New-York tribune., 1876-09-06
SOUTHERN TUEJTERS.

SOUTHERN THE1TERS
One test of tho prosperity of State is the
condition of its arts and amuscmcnts-the
number and quality of theatrical and kindred
enterprises undertaken within it, and the
amount and character of public attention paid
to them. More than once, in recognition OF
the return of prosperous times to the South
we have adverted to the growth of theatrical
institutions in its various cities That growth
has been slow and difficult. and the restoration
of the gay days before the war will, probably,
be long time in cifccting itself. Such
restoration not the less should be hoped for
and sought; and it is cheering tn know that
while the signs of the opening season may
be fitful and uncertain, there are ample facili-
, ties in the Southern cities, and energetic
preparations afOot among theatrical managers
there, to make Il various and cheerful, and so
| to promote the general good OF the community
baltimore keeps the lead. Its Chief theatcr,
Ford's Grand Opera House, will he carried on
with good stock company and tie principal
current stars. The Academy OF Music VIII be
rented, or occupied on shares; but no company
| will be maintained there. The old Holiday
! Street Thcater will be devoted to novelties"
as the Olympic is, in this city. The Central
will be given up to varieties" The Front
Street-in old times favorite winter resort
for the horse spectacle-is now idle. and It
will be only occasionally used Washington
yies with Baltimore. The standard theater
there is the National, managed by Ford; and
there, during the season, will be seen Mr.
Bouccault in "The shaughram," Mr. Ray
mond in "The Gidcd Age" Mr.. Robson in
1.-TWO Men of Sandy Bar Mr.. Rowe in
&" Brass MIR. Fechter in Hamlet" Ben de
Bar as Falstaff Clara Louise Kellogg, Mag
| gc Mitchell, Mary Anderson, Mr.. Chan!rau,
and other celebrities. The remaining thea
tcrs of Washington are FOrd's Grand Opera
| House which is usually rented to travelling
companies, ard the Thcater Comiquc, which
is devoted TO "varihties.' Mr.. FoId, 1t will
be seen, controls theatricals in these two
cities. He has also leased the new and hand
some theater, styled tho Academy of Music,
in the City Hail of Cumberland, Maryland.
Richmond, Norfalk, Petersburg, Danyille,
and Lyuchburg, Va, are all equipped with
thcatcrs, but the buildings are rented to
travelling shows, and cannot he said to be
managed. At Wheeling, West Virginia, there
| il good theater, known as llamiton's Opera
! House. Good theaters are also found at
! Wilmington and Charlotte, in North Carolina
John f. Owens the distinguished comedian,
! owns the Academy of Music at Charleston,
| South Carolina; there is fine opera house at
! Columbia and Camden, in the same State, has
n coy theatrical hall. In Georgia there are
commodious theaters at Augusta, Atlanta
Columbus, and Athens; there is ArkwIights
| fpi IN, nd Rplstnu's
Macon. The theaters Of Tennessee are the
| two in Nashville, the two in Memphis, one IN
Knoxville, and hall in Chattanooga. Ala
bana contains opera houses ut Selma, Hunts
Vile, and Decatur, and theaters in Montgomery
and Mobile.
In New Orleans the principal thcater is the
Varieties, which, this season, will be managed
by Mr.. Charles Pope, with fine stock COM
pany. The Academy of Music completes with
this institution, under the management of MI.
David Bidwrll and this house also maintains
n stock company during the Winter. Outside
of New Orleans the theatrical field of Louisi-
ana may he set down as sterile. Florida s
chief theacr is ut Jacksonville, and is hall.
Vicksburg, Natchez, and Jackson, Miss, con-
tain halls with scenery for dramatic perform
ances. Texas has theatcrs, at Houston, Aus
tin, and Galveston. In the latter city the
Hasan Opera House leads--under the manage
ment of Mr.. Henry Greenwall. These are
good theatrical regions. and not as remote as
they seem-for travel from New-Orleans has
been made easy and cheerful by Morgan's
Texas railroad, which now connects with fine
boats mt Brshear City, and which Is 10y and
by to be run through direct passing round by
Iberia, in the vicinity of Joseph Jcilerson's
Island.
Delaware is supplied with an excellent opera
house, at Wilmington, within the area of the
Masonic Temple property. Kentucky takes a
lively interest in theatricals, and contains
many thcaters Macaulay's Theater in Louis
vile, is the chief. There are two opera houses
besides in the same city; and there arc
theatcrs or theatrical halls la Frankfort. Lex