The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-09
OLD FASHIONED MANAGERS
THE ANCIENT BOWERY THEATRE
AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.


A quarter OF q century ago the manager
OF New York theatre was an absolute monarch
In his realm. Before this potentate OF the mimic
world utility people and the super" bent the
knee in worshipful suppliance. The aspiring
youth who did the any Lord the Duke OF Buck
ingham Is taken" business for seven dollars
week covered behind the wings and trembed
at the frown Of the manager. The manager then
was the supreme autocrat. and the hands OF gov
eminent were not as now, divided between
him and that later innovation, the business di-
rector The ger had his cabinet, comprls-
ing as its members the stag manager, the
prompter, property man, scene painter, and cos
tuner not emitting, however, that important
functionary, the treasurer. The engagements
we're all made 10y the manager, OF under his di-
rection by the stage manager: the bills for ad-
vertising were audited aud paid by the treas
| urer. As for managing the press" not few
of the managers left the press to manage itself.
and then, as now, this policy generally succeeded
admirably.
THE GEAR OF THE OLD BowERY.
| OF all the managers Of the city theatres
| Thomas 8. Hamblin was the stateliest In appear
ance and bearing and the proudest OF bis thea
tire. the Old Bowery. He believed In himself
with an abiding faith that were 1t not for h TN
the legitimate drama would 10 to the bow
vows. While he was Car OF the Bowery he
gathered upon Its stage COMPANY by far the
| NJ ost complete aud talented in the city.
In the cast Of Lester wallack's adaptation OF
Dumas's Three Guardsmen" were ]. W Wal
lack, Jr., as Athos, Lester wallack us UArtdg-
nan, John Gilbert POrthes, John Dunn as
Ardmts, winans az Bdztn, and Mrs. J. W. Wal
lack, Jr, formerly Ann waring.
| Hsmblin had also a strong faith In the eff
| nciency OF costly appointments, and when he
81 nall In
Three Guardsmen." Wandering jew" and
other plays admitting OF spectacular display, he
astonshcd his rival anagers by his lavish ex-
penditure in costumes and scenery which
equalled, II they did not excel, In splendor and
cast the memorable presentations Of King
John" and "Richard ILL.," by Charles kean at
the Park some years before.
Haubliu's special aversion was country ac-
tors and country managers, ana when one OF
either ilk came 10 interview him upon business
he invsr by lodged. If codging was i'm pos
slble the managerial monarch turew back his
leonine mead, drew himself up TO his full height,
effect that, awed aud frightened. the party
oozed out as 1t we're from tue lOrdly presence
aud troubled him no more.
| PuRDY OF THE CHATHAM THEATRE.
Imperious and naughty. "A gentleman, sir.
i wish YOU To understand" HamDlin was as I'M
like one Of his rival managers-A IL. Purdy AS
could possibly be la agined Purdy, little round
bodied fat man, was tue manager OF the CHAT
BAN Theatre, Afterwards known as the National.
had he ever been all actor. lie stumbled into
the managerial business, and eventually got out
81 II III tue same way, out not without making a
great deal VI money 10y his venture. He had an
inordluate fOnduess for the display OF jewelry
upon his person. Across his cap Cious vest aud
around his neck was suspended "a long and heavy
gold watch chain. In his shirt front I'll zed 4
two or three diamond studs. Uvon almost every
hngcr we're two or three heavy god Rugs, 20
That he partially eclipsed the Shan Of Persia In
personal nagnihcenc.
One day Puroy uiucked ur courage, rubbed up
his stock of jewelr,. and inspired 10y tue excite
ment created by the publication OF Harriet
Beecher stoves wonderful work, Uncle
IONS c bin" placed aaramatiza.ion OF It upon
HE stags-the work. " recollection Is not at
fault, being by the late George l.. Aiken 1t met
with an immediate ana instantaneous success.
ter OF Mr.. aud Mrs.. q. {. Howard. VINO them
selves were IN the cast As 81. Clair anu IOIsy
spectively. No drama OF similar character IN
the past twenty years nas crca ed such ex
citement rs did this lucky venture Of Puruy's.
