New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-09
TO Bold A THEATRE FOR AMATEURS;

| MPs. JAMES BROWN PoTFER's SUGGESTIONS TO BE
LAw-MEN WHO ARE BEHIND THE PROJECT.
The long discussed scheme of erecting a
theatre to be devoted exclusively to amateur
the atricas likely to be realized soon
The projectors OF the enterprise say that the
money is pledged, that one OF the two sites
under consideration will be chosen Immediately ana
that work will be begun about October Is The idea OF
erecting theatre for amateurs was urged by Mrs.
James Brown Potter last year when all
hope OF securing the Madison Square The
atre for their exclusive abandoned.
H. Lyon, enthusiastic amateur actor, acting upon
Mrs P0tters suggestion began ia october 10 sound his
friends and fellow amateurs to their willingness to
invest in a theatre for amateurs. His plan was to
build . suitable house with q movable parquet floor
supper reception rooms kitchen, ETC., that
upon occasion could be transformed int ballroom
1t estimated that such theatre which to have
greater seating capacity than ether the Lyseum or
the Madison Square, would cost about 100000. and
100000 OF this sum had been pledged, when
the interfered with further progress.
Now that the regular theatrical at hand the
matter has taken up with renewed vigor the
since the University Club Theatre, which was tho
only homo the amateurs could claim, has been re-
modelled Them too, the Lyceum Theatre bids fair to
remain IN the hands of professionals 1t ia proposed By
those conducting the enterprise to lease piece Of
property good neighborhoOd for twenty years.
or the two available plots under consideration
that at Fourh-ave. aud Twenty-ffth-st is regarded
with the most favor. The other is at Fifth-ave
and Thlrty-seventh ST. and is owned by Mrs. Paran
Stevens A proposition has been made to reproduce on
these the Empire Theatre OF London. which
is similar in many poets to the Casino IN this CITY,
IL expected that when the theatre Is built all the
productions by the Amateur League, Greenwich, Com
edy and Waack clubs OF this city aud most OF those by
the Amaranth, Campbell and Gilbert clubs OF Brooklyn
will be given in IL, as well as many readings, concerts,
balls and weddings, and thus considerable
revenue will DO derived. Those who
have to furnish the money necessary TO carry
the project Senator John j. Herman Emile
Gogsn, OF Paris, and Eugene Davds Of Brussels pro-
prietOrs OF the oyclorama Battle OF Vicksburg G. T.
Davidson, OF No So Wall-s, T. D. Livingston, OF No.
80 Newest. and j. n. Lyon, OF No. so Wast. In order
AVOID the State taxes upon corporations company
will be organized but the building will be put In the
Of one man and by him assigned TO the other sub
scribers
Mrs. Potter is deeply interested the matter and her
suggestions to construction decorating and furnish
ing OF the theatre WILL the projectors be accepted
final Mr.. Lyon says that William Fearing Gill pro-
posed to lease the house whom II Is built, but his offer
refused 1t is believed that the purposes for which
II Will be constructed would defeated II IL al
lowed out o: the hands OF BUILDERS Mr. Lyon
Is also authority for the statement that Marshall II.
Mallory has offered to sell lease the Madison Square
Theatre to those who intend building the theatre for
amateurs.