New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-29
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE OPERA HOUSE BUBBLE.


MAURICE sTWAKosca's DREAMS OF A GREAT TEMPLE
OF MUsIC-wHY HIS VISIONS CAME TO NAUGHT.
For considerable time journals of this and
other cities have publishing accounts OF awondem
opera house. of enormous dimensions, and appointed I'D
the most complete and costly manner, TO be built ny
Maurice Strakosch on land owned by the Harlem Sroad
COMPANY at Forty-third-st and Madison-aver from
funds placed at his disposal by prominent capitalists
After his venture last Fall with Mile beioce
in this city, Nj Strakosch took her West on starring
TRIP gentleman familiar with musical enterprises in
this country said yesterdays Mr strakosch seemed to
have opera houses brain" lie proposed oudone
the music lovers of Chicago and another TOT tnose
of San Francisco The local papers described his projects
and i'll some instances strongly supported them upon
his return to New York he revived plan when ne Is
said to have had in mind for considerable time anu
announced the erection Of the structure above relee
TO- His proposals so magnificent soae 'n"'
most persons suspected the airy nature OF the touao-
tons and expected 10 see the "nsubstahVdI P"So"'
fade away was however. asserted that the Srou"u
Ia been purchased ard the amount para lot u was
named There is probably doubt that negotiations
were entered into with william II. vanderbilt 'hto"s"
George c. Sherwood Of the Fifth Avenue Bank IL Is ho"
claimed that the chance was through the in'isereo'
announcement that the purchase OF the lahu WIS
secured
Persons however well acquainted with Mr. Strakosch
SAY that his disposition is sanguno as to be cSse"
v,
prospect that money for the erection OF the oPe"
house vOud be secured They add that his tendency 10
business mistakes well known that the enterprise
conducted by him could not have gained crtdi' anu SUI"
port There TO be two views regarding INC mat
ter Many persons while douhng the easibhty OF inc
plan do not question Mr. StakOsch's sincerity ana DE-
heve that he really expected to be able to provide the
CITY with an opera house corresponding Ill size
and elegant completeness TO his ambition
They say that the actual beginning OF
negotiations for the land would surely indi-
rate so much On the other hand persons perhaps
rs wen acquainted with the manager, some OF whom
have had various business Transactions WIFE hl stc
tat he merely blew bubble which burst sooner than ne
eypectcd They assign several reasons why he SHOULD
desire create the impression that nc was apout 70
uld large opera house this city. Mr. Mapleson OF
London viii probably bring his opera company 10 Now
York next Fail the close OF the London season IL
is SAID that MT. SrdkOsch Is jealous OF all operate ehie
prises with which he is connected ana that he has
frequently given foreign managers to understand mat
operation stating that the American public would SUI"
port no company without his name AS a gualdn;ec
ose who take this view OF the matter believe that Af
srakosch desired either to rightcn Mapleson from ie
field into combining forces with him Morcoyer ~ Is
asserted that large sums OF money IN London
and Paris and that his debts in those cities, besides rti
der1ug his presence there PERSONALLY
il impossible for him TO make 1urther contracts Win
leading foreign singers ,,.... 4,
though Mr. srakosch has been very literally treated ny
US he claims to believe that have in some respects
nnfair that his receipts should be largely reduced hy
the tree admittance OF those owning boxes. THINK TINS
las EaC nnutucc WIFI hliu III Ihc
project for new opera house Perhaps he expected us
10 make him still further concessions The singular part
Of is that feature Of his plan was large nunper
of boxes to subscribed for in advance by wealthy gen
tlrmen and owned by them, with the same privileges OF
adntnce which those owning boxes at tie Academy OF
Music enjoy"
Those who laugh at the whole enterprise claim that II
was ridiculous tie face OF II. IL lad been demon
straied that opera houses not profitable invest
lnent IN this city, Tie Academy always wavcrcd between
gains and heavy LOSSES sometimes losing SIOVOO
in one year What ground then there for believing
that a building costing, according 10 ths announcement
alt.uIf
There were many, gentleman rem%rkcd,Who would re-
cret 10 learn that Mir Strak1schs project had fallen
throug-perSons who had called the obstacles III the
way Of erecting costly place amusement ana mere
" thought of it elegant addition 10 the city ANA
pleasant place to spend evening. Those, however
possessing experience in opera management, ana
many who foresaw no possible return FOR money
TIN. invested had expected 10 the walls rlse
AID wound therefore not be disappointed ut never sitting
within shen.