to facilitate
public -, tray Eno,,s in his direction He hit
to London and bought two omnibuses, the same in
pattern as those that now bump and rattle their
way along our great thoroughiare. They were
named the Lady Clinton and the Lady Van Rens-
sclacr. With these he brought the crowds from the
half cents. From that time on hs theatre pros
pcred. Burton, the great comedian, performed
summer engagements for him. The Ravel troupe
dramatic performances during the summer. twas
too far out OF town for people 10 be expected to
SaToom in the coa months Finally b Sf
ing cramped for space. he turned the theatre
into refreshments and music han, and built a
larger theatre. 1t fronted on Broadway and was
open on tho rear and Sides so that people could go
into the garden between the acts and take Ice
New York blood treated his girl TO the theatre and
refreshments In those days. II did not cost small
fortune TO do IL, as 1t does now. Those were hard
tire tickets were reasonable. The admission to
Niblos theatre and gardeu was fifty cents; posi-
lively no reserved seats-irst come take the best.
During the summer Of 1887, series OF concerts,
given under the direction OF Mr.. Watson, In which
Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Knight, Mr.. Plum
mcr and Mr.. I. Bishop sang-.namcs long since for
gotten save by the Older residents Of New York
and the theatrical historians. The Ravcl family
appeared later In the same season. and still further
on toward the autumn vaudeville company was
introduced under the direction of Joseph Jefier-
son Gather OF "our JOEY and John Seton. This
company produced q succession OF musical farces
But the Ravels were the great hit' OF tho season.
In the spring OF 1888 dramatic season began under
the management OF Seton, and again with the aid
OF the Rayel Troupe This ended on the 2lst
ofSeptember. In June, 1889, the SeguIns appeared
at Nib0'g, In Attenuation with the Raves, and
BILLY" Burton had benefit during the season. In
October OF that year Mr.. Walack engaged Niblo's,
and removed his whole company thither: Mr.. VAN
making their first appearance after their
urn rom Europe the former In Ham,