The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-04
THE SIGHTS or NEW YORK.
Harry IIiips SaIoon-The school from which
Wcii-known Artists Graduated.

AhE cfOhfo VT NbW
Harry IIlps SsIoon-The school from which
Weii-known Artists Graduated.
Harry Hllls new Free and Easy has bo-
come. In many respects. Variety Theatre. and.
as one of the regular sights " of the mo-
tropos. maintains position it has held for
over quarter OF n century.
How many strangers visit your house. Mr..
HIP
Well h'estmate two 'undred night
And how many regular customers ?"
That cant say. You see everybody comes
ERE. On boxing night the place is packed by
the boys on other nights there's Ia always good
many faces as is familiar to me. but. like your
sclf sometimes they don't come more'n once
year. and then h'again they may como h'every
night for week"
DO the hard times affect your business2
We'll. suppose they do. We don't sell so
much wine we used IN. but the h'entertain-
ment is more popular. The people want somo-
thing 10 'liven 'em up. and they get it ere
The old building was put up in 1868. and was
used as n Dutch grocery store. When Harry
first came 10 the city no opened a kind OF ale
house: then he added the free and easy element
OF piano and violin playing; then athletic and
acrobatic diversion and SO on. until now he has
what is to all intcnts and purposes "a variety
theatre. with interpoated dances for the patr ons
Of his place.
In one sense Hills house is a training school
Tor the variety m nstrel and acrobatic stage. |
WAS surprised. IA few evenings since. 10 lind In
one OF the principal theatres Of the city face
familiar in other times to the haJitotss OF Hills
Then he was s. swell song singer" BY that
moan hc dressed like a Top. wore glasscs. side
whiskers and "a little switch cane with which he
promenaded the stage. Fast Fred" and other
Of tba Ia
calculated to throw ridicule on the oiremnacy
OF dandyism. In those days the favorite
Dutch comedian" as he Ia now known was
simple Gus lilams. glad Ia get So night and
ne approval o. the small set gathered about the
" How do these people start in?
On different ways but generally MS volun--
teers at benefits. Gus Williams used to sing at
sunday evening temperance meetings, and very
well IA" did t. Then he got in al n benefit or so.
b me-. ami did the swell business mt IL. Now
AMI then he told dialect story. but that wasn't
hils regular gait Then the variety people heard
| ne got On nnd non. TIL now . as Sl25 "a week
| on Harry II MS list Of stars are the names of
! men wnO began with him IA little boys and Int
orally grew up ~ his place until they won pub
| i9rth w,r' IN irp'ni'nt Among these was
Mlstrr Mtri.n' tlie young man whq stands at
! las line of busiu - is nr. Tying in his. When
! rN't hnL Wu,r'N't a pantomin" Is TO be gotten
] VIZ lAI ~ li'ilt ~ lilf munger is oil MAR
/ TN IL dg q harlequin and spr.te business adj
mirabIy he began with Nj. Iiill many years
i ;,i an spfi ms cary ggrls In ihe aero
gro comedian business for "A living while pril,-
u .hs = me c9nioruVn and paniomine intricl-
on IN e wax. Now he Is a. ecrtain OF .75 IN
hq,h TINS ana 80 many time.
| rod - of The SCS WAC patronizi Tony Pas
H.. Four" are considered A No hy thou
] .
! il' primo iay1rit'. is ON, Of the Iliil graduates
II % gan when more midget %, tail To dance,
| ana sung. an cork ms fa'e for the benefit 81
! uHy mus visitors and took his a. u week Tor
a' ,, u, ., m.'.r r.. ns W. PROM In ne
| thoy Wam' tue % BIZ Four. To whom th lead
! m bf9' iW ~ mant-ers chcoriuily pay $500
iI",l = Ores WHO, Nk' th'il, make more money
! every Al5rn tnan comp 't'nt b,okknepers ami
II Is generally believed that tlr routine lIfe. Of
! IN ~, men - rnronsnl ani Dissipation. Tho
| manager ,ilr' 'rii MS stage 10y tho presence
| Ani possible improper conduct of a drunkard.
| Constant prntre daily rehearsnls AFRO abso-
| Tut y essential a. success. A song and dance
man, WHO elects practice, may soon drop
| igom so week 10 SO and thence 10 nothing,
NV songs. now stops. n'w music arc demanded
! by mhniGers an the public.
said Ia Mr. Huns stage manager. Mr. ]. c.
Of msons. s ssg gygn 7 b 1 7l"Hnf to 9 G
cure, don SOC or hear anything out OF tho
80 Of coursa You don't There isn't n stage In
! Now YORK cty l"g tlinntn. variety or minstrel
| wnern tuny ars SO particular ~ Mr., Hin has 10
br. ioopr come hero expecting to hear smut.
Wl 9'u IN ,ll'It'i -, AMI IA - d1M I'M th"m.
! why you know the chn-rHup Well. tina cnn-
can waS dan 'rd in Nihio ~ Garden and in every
variety theatre IN New YORK. but il wasn't over
,ian ~ on Harry llllIs stage, and II never VIII
u'' It's rdl.ulous the way people talk about
/ ths pin". Why I've heard rnd-n"n in min
sllnl conn lnts get 81 su..-.t's i've cO1uulrums
] So nave Nln-nni me whole itu lion'" rOlrnd 80
/ rn; II on" NJ our mon "hNull 40 such thing.
/ .'d ue bounced helote the laugh came lu.
Nearly hll the come ANS in the cts. ami every
on oui of the rlty ufr'i u'o i0,' eldrfiIres iu
/ tl'lr gus. nnd inraudirn e. laugh AT en-. Vhey
| don du It here"
But your iltrous socm Very good na'urod.
| an would ptobnuIy tAAe Joke IL II was good
" Yes but this is very critical audience. too.
know what they like. and what they dou Ike.
| They always luig" An ARTIST nv his merits On
| nus llrst appWLrln e. nud lu ms FIRST song or
/ dan "a or at. Ii ne doesn't peuse them thpu
| he never ran. Same way with the women"
/ note" that the most popular feature oi these
! entertaining nls ar" WI sting aud boxing -Whrn
! Eonuin'i llroi-rluss clog dan 'ing-whrn the
steps are now; and motto singing A motto
! singer is KIND OF SUNDAY school tougher VINO
| tra he's Toy singing and does II ON week DAYS
! For INST lnr'. Put BY for "A RAINY Dty"
nNry'r strike Falling Man. Giyo Your
Brother u Boost
TAKE courage keep sober,
| Your heart wan ho nisv
| IL IA the RIGHT place.
| Hit Above the Belt, Boys" THE Truest
Love IL Mothers Love "-tlrse and others of
| kindred ton" when sung by Il man who under
stands tho sentiment and makes his points in
! pleasure, and lnvar lably encorod. Frank Lewis
Is considered the best motto singer. He was
one of Harry Hills prot5Jss and entertained
ms patrons until lk" the guest IL the feast ia