Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-27
AN OLD TIME THEATER
At 1.-THE GRAND DuKEn MANY
BRIGHT ACTORS GOT A START.

Once Made n New Sight for New York
Some Are Famous in Way.
Two decades ago the Grand Duke
theater, or newsboys' playhouse, was one
Of the most famous institutions of this
metropolis. Today the protector and
chief manager of this unique resort runs
an express team from stand in the New
Bowery. His name is Richard Burke.
Dick Burke is not large man phys
ically, but he is person of acute men,
tai development. He is, as were all the
leading newsboy players connected with
the original Grand Duke theater, a typ
ical New Yorker. He was born in the
"Fourt" ward, and he knows about every
inch of Manhattan island. He sold news
papers as early as 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
grown to manhood, and many of them
are firmly fixed in the real theatrical
world, the story that Richard Burke can
tell of the old days in the cellar at 81
Baxter street has peculiar interest.
That cellar was spacious affair, as cell
lars go nowadays. 1t was entered by a
fiat door, which opened from the street.
One dived down into this thespian home
instead of climbing upward. The fur
nishings were primitive in the extreme.
There was not even raised stage. The
boy actors played their parts on the same
floor from which the spectators ap-
plauded.
About the only accessory that the eel
lar boasted was curtain of bedticking,
which hid the players from the people.
There were about seven boys in the
original Grand Duke company, headed
by Teddy Sullivan and Dick Burke.
They had no paid tutors Schools of act
ing did not flourish then. AS Burke ex-
plains, ''They went to the real theaters
and caught onto their pieces"
WHERE THEY PLAYED.
They played mainly negro sketches in
that old cellar at the corner of Baxter
and Worth streets, and many of the
"kids" played better than they knew,
for nearly all of them have since distin-
guished themselves before the public on
the professional stage. 1t was time
ripe for such an innovation. There was
chivalric spirit abroad in the breasts
of the youth of the land which made
deeds of heroic strength and valor rank
high. Ned Buntline was recounting
the deeds of Buffalo Bill in the New
York Weekly. Leon Lewis was writing
of the adventures of daring youths in
The Ledger. Everywhere bravery show
ed its front. 1t was not unnatural, there
fore, that these New York newsboys
should strive to do and dare for them
selves, and, adopting the buskin, cleave
their own career in the face of many diff
fculties.
They were strong, healthy, sensible
boys, and they knew that in minstrelsy
they had their forte. That they did not
aspire to the higher distinction of play
ing Shakespearean parts only emphasizes
their good sense. So they played in
black faces, and those famous old time
sketches, "Beasley's Dog" and "The
Coming Man." figured conspicuously in
their repertory. The elite as we'll as the
AdS3tuSo anu OOOldii Ol bllo tOWH Olftu
down into the dingy cellar to witness
the antics of the merry lads. The Grand
Duke Alexis, on his memorable visit to
America, was distinguished auditor
one night. In fact, the theater afterward
had its best known title from this august
potentate, who smiled and paid for his
fun at the newsboys' theater.
Tbnra N,,a fut1ino1 a,,ic<>Ja ,,,%
career of this juvenile lyceum to which
Mr.. Burke still refers with pleasure.
About the time that the boys theater
was in progress James Gordon Bennett
was organizing souphouses throughout
the city. One night a swell party en-
tered the cellar. Among the visitors
was Tony Pastor. Each person put
down dollar for his entrance fee.
ACTING FOR CHARITY.
The souphouse business was upper
most in everybodys mind, and Pastor
had recently created fund for it's sup
port. j. j. McCloskey, the playwright
and then actor, was one of the party.
What did he do but spring up in the
middle Of the performance and make a
ringing speech calling upon those pres
ent to contribute to the soup fund.
Dave Conroy, one of the boy players,
leaped to his feet and declared that the
Grand Duke company would give an en-
tertainment to help the cause. Others
of the boys seconded the motion, and it
was carried amid enthusiasm.
On later night special programme
was arranged, the souphouse benefit
was given and $l56 was realized, which
was handed over to Mr.. Bennett. This
was succeeded by other entertainments
of a charitable nature. heartily entered
into by the Grand Duke boys, until their
theater gained wide reputation, not
only for its uniqueness, but for the prac
tical good it was doing. But all this
couldn't last. The boys grew to man
hood and the things of the old time were
swept away. Teddy Sullivan was
drowned at the Fulton street ferry three
or four years ago. Two others of the
Grand Duke actors are now robust and
popular policemen. Sam Bernard is
variety agent, and has made money and
,~aoutation also as Dutch comedian.
Jack Conway is of the vaudeville firm OF
Conway and Dempsey. Michael Coyne
is partner in the "teams" of Sheehan
and Coyne, and the two seldom work
for less than 5000 a week. Dave Conroy
and Jack Daley are of the funny -Four
Sbo,oroclyo who are also very well paid.