The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-02
Description OF the Theatre.

last night In the Filth Avenue Hotel the benefit
| OF the actors 1t was headed by Mr.. william Wilkin-
| son for handsome sum.
Description OF the Theatre.
| The Fifth Avenue Theatre, which was utterly
destroyed last night was originally erected in
1867, as an uptown 'gold ROOM for the qualification
of the uneasy spirits who could neither make nor
lose enough money down town during the day
time. They used 10 have q sort of an hospital to
cOngregate in Mt night and here, after the gas was
lighted on the site OF the stage entrance the Old
HippodrOme, the clam0r and discOrdance were
almost internal. After the gold fever had abated
the house was let to George Christy, as a negro
minstrel hall, and classic performances OF the
burnt-cork character we're given upstairs while
on the ground moor q large billiard hall
nOurished and billiard balls were shot to and
fro. Negro minstrelsy failed here and SO did bill
lizards, and 1t was let out to variety show, which
failed In most miserable succession. In January,
1862 the theatre was altered, and in fact 1t might
have been said to be nearly rebuilt, by John
Brougham ostensibly, although it was James Fisk,
Jr., who furnished the money, he being the real
proprietor, as It appeared to the public eye in q
very short time, when Mr. Broughams name dis
appeared and when Fisk's name glared forth In
bold letters. On the evening of Monday, January
rs. 1869, the new Brougham theatre was opened to
the public With the twO-act comedy Of "Better Late
Inan Never" written by the manager himself, and
the burlesque of 1.-The Dramatic Review Of 1865"
handsome and substantial awning was the
first thing noticeable to the stranger at the front
OF the building. There were three dOOrways, with
lobby having neat tiled pavement. and from
this lobby, on either side, handsome black wal
nut stairway led to the upper circles of the house.
On going up step or two and where red door
was swung open, silded panel mouldings dis.
covered covered themselves T and the aspect was very
circles. and the chairs had white frames. The
walls on either side were wainscotted IN ok four
fhAQn nnE rfaoA
rows OF dazzling mirrors The balconies were
guarded with handsome wire vinework
gold. The dress circle seats were similar to
those IN the Parqnet, having iron frames
Tse was of pnk Samee
around the ventilatOrs. From the centre OF the
ceiling depended handsome chandelier, with
some forty handsome porcelain burners the light
from which was reflected by innumerabie crystals
and glittering pendants, by which the body OF the
chandelier was hidden. At either side OF the audi
forum, adjoining the proscenium were three boxes
divided from the rest OF the house by iron lattice
WORK painted white and gold. behind which were
sliding curtains OF crimson silk chateaine. The
parquet was where the floor OF the billiard
nal was wsorI formerly, and the dress circle
ave feet front BY fifty feet deep TIE stage stag ,0 had
nanked by columns, with carved scrowork,
painted In white and gold with background of
curtain painted lately. The mechanics lofts for
working the nies were on either side of the build
ing, WIN level on the dress circle, and the scene
painters held possession OF the galleries further
up, on level with the family circle. The
carpenters shop was still higher up, over
the costumers rooms. The dressing rooms
green room and property rooms were located
under the auditorium, and were kept in very neat
and orderly state. There were a great number of
traps on the stage, and the machinery was very
complicated All the fats Of importance were
down or hoisted up instead OF being run on I'm
grooves, The arrangements for working the lights
al W. kad ANtr
building was valued at about 5000 600 and belonged
to the estate OF Mrs. Lucy d. Fisk the widow OF
Colonel James Fisk, Jr.
The Plays Produced ut the Theatre.
On the 25th OF January, 1882 the Gold Room was
metamorphosed into Brougham's Theatre, with
James Fisk, Jr., as proprietor, John Brougham
as lessee and James Schomberg as manager. An
original comedy in two acts, entitled Better Late
Than Never" was then produced, the principal
actors being John Brougham, George Stoddard
Ellie Germon Eliza Newton, Charles Hale, Edward
Lamb, Clara Fisher and Annie Firman. The bur-
icsque OF "Pocahontas' was put upon the stage in
the following February, and was succeeded
in March by Jennie Lind,n In which
Miss Jennie Kimball played. on the
sth OF March Brougham's burlesque, ''Much Ado
About "A Merchant OF Venice" was enacted, and
was followed by ''His Last Legs" the final per-
orwhich, on March 90 closed Brougham's
the theatre had been only ST. 1906, while wauack's
reached $2s,2
On Monday, April S, Fisk-haying deposed
with opera oot0e, Adolph Brig
felt a. manager. LA Perchole,N with Tostee,
Irma, Duclos, Aujac, De Gre and lie Due In the
caste, was first played, and the house was re-
named being called the Fifth Avenue The
stre ia Grande Duchesse." "Barbe Bleue,n
'L'Orpheus en- Enfer," la Belle Helene"
LES Bavards,. "Chsnson de Fortin," ANons
loudry,u lie Maitre de Chapelle" and theS''Her-
MS Belle" followed each other in rapid success
y \. Desclausas sung and the Morlacchi ballet
o. ve continued to please the public until June
oI ~, y, when the season Of the opera closed
rs r0o Sonday, June II, the Boston Combination
. ON IA which included Fred. Robinson, Kitty )
l ancSard tand stewart Robson, from selwyns |
norav and 'BIack Eyed-Susan" until July 3, when |
new went 70 Wallack's and played ''ihe Long I
trike,, until Tho struck themselves.
on August IA >ngustin DAILY rented the Fifth |
venue Theatre a. I'd assumed charge Robert
on's 'Playn was put ppen the boards by the new !