The New York herald., 1878-08-26
OUR STAGE.
The Broadway Theatre-Are Theatres
a Public Necessity?
PRICES TOO HIGH.
Why They Are To Be Reduced-Ihe
Plans ior the Season.
ADA CAVENDISH AND ROSE EYTlNCE.


theatres in Now Y ork. The auditorium, the stage,
The scenery-all are undergoing Transformations and
when the curtain rises 1t will be upon picture
OF which most man ayers might well feel proud Mr. Ed
gar the senior partner, gentleman VINO ID compar-
Atively unknown to the profession. Ho Is a quiet
spoken man, perhaps forty-fve years oi age
IL said TO possess an abundance OF means,
and have been eminently successful In other
practical business pursuits Mr. Chandos Fulton, the
junior is perhaps better known In theatrical circles
by reason of ms identity with Colonel Sellers Sci
rohe- Girona" 'Brass' .'rhe Mighty Doar' and
"our Boarding House" Beth OF these gentlemen
were deeply enlisted In the working details OF their
business wnen the reporter of the HERALD solicited
nm interview but cheertuly accorded an hour to the
conversation that follows
.'Don't you th,uk.n said the writer in an ofhand
way, shat II rather hazardous to commence such
an enterprise such outlay as you are making
when times seem to be SO oullY"
BIT OF FINANCIAL PHILOSOPHY
"Doubtless the have hard and discoura-
Ing, the theatre business has suffered in conse-
auence; but there every reason to believe that
been reached and there Is every indication
of returning prosperity all branches of trade and
dustry on q good solid basis. The theatres will be
the first TO benea by this provement the trade.
Although hear much OF the hard tines and per-
hsps individually know OF much suffering. the public
1T large still finds money enough TO crowd Coney Is
land, the various watering places and to otherwise
crafty their Ono OF this that popular
prices have been adopted. Even the first class met
ropolitan hotels reduced their rates SO shall
adopt popular prices while still giving first class
tainment We shall charge only 81 for reserved or
shestra seats only rs cents tor those in the dress
Circle while the general admission OF so cents will give
the unreserved seats either department
The front In the gallery will be reserved at
b cents while the admission will be 20 CENTS We
able adopt this popular scale Of prices because We
unencumbered with made before thtngs
touched bottom.
J5 THE THEATRE PUBLIC NECESSITY
"Tns theatre IN this country is public necessity,
.she resort Of all classes In great city like this.
with such large transient population. the theatres
great many their only social recreation, and
that they have been better patronzsd within tho
past years has been the prices besn too
high. 1t may be argued that the publlc-the public
with big P-w not hesitate at the prce when there
Is attraction. This s measuraby true, and Is the
reason why only one or two theatres did the
business OF the this city last winter, where
as u popular prices ruled they would all generally
havo done good businssa agree with Mr.. Sothern
that the day is distant when popular prices will
be generally adopted by the metropolitan theatres.
Now very many go The theatres 10 keep themselves
would 60 to everything in the pursuit OF that IN
struction which theatrical performances Afford and
relsxaton from OF tho day and business
atons. 1t Is established TACT that the theatres al
ways flourish during panics and SO now tney Will bo
sell paronized If within the reach OF all ("
BROADWAY PLAN.
Y ..0p what plan 40 you propose to conduct the
thearref"
5l "First cassl First class In every respect We
propose to present In engagements OF TWO weeks,
various stars and plays with scenery purposely
painted and specially selected casts; contented
with the nimble shilling popular prices We
shall ann TO make the tneatrs a popular resort
TO obtain regular patronage clientele, and con-
Eequenily shall oner RAPID succession OF attraction
The forced long runs OF hundred nights or more not
pnly ruin the versatility oil the performers, but
vents the theatre from having regular patrons or
hatitss One does not desire 10 see the same thing
every time he goes to the theatre"
"Your philosophy, Mr.. Fulton Is plausible, but sup
pose you give US some iacts 2"
''hear out In order to force these runs the IA
tai oil orders deadheHding in vogue IN Lon
don has 10 some extent been adopted hero, and Will,
persisted in, the business. Why last winter
fieud OF mine, having purchased something at IA well
known dry goods store, observed the clerk putting
clipped theatre tickets inio the pnrceL Tho clerk,
observing his look OF surprise, explained that the
establishment had received 200 such tickets for dstr
had been similarly hou orcd and did TO
the piece again. and so they had adopted the plan
OF getting rad OF them through their customers The
system OF hng the house with gratutous admi- sios
anordng seat at smAll premium Is also pernicious
II public does not patronize us We shall change
our attraction. and no, seek any bubble success by
.papering.' Once a deadhesd, always n dcadneau,
do not propose to engeoder the growth OF The
theatrical bnrnacle. In other words. snail con-
duct the theatre purely business principles,
pretty much would a hotel or railroad catering
TO a reputable demand. II the puDic wants comedy
we shall give them comedy; II they want tragedy they
shall have II; so that we are committed to no policy
except that OF providing the reputable entertainment
"You intend, believe. to open with Miss Ada Cav
endisnr"
''Yea We announced TO open on the 9th, and
We believe and nope all arrangements Will be CON-
pleted by that time AS TO our improvements, you
for yourself We have great isith IA Miss
Cavepdish, and think she will display great emotional
let her speak ior herself We had selected for ner
American DEBUT tue character OF MISS Gwft, out Mics
Cavendsh has preferred me roe oil Mercy herrck as
II Affords her iulicr scope 10 display her peculiar ap
ies Miss Cavcndsh created ms ro AZ the authors
request at the Olympic fnesire, London, where shc
played II 600 consecutive times. Mr.. Coilins told mo
himself al the Lotos Club reception several years
that he consdered Miss Cavendsh the greatest actress
IN her line on the English stage believe he made
this dramatizatton purposey ior her. We shall give
1t Tor the nrst ume In this country. IL Is IN the
thor's best vcin--vgorous, concise, dramatic We
hope and believe me cast will give general satsiac-
uop. For Julian Gray we have cast Nr Joseph whee-
lock, who 10 so pleasantly known to metropolitan
theatre goers BY his aoIe support of EIwin Booth.
Jonn Mccullough Is aso engaged. Miss Julia Han
chetl young actress Tor tue past three years with
Mr. Miles, company In Cincinnati, will make her
tropolitan dsDut ~ Grace RoseOerry. We have given
Lazy Janet Roy 10 Mrs j. L. carharI The other
characters will be played oy Messrs VI. G. Daily, J.
A. Wilkes aud other equally competent artists. DO
La Harpe. who has done some hnc work on his new
cartain, will paint scenery and Will give very
nne INTERIOR We shall restore the bsize CURTAIN
We propose make our orchestra an attractive tea
ture. People bored by the orchcstral render
rug OF heavy operatic and classic music IN our
theatre orchestras, ana Professor Kosscr Will give
uehi. airy IN mslodics from tho opera boune and
Strauss Our business manager. Mr. j. b. Crawley,
w. the most unique business manager Know OF, Ia
that he IS tborougn mechanic, as well as common
cial man, and, consequently able to strike hardpan
svery time.
ais II true, Mr. Manager, that you propose TO rely
upon the pewspapcrs Tor your advertisements In pref
erence TO bill pOstingV
.'No: though n we did not have to defer TO the
wishes OF stars IA this respect should be inclined
to reiy the newspapers entirely, as believe sheir
influence all suficieut.D
care the above named people all OF your regular
companyf"
"No Most OF them specially engaged for
,he run OF the piece We nave adopted