Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-05
AN OUTDOOR THEATER
TheLatestAmusementScheme
Headed This Way.
MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLES
To Capture Many Ducats of the Sons
of Vulcan.
A C0NEY ISLAND FOR PITTSBURG

Efforts are being made to purchase or
lease large tract o: land at a point between
Brushton and Williamsburg for outdoor
theatrical purposes. Such was the rumor
which a DISPATCH reporter heard yester.
day. When he visited a gentleman
said to be interested in the project, he found
decided objection to giving the details for
publication. This person is merely repre-
senting other capitalists. and the negotia-
tions still being open, may not be closed
unless some concessions are made on both
sides.
Enough was learned, however, to give a
general idea of the scheme. The Fall Of
Babylon" ''The Last DAYS OF Pompeii," 4"
and Nero" are spectacular dramas that
have never been produced in Pittsburg
For three years past they have been draw
ing enormous crowds on Staten Island, At
lantic City, Philadelphia, Cincinnati
and Chicago. OF tcourse, people
who have seen them understand
why they cannot be performed
under root. The designs on which the plays
are planned are gigantic. In Philadelphia
the Fall of Babylon" required a 40-acre
lot for its production. And one Of the finest
features connected with the Last Days OF
Pompeii'' is the eruption of Vesuvius and
and the attendant fireworks, neither of which
could be given indoors.
PLENTY OF ROOM NEEDED.
A couple of years ago Eastern theatrical
managers visited Pittsburg with a view of
bringing one of the shows named here. They
were of the opinion, however, that the tre-
mendous expenses necessary for the
play could not be met, and profits
realized, unless ground could be purchased
in the city close to the center. On account
of the limited area of the delta on which
Pittsburg's business quarter is built ard
the surrounding hills, such a site could not
be found large enough for the purpose. The
Exposition Park and the Union Park in
Allegheny could not then be obtained. So
the whole enterprise was abandoned.
Sine then the shows have been presented
in the remotest suburbs of Philadelphia and
New York, and it has been found people
will go to them, no matter what the distance
is. Therefore the movement to reach Pitts
burg's masses has beer revived this spring.
1t is said the owners of the dramas count
on the great per centage of stay-at-home
classes in Pittsburg for their summer patron
age. They figure on the possibility of
success in the heated season from the known
fact that the army of smaller artisans and
laborers here do not 60 away in the summer.
Such shows have been played to death at
the seaside in catching the sojourners. Now
it is proposed to try the other plan, and |
capture the home-stayers.
CeSEY ISLANDS COUNTERPART.
The plan also contemplates sort of Conev |
Island Park, which will be equipped with |
all the athletic sports and Sideshows OF New |
York's suburb. tits believed that money in
vested in good faith in this enterprise will |
cast in the shade all previous attempts along |
that line down the Ohio river in the i'm me- |
diate vicinity of Pittsburg and Allegheny |
The projectors of the idea have some |
vague plans as to cheap transportation. |
They will either form an agreement with |
the Pennsylvania Railroad for combination |
railroad and admission tickets, by which the |
fare will be largely reduced, or else they |
will try to get an electric railroad built to
connect with the traction roads from the
CITY. If the latter plan is adopted novelties
will be attached to the cars and operated by
electric motors to attract the patronage of
sightseers. A music box in each car is one
OF the ideas suggested, and a musical bell
scale is another. The scenery for the Last
Days of Pompeii'' is vast In extent. 1t was
painted by John Rettig, of Cincinnati.