The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-23
rHB GRIND DUKES RIvAL.
such n Marvel Of "a Theatre as Nobody 10 the
World ever saw Before.

such n Marvel Of u Theatre ns Nobody 10 the
World ever saw Before.
Twinking lights, glimmering through
the crannics from a subterranean depth tho
sounds OF revelry, OF hali-smothercd shouts,
and OF shuflling feet and the presence Of many
boys jeering intently downward through the
rails Of a rusty iron fence, arc the indication
nightly at aruinous old building in Centre street
that the great Centennial Theatre II In full blast
Tho building is low-browed and smoke be-
ermmed the roof is ready to fall In, tho win
dow panes and sashes have been pelted into
bits, and rats and mice are by day its only occu-
pants. IL was formerly used by "A MIR. Jones IA n
brass foundry but II was abandoned In It's old
AGE over two years ago.
About month ago an energetic little boy Of
Centre street, Bobby Cooke obtained the con-
sent OF Mr.. Jones to Use tho basement for a
boys theatre. Bob who is only thirteen years
old, went 10 work with will. He erected a
stage, got together n little company of anna
tours, and gave entertainments to his comrades
for the small sum Of two cents" as was an
nounced on his playbllls. The ENTERPRISE WAS
successful from tho outset; theatre roers
Hooked To the pit. aud II was considered an un-
lucky night on which the ticket agent did not
gather IN at least dollar and half.
tallow dip. In "A TN reflector, shonc from the
door of the theatre entrance last, night, and
lighted the way into tine damp. gloomy bose
tnent. Many boys loaned up az ainst the brick
pillars looked hughingly into the half-lighted
han S Smu icr every os wnp S tssy
tennial Theatre; tskc us down. it's only three
cents. Come. loss. do"
Down ricketS night Of stalrs, through long
hail. dark with mould and spectral with shadows
cast 10y dim burning cnnuies. up two or three
steps, turn to the left through time and
smOkc-t tlackened room and you reach the en-
trance to the show room. at which stands the
on importuning deadhcads. ~ say, young fell
low SAID he, As a small boy with handful OF
coppe-s tried to pass, "you'z the chap
that's stuck us upon us yer bogus
pennies rs ncr use, yer can't come
In. so cit right out. Youto TO another. "yer's
the fellows that's kicked up tue 'sturoance, yer
can't come IN, nuthei." Passing the sentinel.
who exclalms, "Say boss, ycr'd better toxic a
orchestra char. It's only nve cents, and then yer
can't set In style the visitor Il ushered into
the bright little hlstrlonic temple Of Manager
The room IA about 30 feet by Is feet and about
one-quarter is set apa't for the stage. At the
rear the seats, about dozen plain pine benches,
rise In tiers aud these are divided by an imagi-
nary partition from the reserved seats which
are at the foot of the stage The stage is ele-
waited u foot or two, and Is thickly covered with
little movable scene boards, whose scenery is
fresh from the brush Of the artist. Lewis Drum
A life-slze sketch Of Gus Williams ad,,rns the
front board, and pictures ~ goddcsses are min
gled with those of burnt-cOrk MINISTRIES. A
photograph OF q. l.. Fox is fixed conspicuously
IN the top OF the curtain. \ bulletin In corner
three, Teddy sullivan, DICK Burke, and Chris
Letwith Will appear this week.
" Dick Is the star" said little iobby, who, clad
In long overcOat, walked up and down among
his audience, with bis hands In his pockets
aud with truly managerial air, were
only Just commenced" he continued, "but
In week or two well have things fixed up real
nice. Wen enlarge the stage. have new scenes,
and then we'll talk with the Grand Duke >
boys. Why, when they opened they had no
stage aud nothing; they were too poor TO buy
footlight We are having a tirst-rate run and |
put all the receitts over and above the expenses
into improvements. There's where we do bet
ter than the Grand Duke for they took all
their receipts ana spent them"
Just at that moment Bob caught boy, who
had dropped into a lve cent seat, by the collar
and tumbled him up on the terraosd seats, and
cried out. Order here, boys, We must have or
der" lie then won't on.
-" rhe hall costs us notlin for Mr.. Jones
Sivss IL TO us freu as long as we Keep orderly.
nOor; but don't know what we will DO IN the
winter, for Mr.. Jones won't allow n stove here.
The show lasts from o'clock until 10. We've
been running at tvo cents for admission. but
lately we've had To RAISE the price to three
moderate percentage on the receipts. when
those are low, they don't get much pav. We
here had a three dollar house several times, and
once one that was worth four dollars and a half,
ruined us some fellows broke in tore "A new
scene all to bits, and left only the tons Of the
trees hanging to the boards. They kicked up
the carpet aud smashed the tootliehts. Detec-
tive Dorccy l. looking for them"
In The dressing, OF Which Bob was especially
proud, were u paper Of corks ready for burning,
chair aud a small patched pine table. Bob vas
going on to tell about his bright PROSPECTS, but
he was Interrupted by a flash OF burning paper
on the stage, little bell tinkled, and the green
curtain was rolled dOwn.
The lrst scene was the " Intelligence Once"
and the different parts were performed with
SIKH that might grace the stag Of many OF our
comedy theatres. Funny cUnturtionists. expe ri
clog dancers. negro mins:rels, and variety show
men followed each other in rapid succession,
and to each accorded Iapturous
applause from pit and the gallery. In the
Intervals OF the parts the enyious boys outside
produced sometimes merriment and sometimes
consicrnation 10y shouting 10 the audience. 81
say johnny shouted one in a solemn part OF
the play, to one OF the actors, " | say, ole boy,
yer mothers out here look IN fur yer.' Another
cried out, Cheese IL fellers, here comes Low
cry The boys inside were perfectly quiet, and
at the close Of tho play 1led out demurely to
their homes.
II youil just come here next week." said the
little manager, I'm show you something nice"