Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-27
A NEW AMUsENf ENT.
A Proposed Chinese Theatre in New
York.

York.
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.-There is some
talk of a Chinese theatre in New York,
and 1t seems more than probable that the
schemes which have been seething IN
Wong Chin Foo's brain for the past two
years will be materialized. Wong Chin
Foo is Mongolian Yankee. He is the
clever young Chinaman who started the
Chinese American. He 10 a contributor
to the New York press, and a student In
the office of W. E. 5. Fales, the legal lu-
minary who has charge OF all the law
business of the Chinese residents OF New
York and vicinity, and the only Ameri-
can lawyer who has learned the myste-
rious language of the Mongol. There are
about 5000 Cinnamon in New York,
Brooklyn, Jersey City and the vi
pleasure seek the classic shades of Mott
street. Wong Chin Foo has long argued
that a Chinese theatre would be paying
investment, but as the scheme would re-
qure the outlay OF between $4,000 and
$40, 900, Chinese capitalists have not been
eager 10 listen 10 him. The Chinese mer-
chant is a cautious financier, and while
Yat Sing of Chatham square, and Wo Kee
OF Mott street, are both merchants worth
He Chong ~ an importer and a two
millionaire, Tom Lee, Quong Hung Long
and Tuck High are each worth over $780,
600. They prefer, as q general thing, small
and sure profits to larger and less certain
returns upon their Investments. There
are some exceptions to this rule, how
ever, an example of which came under my
observation last May. There was a won
derful catch OF mackerel and IA, 900 Of
hrA kn Mo-
York market In one day. Prices dropped
from 10c. IA pound to 1Ko. a pound, and
then to five maokerei Tor a cent. Over
1,000, 900 were not used, but were thrown
into the river by our own wasteful COM
munity. When the price became low
Chinatown was excited aud changed into
the busiest beehive ever saw. A Chinese
syndicate purchased about 4,000,000 OF
the fish, and for week Chinatown reeked
with the smell OF smoked macserel.
canned maokerel, s6uced mackerel and
dried mac cKerel. The investment, includ-
Ing the hoodlums they hired, was inside
of 500, 600, and In less than sixty days the
prepared fish were sold for $3.50, 900. This
was all profit TO Chinese investors, for so
far as | know no American took
advantage OF the fall In price.
But 10 return to the theatrical scheme.
Wong Chin Foo proposes to hire and re-
model Dulldlng on m0JJ street, import
company OF actors from China and put on
Chinese dramas IN true Celestial style. In
Chinese theatre there is little or no cost
for scenery, but the costumes are always
magnificent and expensive. The company
always includes a number Of expert tum-
blers and jugglers, and the play lasts from
four TO ten weeks, like serial story,
beginning with the baby hood OF the hero
and continuing TO his death. All these
preparations cost money, but fancy that
in New York, where the people are always
on the lookout for novelties, 10 might be
made TO pay. 1t would no doubt have q
large Cbinese patronage. but IL would
attract slg ht-seeing New Workers as well.
AT all events, the indefatigable little
Wong has succeeded in Interesting several
very heavy capitalists, and wa snail prob
ably see Chinese theatre IN New York
early next year, ALLAN FoRMAN.