Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-11-30
AN OLD TIME THEATER.
At THE GRAND DUKE" MANY
BRIGHT ACTORS GOT A START.


some Arc ramou. In Way.
Two decades ago the Grand Duke
sheater, or newsboys' playhouse, was ono
Of the most famous Institutions Of this
metropolis. To-day the protector and
chief manager OF this unique resort runs
an express team from o stand in the New
I,owery. His name Is Richard Burks.
Dick Burke is not n large man phys
ioally, but he Is person Of acute men
isl development. lie is, rs were all the
leading newsboy playcrs connected with
the original Grand Duke theater, a typ
zeal New Yorker. He was born In the
"Fourt' ward. and he knows about every
inch OF Manhattan island. He sold news
papers ~ early as he was able TO walk,
ind there never was thing In or about
New York that Dick didn't know.
Now that all the boys Of that time aS
grown TO manhood. and many Of them
are firmly iixod In tho real theatrical
world, the story that Richard Burke can
tell of tho old days in the cellar ~ 81
Baxter street has peculiar interest.
That cellar was spacious affair, as col
lars 20 nowadays. 1t was entered by n
fat door, which opened from tho street.
One diyed down into this thcspian homo
instead Of climbing upward. The fur.
nshings were primitive in the extreme.
There was not even a raised stage. Tho
boy actors played their parts on the same
Aoor from which the spectators APP
plaudcd.
About the only accessory that tho cell
lar hoas,ed was a curtain Of bedticking,
which hid the players from tho people.
There were about seven boys In tho
original Grand Duke company, headed
By Teddy Sullivan aud Dick Burke.
Tloy had no paid lutors Schools Of act
ing did not flourish then. As Burke ox-
plains, "rhey went TO tho real theatcrs
and caught onto their pieces"
WHERE TINY PLAYED.
They played mainly negro sketches IN
that old cellar at the corner Of Baxter
and Worth streets, and many Of tho
"kidsH played better than they knew,
for nearly all of thom have since distin.
gulshed themselves before the public on
the professional stage. II was timo
ripo for such an innovation. There was
chvalno spirit abroad Ia tho breasts
Of the youth Of tho land which made
deeds Of horoio strength and valor rank
high. Ned Buntlino was rocounting
tho deeds Of Buffalo Bill In the Now
York Wcekly. Leon Lewis was writing
Of the adventures u daring youths in
Tho Ledger. Everywhere bravery show
ed it's front. Il was not unnatural, there.
fore, tht these New York nowadays
should strive TO do aud dare for them.
selyoa, and, adopting the busl.n, cloayo
thoir own cancer ia tho face Of many diff.
nculhcs.
1hcy were strong, healthy, senslblo
boys. and they know that Ia minstrelsy
they had their forte That they did not
aspire to tho higher distinction OF play.
ing Shaktspearean parts only emphasizes
their good sense. So they played ia
black faces, aud those famous old time
nkolehes, "Bcnsloys Dog" and "rho
Coming Man" figured conspicuously In
thels repcrtory. The elito a. well as tho
rag,ag and bobiail OF tho town Owed
down into tho dingy cellar to witness
the anucs Of the merry lads. The Grand
Duke Alexis, on lis memorable visit 10
America, YVES u distinguished auditor
ono night. In fact, tho thcatoE aftorward
had TIA best known tito from this august
potntaie, who smiled aud plid Tor his
fun at tho newsboys' theator.
Therc WIS onn typical episode IN tho
career OF this juvenile lycoum to which
Mr.. Burke still refers with pleasure
About the time that tho boys theator
was IN progress james Gordon Bennett
wns organizing symphonies throughout
the city. One night a swell party en-.
tered the cellar. Among tho visitors
was Tony Pastor Each person put
down u lallar for his entrance fec.
ACuS0 ToR CHARITY.
Tho touphouse business wa, upper.
most In ovsrybody's mind. and Pastor
bad recently created fund for it. sup
port. J. j. McCloskoy, the playwright
aud then actor, was ono Of tho party.
What did he do but spring up In tho
middle Of tho performance and make a
ringing speech calling upon those pres.
ent to contribute 10 the soup fund.
Dave Conroy, one Of the boy players,
leaped 70 his feet and declared that thu
Grand Duke company would give an en-
tcrtainment TO holp the cause. Others
Of the boys seconded the motion, and II
was carried amid enthusiasm.
On later night a special programme
was arranged, tho souphouso benefit
was given and si56 was realized, which
was handed over to Mr.. Bennett, This
was succeeded by other entertainments
OF u charitable nature, heartily entered
into by the Grand Duke boys, until Their
theater gained wide reputation, moi
only for It's uniqucnoss, hut for the prac
teal good 1t was doing, But all this
couldn't last. Tho boys grew to man
hood and tho things OF the old time wen,
swept away. Teddy Sullivan WA
drowned at the Fulton street ferry tire,
or four years ago. Two others Of thu
Grand Duke actors are now robust aut
popular policemen, Sam Bernard Is
variety agent aud has made money ant
reputation also as u Dutch comedian
Jack Conway is Of the vaudeville firm %
Conway aud Dempsey. Michael Coynl
Is partner In tho "teains' Of SheehaI
md Coyne, and the two seldom worl
for less than Sg00n week Dave Conrol
and jack Daley are OF the funny Fon
shamrochs, who are also very we'll paid
Frank Bush, one Of the brightest Of tn
Grand ulrolights Is known eyerywher
for bis quaint nimicry Of Hebrews. III
Is rich too, and the manager who hire
him laA 10 t,uv ennn IA xVaels