For one year IL held tne stage The TOpsy OF
Mrs. Howard was regarded ~ something won
derfu as al artistic re liz ton Of the novelist
the fortunes Of tue old ChitnAiu, and ITS mana
ger was correspondence exnitant. tie WIS en-
ablcd to make extraordinary I'D .ltlons ~ his
stock Of personal Jswlry.
THE CLERGYMAN AND TIRE MANAGER
Even the religious community became inter
ested IN the sOrr1w of Uncle Iotn, ana to tue
man gers inv.t .tiOns to tue clergy To witness
tie gieat moral play many OF the leading min
listers Of the cty gave Their acceptance and
went away delgited.
one SUNDAY morning Manager Purdy was
st ndiug upon the steps In TO 81 the tnedtr,
airing himself, when the Rev. Mr. -, the
pas Of Anelghbufing cuurcn, CHANGED to pass
on his way 10 service. The front doors of tnt
theatre we're open which fact was noticed bl
"Realy Mr. Purdy. YOU surely do not intend
giving sunday psIlOrn.ncef"
"CertainiN not. You see we nave 10 o, en- the
door to admit OF n thorough ventilation OF tht
the"tre-tnat Is all, rr, ne ana no labor Vi
that's iight, MIR. Purdy. im glad to heal
you say H..
: Al that recse moment there came to tn,
hearing Of the manager anu minister the SOU Il
Of tremendous thump from the Interior iol
lowed oy avOley Of loud, loose, ana very pro
lane tNpletiVes IRON some Orazen throateI MAJ
upon the stage, which astonisued the minister
, ana deprived him OF all power Of speecn
shocke ~ this OutDurst, succeeded IL
, by furious hammerlne anu rafting OF boarus
which So behed the managers assertion, tue
minister gave MIN one sorrowfu look, uttered ,
Sign, ana passed on. lie took no further STOCK
In the morality OF the tnea re.
TIE TWO PUGursTs AND DUMMY" ALLEN.
Near the Bowery Theatre. at No. 20, was til,
drInAing saloon whereof lon liyer, d lion OF tn,
tine, nelu iottn. aud received the homage aud
y .trondge Of lis admirers, while not lar lrou
MIN, IN Chatham street, his rival, whom ho 81
seyerey aud enectuHy trounced, y anket
SuIvan's' saloon opened wiue It's doors, tht
the friends Of tue defeated hrulser might hot
moo and plan new battles ~ the roped arena
or the Two aver had the largest following, aul
Sdilvan the nolslesI, At tnat time hyer Was Ia,
very perfection of ph, seal srengtI. Graceful
geutemdnly Ia mien, and alwd,s nattily ore -sed
ne mad Uut little Toe apYeArance VI riZ'
| hshter.
Opposite the Bowery Theatre Andrew Jack
| son Alien for some time kept sa Don on th'
second floor, in connection with the lndnuidc
| ture oil "silver leather" Allen, VINO being deaf
= fsmillArly known as Dummy had travelled
| with EIwin Forrest as AIS dresser lie Was
l spare, thln sharp. visaged old man, and prldet
himself upon tut Two poin -s-the superiority o
his silver leather over all other material for thu
4 manufacture Of stage armOr, hnd nis intimac
y with the great American tr gedian.
"A Tue actors VINO visited MS place delighted II
. occasion lily get Ing the ola man ON string.
| Internal all an
4 he ued humbug!" would be tue greeting ne re
u ceIved, spoken in an Ordinary tone OF voice, q
10 whicn bis deafness prevented MIN hearing
y WORD. But noticing the movement Of tn
a speakers lips, Danny" was ready with hi
y reply.
K Yes, 1t is fine day. Have good house las
y nlehtr
3 DRY up, you carlcature OF humanity, yo
l. wreIcned old lunaticW Ia the same ordinar
a tone.
y mo, didn't drop in last night. They tell N
the snow went on splendidly, Making silye
suit for Stevens. Want To see M
Dummy never would oYp up that he couldn
hear as well as anybody ifhe could avoid It, II
believed in Forrest, aud after him lie worshippe
q JACK Scott.
, From out OF the Old Bowery Theatre cam
~ some Of the finest actors who nave gfaced IN
:, American stage. here they made their reputt