New-York tribune., 1875-09-14

killed the Southern theaters,-effOrts have been
now and again made, particularly in Memphis
and Richmond, to maintain, for full season,
the old fashioned stOck-cOmpany theater; but
they have not been encouraged by success.
The expenses of carrying on the business were
found to have increased; and, in brief, what
ever of good fortune was attanable has ac-
crred to star actors, of acknowledged reputa-
ton, who travelled with their own companies.
In Charleston the theater was destroyed dur
ing the war; but since then the Algcr Build
ing, formerly dry goods shop, has been turned
into an Academy of Music )" and this prop
erty, which originally cost $2OO,OOO, and
which was altered at an expense OF $3Oooo,
was recently sold to John f. Owcns-the ad-
mirable and distinguished comcdian-for less
than $4,000. In Savannah the old theater
still exists, which was built nearly sixty
years ago. In Augusta, Ga, GTardcys
Opera House was lately advertised TO be sold
ut a sherif's sale. In Atlanta there is pretty
little thcatcr which was erected by the enter
prise of French resident of that city, NJ. LOUIS
dc Giye-whO certainly bears very good
name for public bencfactor. The Mobile
Theater is managed by well-knOwn Journalist
and dramatist, Mr.. Il. c. De Leon, who often
pleads the cause Of art in the columns OF Ihe
Mobile Register. The Richmond Theater was
both burnt and rebuilt during the war. In Ra-
leigh they have neat little opera house ana
in Wilmington, n. c., part Of the City Hal
il set aside for the drama but in North Caro-
lima the cost of license to give theatrical
performances is so great and the chances OF
doing good business seem SO little, that but
few entertainments are ever given in that State
The three needful permlts-State, county, and
tCwn-f0r one exhibition, cost more in North
Carolina than i'm all the cities north OF Rich
mond put together.
1t is reasonable to assume that quite as
much money is expended now, as in any pre-
yiOus season, upon theatrical entertainments
in the South but this expenditure, both as to
time and place, is more concentrated than
before Jefferson and Owens are especially
popular in the South. In 1878 the formers
average of receipts was $1,000 night, in
places where, twenty years earlier, he used to
rejoice if, both az manager and actor, he got
$500. Edwin Booth has not acted in any of
the Atlantic States south of Maryland for
over fifteen years; and the probability Is
that his Journey through the South this
season will be quite a triumphal progress.
Mr. Raymond as Col Sellers is also going
to make the circuit of the Southern theaters,
and doubtless "thoy are waiting for him now"
Mr.. Booth will not appear in Washington, but
he will visit all the other South Atlantic
cities Col. Sellers will be in Washington when
Congress meets, and will hold up to legislators
Il glass wherein they may see the inmost part
of them. These, and indeed all the proDi-
nent actors who visit the South this season,
90 thither under the management of Mr. Ford
of Baltimore who is preferred lessee of the
Southern theaters, md to whose enteIprising
plans is mainly due the approaching revival of
theatrca.s on the Southern stage.