Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25
How the Great Tragedian Runs the
Players Club.
REMAINS OF BOOTHS THEATEB
How the Great Trsgedian Had n Reminder Of
Former Tlmes-The Rialto and Its Frequent
ers-Made to Move On-The Countryman at
the Dime Museum-How He Was Appeased.
Of The Evening Star.

Players Club, next door to the beautiful resi-
dence OF the late Samuel J. Tilden, over in Gram
erey Park In the evening, if some congenial fell
io"-members OF the club drop into the prem
ises' ne goes down stairs and sits with them lie
can hardly be said to chat, because his words
are lew and merely responsive. The property
OF the extinct Booth Thester has just been sold
Tor Sl,Oo0,OO0. That is an enormous sum. and
was paid by big dry goods firm. who will oc-
cupy goodly portion of the building for an
immense store. The old and beautiful theater
was taken down about ten years ego, and in its
place a commercial edifice erected
Now you see," said friend to Booth. as
they sat at the club, ''if you had retained that
piece Of real estate you would have more
than recouped all your losses in the enter
prise"
The tragedian assented TO that. for il was an
assertion based upon the fact that his total in
Sestment had been only about half a million.
but suppose you re glad to have seen the last
ont long ago" the friend continued knowing
now bitter was the actors recollection of his
costliest and most ambitious undertaking.
Well, did think had seen the las. of il, ~
said Booth, until Brander Matthews took me
to see farce last night at the Park Theater"
what he meant by that is worth explaining
by way of illustration of the peculiar fortunes
and misfortunes which the amusement bust
ness leads to. Nothing finer has been
done IN American theatricals than the erection
OF Booths Theater and the Shakespearean pro-
auctions therein. The supporting company
included such actors as Lawrence Barrett, E.
L. davenport, Edwin Adams and others almost
equally famous. The scenery and costumes
were perfection. But, somehow or other. the
money taken at the doors was not in a right
ratio to the critical admiration and Booth was
bankrupted. The theater was sold by auction
to James ID. Fish, the bank president. who be-
came convict. Then the outfit of the stage
and auditorium were bought by Hyde a Beh-
man, Brooklyn firm of variety showmen. who
paid only $500 for what had cost many thou
sands: These men. having made such a bar
gain, looked about hastily for something profit
able to do with the material. At Broadway
ana S5th street was an aquarium that had re-
Gently failed. W. c. Coup, rich partner of
the late Barnum, had grown tired losing money
In 1t and had shutit up. This place was leased BIZ
the Brooklyn men at a very moderate rental
considering the value Of the site. They fitted
out the big interior with as much of the Booth
stage and auditorium as ii would hold. The
result was curious INTELLECTUALLY. The height
was about half that Of the demolished house.
ana so the gorgeous proscenium arch had to be
squatted down and only the lower boxes util-
lied. The parquet level held all the chairs
easily enough, and above this was placed intact
the first gallery; but the roof was on level
with the point where the upper gallery should
u.
The general result was that of a massive and
handsome theater, looking as though a hurri-
cane or something had blown off the upper
half and the remainder had been newly rooted
In. But 1t was a success financially. A theater
OF good capacity was produced at a cost to the
owners per year Of not more than $40, 900 right
in a neighborhood where other theaters rent for
$50, 900 to 10000. So Hyde 4 Behman are
making fortune out Of the debris of Booth 8
bankruptcy. 1t was visit to this house and a
recognition Of the maltreated architecture that
had caused Booth to make the remark quoted
Booth has stirred up great ado among the
actors this week by refusing to let Nat C. Good
win and Maurice Barrymore become members
of the Players Club. 1t is true that both
these actors escaped actual blackballing
through the hasty withdrawal of their names
from candidacy. but the exclusion was none
the less positive and. beyond question, it was
by the personal wish of the great American
tragedian. Booth still owns the handsome
club house. He gives the use of il to the play
ers. but not the proprietorship, and his word
Is law In the management OF the association.
Ine feeling against him on what we call the
Rialto is intense. and he is berated roundly as
snob and recreant, but there are two sides to
the matter. Booth organized the PLAYERS
Club as a resort for men in deep sympathy
with the art and literature of the stage. A
rare library has been started, numerous relics
of the drama have been collected and the very
air of the place is redolent with the best tradi-
tions OF the theater None but scholarly
actors managers and admirers Of the stage are
welcome there. That was the original plan
and it has been carried out rigldly.
Now" said member of the directory, ''who
will say that Goodwin and Barrymore could be
congeuial with us here? They are excellent
actors but, to put it plainly. they are too con-
vivial for u.s. We have rejected dozens of gen.
tlcmen for the same reason. list of the
names would surprise you. perhaps.
II Is true enOuph that (nnOlwiu and Rarrv-
more, while excessively popular personally
with our moneyed and joyial town FOUNDERS.
would find no pleasure at the Players Club
unless they were permitted to introduce the
Jun of the Rialto.
Spring time usually peoples the Rialto with
actors just through with their seasons tours
The place used to be down in Union Square
Now it is in Broadway between 26th and SD
streets, and today the police are enforcing an
order calculated to Danish the actors from their
accustomed outdoor resort The captain of the
precinct has detailed two officers to the duty of
making loiterers on the Rialto move along.
Some of the actors protest their Indignation
others try to laugh good-naturedly and all are
compelled to obey or be arrested. The door
ways of the numerous dramatic agencies and
managers offices are full of theatrical people,
not q few actresses being mixed in among the
men. But the doorsill is a sort of dead-line.
outside of which they are not permitted to
stand for full minute. This action on the
pdEt Vi pOAiSc 10 QUt 70 the bIOrekeepers.
who find that the histrionic groups, often COM
posed of persons rather loud in speech and
dress alike, tends to drive away feminine shop
pers. Thus once more sordid trade outrages
professional feelingi
A man whose experience must have taught
him nearly if not quite all the details of the
comic opera and burlesque stage was asked
what became of all the old chorus girls He re-
piled: Why. my friend, they stay in the chorus,
Of course"
'.wel, they do get too old to 60 on at last"
said the questioner. Now, what becomes of
the absolutely decrepit?'
you've got me, {" replied the theatrical man.
Perhaps they retire on their fortunes. Inever
knew but one chorus girl who got too old to
appear on the stage. She was one that sung off
and on in my companies for about twenty-five
years, and it was very difficult to tell her
couldn't use her any more. But she used to go
to sleep when the curtain was up, and it got to
that point where ! simply had to let her know
that she was old enough to go out to pasture.
She went home rather sad and felt awful sorry
for the poor thing. About three years after
ward I was touring through Texas and had
struck little town named Parkinsville one of
those places where you give the show in hall
over the meat market, and if you strike in on
the same day that some one dies your business
is ruined. While was eating breakfast at the
tavern, Just after arriving. the waiter began
talking to me. He knew was the manager of
the show that was to be given that night and
he was going to strike me for tickets. guess
you won't get many people for your show to-
night. uv'nor.' oaid be. asked him whv ha