The New York herald., 1878-09-15

energy and then dstsrmiued 10 conquer. You would
scarcely think, to now, however, that only
few years ago vas so nmid that ~ playing with nay
guitar before y country audience scarcely even dared
to raise my eyes People used to call me 'fhs iii'ie
blind girL'"
"REMINISCENCES CONNECTED WITH THE BROOK
LYN PARK STAGE
Among the successfuI managers In and around New
York may be ciassed Colonel w. h. Sim, oil the
Brooklyn Park Theatre. He nus had varied and an
extep sve experience in catering 10 tho OF
the public and whatever remarks he makos concern
ing the method of management adopted py MIN VIII
doubtless be read with interest by both the puoiie
and the theatrical fraternity The Colonel was ound
by the writer in private ofce engaged with his cor
respondence, but so soon as the OBJECT OF the Cali
was announced ne began chatting
BUSINESS "REMINISCENCES
.swsll - said the Colonel my connection with the
staee was the result OF accidental good
luck than anything else Up September. 1851 was
the Junior part ner Of large tobacco firm, the Gus
toners Of which principally south Of Baltimore,
where was doing large business. Owing to tho
break ing out OF the found my occupation sud
denly gone. Mr. Leonard Grover, the dramatic
author, who is bronern-law OF mine,
had been dabbng la amusements IN va
rious ways for Two or three years, ana
gave me an insight into theatrical affairs About the
W,
pose Of seeing some Of my old customers, and that
evening went to Carusi's Thcstre Mr. Humphrey
BLAND was then the manager found 1t impossible
70 get even standing room, and inquired how long
that sort OF thing had been gong on was told ever
since the first arrival Of troops. This TACT set me
thinking and tho next day devoted myself to look
ing up place suitable for theatre succeeded In
getting the old Assembly Rooms, where all OF Inc
ina gurat,on balls were held. In three days re.
turned TO Baltimore with tho loase OF the build
,ug or rather the four walls, for thers was moth
ing In It. l called upon Grover, told him my plans
and asked him to join me, with the understanding
that ne was 10 take charge Of the back of the house
while ran the front We rsmodelled the building.
and about the middle Of August, 1861, opened 1t with
a first class variety company. 1t proved success
from the rst night and the place for two years
without closing Its doors even for repGrA After the
lapse OF three months less, our bank account
having by this become quite respectable In pro-
portions, We commenced TO look out for place In
wnich to establish legitimate dramatic theatre we
finally got Messrs. W. f. Spauldng anc Rappiey who
were the owners OF the ground OF the old National
Theatre iu Washington, to agree TO erect theatre
we to supply the The place was opened under
the name OF Grover Sims National fneatre about
mid-winter as star place OF amusement In the
waller iennox and others. Both Of our establish
msnls proved TO DO successes. Aft copartnsrshp
THE NEW CHESTNUT THEATRE
in Philadelphia. ainsd partners LOT Two
wears being The resident manager and Grover de-
voting his time and attention 70 the German opera !
managed this place for dvs years ana have Sssn the
why. thsn. Colonel ala YOU give tina. place up'',
50, CO0 which declined TO pay"
sand where did you next locate 9''
took the Front Street Theatre and conducted IL rs
class variety and meodramatc Tor
SIX years. II the first time since 1884 that any
one manager paid the rent and run the place SO
| long,
II am glad you asked that question. For more than
egh. years prior 70 my coming here believed that
in 1871 offered Mrs Conway certain amount for
lease, which offer was declined When the present
\ tbeatre-tno New Park-was remodeled watched It's
career very closely. Mr. A. samueis OF Brooklyn, was
the nfs, lessee. d. failed success. again
endeavofed induce him to give me the management.
| but met with no encouraee emsnt About four years
ago Mr. Lamb succeeded in getting the lease. and that
! him Ned II you get tired of the New Park give
| chance as | would IKE 70 have the management OF
\ The business was not good, The consequence being
that In middle oil he offered me the long
! sought opportunity, which l readily accepted and
closed bargain. look possession IN tho following
.swhas was the class OF your performance
sFor tho Hrst season aud hall l It as o FIRST
class novelty theatre, dramatic Stars with
very great The second year also divided my
variety and half dram attic
Ii was the largest known in the dramatic
history Of the cuy. Alter the burning Of the BrooK
lyn Theatre determin med TO make the Brooklyn Park
strictly drauatic theatre. The season was opened
In September. 1877 Ny first legitimate season was
June o, 1s7s-iorty one weeks During this period
have played nearly all the principal stars who have
appeared In the country" m .ro,vss
s.Now after this review of your several ventures,
let ask you what you consider to be tho iounda.
Undoubtedly popular prices combined with first
class attraction"
We'll by not charging moro than 81 tor the best
the use, excepting OF course private boxes
circle nity cents: reserved ia dress CIRCLE
five cents reserved seats the orchestra
because they are principally attended by ladies
children Very often they come TO mo IN entire lam
iics."
"what are your matinee pricessn
sin the gallery 6fteen cents; dress circle, thirty
five cents; reserved balcony hty cents aud reserved
orchestra, seventy-hve cents may well tell you
have never managed theatre III seventeen
where charged more thau 81 tor the best seats
In the house, think has mad great zeal 10 do
with my success. Understand me, however. that iE
connection with low prices you must have equally
strong attractions that high pricos would command
The charging OF low prices Will not succeed IN
"You don's mean 10 say, Colonel Sim, you will
make no di renee when you put English opcra on
sNone whatever, and think you will find 1t prove
families Will come two or three times "a week to the
theatre when under other conditions should scarcely
see them IN a fortnight"
the OUTLOOK OF THE SEASON.
"Wbat do you think OF the business prospects r'
~ think thu bottom Of hard tunes fallen out
and The sides iaiien The business to the
present time has been thirty-snree per cent larger
lnau a time last year, ana tnink we shall
have a healthy dramatic season.
"What Is your programme Tor the season y"
ave have had ,nree coinpan,es already; On Mon
day we TO have the Hess English Opera Com
pany and alter tbat Diplomacy" Combination; (;
Lester Walask, III 'Ours !" Maggie Mitchell, now
plays Frank >. Chanrau, III his new play by Clifton
w. 1ayieure, entiLled 'Crooked Le;' Genevicvs
Ward, under The manag ement OF jarrett Palmer,
'Jane shore" ana "Henry VII. )" Fanny Davenport,
In .oiiva1 ~ Nine Jansuscbek, ~ several OF her best
plays; Countess Moojesku, IN new plays; John Nc
Cullough, J. u. Williamson and Maggie Moore Rob-
son and Craze; Mckee RANKIN and Kitty Blanchard,
in the "DaniIes; Lawrence Barrett; Alice Oates;
Mrs. ID. L. Bowers; MIR. ana Mrs George Knight
Oolviile's Folly Troupe These have all been engaged
A la.Ih