The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-12
old THEATRE NIGHTS.
"Reminiscences of EavOrite Actors
and Actresses of 81 he Oldep Time,,
1.-The Story Told by Collection of
Old Play Bills.
From the New York Would

From the New York Wolld.]
There is a big red book-a big book
bound in red-occupying a place OF
honor in Browne Fifth Avenue Chop.
House. in this city, which is we'll wor.
thy the attention of the theatrical
visitor. In fact, to the old New
Yorker, or the young New Yorker,
who wishes to be reminded Of .'the
DID, to the local historian, or to the
man or woman Of dramatic tastes and
instincts, there is no more interesting
volume in the metropolis. And vet its
contents are SIMPLE enough, consisting
almost solely Of ''old play bulls but
these old play-bills are full of rich
local favor, and are full Of such once
famous names some names still
| famous-that, taken as whole, they
read like volume of the pleasure-his-
tory of old New York.
Looking at these old bills gen.
orally you are struck with some char
acteristic differences which distinguish
them from the play-bills of the present
time. They are all long and narrow,
inferior IL paper. printing, Typography,
and "style,' to those Of our day, but
then they are clearly printed in large
type, which is not always the case with
our more modern programmes. Then
the good old words "play'' and
''farce' are to be found in them. Now
adays everything is a drama or a
comedy" The word ''pit'' is promi-
nent-a term now banished from the
vocabulary Of the theatre. "Combina-
ton bills were in favor Of the olden
tlme-a tragedy, musical in .erlude, and
farce, or tragedy and farce, with
cemlc song thrown
IN, were common bills Of
nightly fare. The performance often
began at or 1:30 o'clock at this very
latest, and the scale Of prices varied
from the pit at shilling to the dress
circle at Is cents. The CHEST single
admissions were 81, and private boxes
were held at $5--the T, lie being first
come, first served, no spectators, and
no extra charge for reserved seats
In these times, toe, when the old play
bills in this red book were new, the sal
( oiiOo vi ~ oiS>sIoHelS NcIc dLluOSC
iudicrously snail, judged by present
standards.
| One OF the most curious and inter
esting of the old theatrical MSS. ex-
tant in this city and preserved in this
book is theatrical salary list Of the
olden time. This consists Of the sal
airy sheet Of the fourteenth week Of the
forty ninth season Of the old Park
Theatre. This sheet speaks eloquen
ly, in its mares and figures, Of the past
= though it has several links with the
present. First on the salary list comes
! the name Of Edmund Simpson, lessee
and acting manager, man who was
wont to appear on the stage himself
occasionally, and who as manager,
during his time, was 1.-The pet Of the
public He got $50. Now a-nights,
5000 would be considered hardly ade-
qnate compensation. Then comes
the name Of Mr.. Thomas Barry.
who likewise received $50.
This gentleman is still living, though
now very old. HIS second wife was in
Fallack company few years ago.
third comes Charles Bass, the cele-
brated -ipel' Of Mrs. Baternan s play of
''Self, which is put down at S35. Then
is inscribed the ncme Of John Dyott,
who received S34. M. Dyott is still
living, has place near New Rochelle,
has retired from the stage. and is in
comfortable circumstances. Number
FIVE OF the salary list is George Bar
rett. "GentlemAn George, as he was
Familiarity called. a clever gentleman
and a clever actor Gentleman George
received $50 week. There were two
act.rs OF the nam. of Andrews
Oh the list: one G.. Andrews. was
fine performer, a celebrated Bot
7'ykt, and as a forhSh;reman the rival
of old Lysander ThoM pson. His tai.
ents and experience were appreciated
at 49, a week. The second was A. An.
drews who was rated at SIS. This
gentleman was & painter a we'll as a
performer, and was known in his day a.
! the artist actor. Then there was a
Mr.. Sutherland. VII, afterwards aband.
oned the stage ano became physician
He had daughter who, true to her pa
rent 6 original instincts, became an &C.
tress, and is now professionally known
as lone Burke Mr.. Sutherland
received f25 week: Mr.
John Fisher, Mrs. Vernon
brother, received $50: Sidney Pear.
son. the singer. SIS and Mr.. James
Starke. SIS. The last mentioned gen-
tleman is still living. lis career has
been checkered one. truly. He was
at one time a California favorite, and
became rich--was full Of business plans
and energy. Then he was suddenly
paralyzed, and upon his recovery wa
obliged to assume subordinate rank
in his ole. profession. For awhile he
was attached to the company Of Booth ;
theatre in this city. Finally on this
old salary sheet in the name of Frank
Chanfrau, who is therein estimated at
| SIS. M. Chanfrau would now be dis.
satisfied with fifty times that sum. but
he was very glad 10 get his SIS then.
| Among the ladies' named On the list
first is Mrs. Knight, the present Mrs.
Hind. who received s25 weekly. Sec
). ond comes the late Mrs. Vernon. who
| IL