The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-23
IN THE DAYS OF TIE CRAM DUXEn


Made Now Sight for New Yorksrs-
Most OF Them Have Prospered and
Some Are Famous In . way-A Baxter
Street Theatre N a Cellar.
Two decades ago the Grand Duke Theatre
or newsboys' playhouse. was one OF tho most
famous institutions Of this metropolis. To-
day the protector and chief manager OF this
unique resort runs an express team from q
stand In the New Bowsry. His name is Rich
ard Burke. "Dick" Burke 10 not large man
physically. but hs is . person Of acute mental
development He is. as were all tho leading
newsboy players connected with the original
Grand Duke Theatre. . typical New Yorker.
He was born in the "Fourt" ward. and he
knows about every inch OF Manhattan Island.
He sold newspapers as early az he was able to
walk, and there never was thing in or about
New York that Dick didn't know.
Now that all the boys OF that time are crown
to manhood. and many OF them are firmly fixed
In tho real theatrical world. the story that
Richard Burke can tell Of the old days 10 the
cellar at 81 Baxter street has peculiar inter-
est That cellar was a spacious affair. a.
cellars 20 nowadays. It was entered By nat
door. which opensd from the street. Ono
divsu down into this Thespian home instead
Of climbing upward. The furnishings were
primitive In the extreme There was not oven
raised stage. Tho boy actors played their
parts on the same floor from which the spec
tators applauded. About the only accessory
that the cellar boasted waa q curtain of bed
ticking. which hid the players from the people.
d Iners wsre , sb 2 seven boys 10 tho original
Sullivan and pTi er B Saeu They had ADJ 10
PAID tutors School, 9, .oti9g dla not flourish
real theatres and caught on to their pieces.'
,IheX played mainly negro sketches Ia that
and mas s 81 q 1 s sa Ss.
,i han they knew for nearly al Of them have
chiyeire spiSit abroad IN The breasts q III The
strength and valor rank high. Mod Bunt.
lne h. wSs seGGaptine H. deeds Of Buffalo Bl
writing The ds9ne s soushss
tho Ledger. Everywhere bravery showed its
RS soua that
6usk!na; s,eayys their own career in the face Of
They were strong. healthy. sensible boys, and
kgSw h Gid hey q had
distinction Of playing Shat espesrsan paris
ss .TstsSss .5 SS::
GS%ps hs ss Ss e. e sS5
The Grand Duke Aoxie. on his memorable
one nsht. n isss the thsssrs aissTws sdq hSd
its best Known tile from this august potentste.
TSho smiled and paid for bis fun at the news
There her was enc typical episode in the career
e Adult saea shs MI m sq shs
the boys theatre was In progress James Cor.
sSTouI ge1n.s W; nS, soup houses
10; Ton n,I Pastor; Each person put down dollar
Wss upOsrmo.t il every6ody's mini ana f' Pas.
Il: VIZ, a ad ~ ia; ;e
but spring up In the middle Of the p .rorml-
ana 70 ssh s saup
H. .e ri al h sG' pR
and twas 81 snIs the
arIanged The soup HOUSE, be si W"a slv wa.
and Sl5s was realized. which was handed over
BY eth,
entered into by n. Grand Duke boys. until
their theatre gained wide reputation. not
aons But pa IT, IHF ses fptsei ss
The boys grew to manhood AMI the things Of
s hyse
G Hn four Yeas ago Two others Of tho Grand
men. Sam Bernard Is q variety agent toa and
has h n made money and reputation also as, a
vaudeville flrm OF Conway and Dempssys
Michael Coyne Is ! partner In the teams 81
for loss than 5000 q week. Dave Conroy and
Jack DALEY are OF the funny Four sham rocks.
who are also very well paid. Frank Bush. one
known everywhere for his quaint mimicry Of
Hebrews. He Is rich. too. and the manager
who hiree him has TO pay 500 o week
Tho old cellar 10 now used for ther pnr.
po .s. 1T, ~: wslis never again will echo the
noise once shook the rafters.