The New York herald., 1876-07-12
SALE OF A THEATRE.
THE GRAND CENTRAL, OF PHILADELPHIA,
UNDER THE HAMMER AMUSING SCENES
WITHIN THE TEMPLE OF THEsPIs.

THE GkAND CENTRAL, OF PHILADELPHIA,
UNDER THE HAMMKR-AMusINa SCENES
WITHIN THE TEMPLE OF THEsPIs.
PHILADELPHIA, July 10, 1873
For time there has been trouble between Henry
w. Kanaga, Jacob Peters aud Joseph NJ Mortimer, the
propretors OF the Grand Central Theatre of city
Mr. Mortimer has been the manager since the CON-
mencemsnt of the copartnership nearly four
years ago, and under his direction II has been
made prosperous and popular variety
theatre The Grand Central has local historic no.
torie,y. Some years ago it burned down and
number Of ballet girls burned to death. Still
later green-eyed jealousy prompted q fast young
TO shoot down ballet girl with whom no
ored 1t Is not unnatural that the tragedies of the
past should bcqueath the legacy OF peaceful tragedy
among It's conductors year ago the quarrel between
Kanaga and Peters on one side and Mortimer on the
took shape tho FIRST party applying for and
obtaining the appointment OF receiver tor tho ostab
iishment still leaving Mortimer the direction of every
thing but the cash receipts This has poured suf
cent oil upon the troubled waters, and the
day. the absolute sale OF the good will and appoint
Of tho theatre, is the finale of tho protractcd
quarrel
Entering the theatre about ten O'Clock, tho hour
for the sale thermometer in the
shade, expecting to find handful OF interested people,
surprised at the scene. Notwithstanding th's
swccrng weather 300 people, including several
ladies, were sitting expectant IN the par.
quct. Tho stage presented tho appearance OF
auction bills parts. Here couple OF horses
lying upon their sides as II exhausted with the heat
locomotive leaned heavily against bronze house
waiting only for water to steam The rehearsal sas
light was in place and some wag had placed
a skull upon The light, as II poor Yorick
ready 10 have his grinnng chaps snacked by
auctiopeer Hamlet Old men and young
were threading their way with curious Kind OF
chagrned awe, as they for the first time handled and
the scenery that wont look grand before
the toothghts Banners that flashed their bespangled
folds in the glare Of the calcium light were
only. amer ali, tawdry, dusty canvas hero
a pllc of incry that had envcloped graceful forms
OF hght-iooted ballet girls, and seemed so airy
that glisencd and made the wariikc was
only unromnntc tin, scratched and dcnted from sand
and soap IL excit6d sympathy TO see how effectively
positive fact dissipaled the pleasant drapery with
which the glamour OF the stage had surrounded in the
who for the first time trod the holy ground They
gded about vague sort OF way, and said plainly in
world was u show and shuled back the parquet as
IL they knew all the time, hut desperately fear
full tho crowd would ind out they did not.
PLAY BEGINS.
The bell rings and the play begins. Before the
tonecr open has mouth Lawyer McDonough steps
lightly forward, with smiling face and nsinuating
voice. reminding OF Bob Craig as he was about to
say one of his prettiest things to the ladies, and
said
eGcntlemen, l wish to announce in behalf OF the
owner, Mr.. Parker that the terms upon which the
lease OF this theatre Is made do not permit the under
Here was go. The play began backward. The
climax the first sentence Before Mr. McDonough
had stepped aside frownng individual who kept his
hat on playing the heavy man. sdles between loco
aud couple Of denuded dummies and rolls out
s.Nowithstanding the announcement just made there
nothing the prevent the saietho contract
If they had doubted his word the tragedian retIres
amid the intense excitement Of the audience Now
appears Mr.. A. Haller Gross the receiver
appointed by the Court, with triumph sparkling In
his eye advancing with letter in his hand. .Gamis
thou art and Cawdor," he did not say, but simply
nouuced in dulcet tones.
oGentiemen. | will read the lease" He did read the
lease and giving whack, looked around dcfying any
TO contradict It, Nobody did NOW two aoc,ionesrs err
rollicking, witty trader and auctioneer One would an
the terms Of the sale and the other would re-
peat his low last words as II he were his ocho. One
sGcntlemen, we will now announce the terms of the
ss.s Cash % S''n A'n0'' the 0'0'' Terms o. Tue '''''
'what will you bid for tho lease ?" Echo, Ibid for
Finally modest voice from the stage pipes forth,
'$3,OO0l" A sudden quiet comes over the audi
ence By single hundreds the bids croep up
to 81 200, when Mortimer, with lusty voice,
sings out s4,5O0 Upon which round OF ap-
plause, great as Booth ever got when no electrified
house with as It the Kingsn astounded Mortimer
and the eyed double barrellcd auctioncer. An
other hundred bid and Mortimer apparently encour-
aged = become lavish by approbson says with en-
when another one hundred causes the iavorte 10 ex
claim:-
81 give il up; what you know you know; from this
time forth will not speak word
The bidding went on until 50. 100 was reached. At
this point in the play tho excitement considerably
100 degrees, and the silence like what WDehell
prophesies will come upon us when not leaf or
zephyr will stir, except the modest anxiety
OF the dual auconeer, who held their
hands up In supplication for more money and
then dropped them, in one time and two
motions, in mild threatenings that It pretty
time to ring down the curtain. This pantomime
for fully two minutes. As the hands went up every
body looked reproacnully OF his neshbor because he
moi mo 10 "a mo n n
trembed and hearts wont up in mouths that were
mencng TO long Tor some hing else there.
PURCHASE.
At last Henry W. kanaga proclaimed owner and
received double round OF applause from audience
who had more interest in the purchase than Grant
had In the Centennial celebration OF the Fourth OF
July. With the exception Of kind OF epilogue the
sale OF the traps of the stage which Of value.
for $525. the play over. The paernal auctoneer
dismissed the audience with his blessing and II hurried
out