Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-05

hAfhIs IiLA Eh.........-.-.......-..Eas East Lynne
DAVIS hUSEUM-THEA Curiosties Etc
WORLDS MUsEUM-THEA Curiosities Etc
All but the above theaters are now closed
for the summer.
The theatrical season OF ls9l-92 closed last
night In Pitsburg it has been a fairly
prosperous one, far more So in fact than in
the country at large. The gloomy anticipa-
tion that all the Pittsburg theaters would
come to bankruptcy because of the building
OF two new theaters in succession has not
been fulfilled. II all the theaters have not
made money, at least none of them has lost
very much. 1t is still profitable to run a
theater In Plttsburg, and the prospect is
that under fairly favorable circumstances
all the theaters next season will make
money. 1fyou ask an individual manager
here how he prospered last season,
probably he will tell you that while
be fattened his bank account, his
brethren had very hard time. The
managers here are just as human as they
are elsewhere, and If you want to get an
idea of how Pittsburg's theaters are doing
you ESL better go away from home. There
are not so many runors of changes in the
air as usual The most important theatrical
improvements to be made seem to ne those
contemplated at the Bijou Theater, the
auditorium OF which is to be repafnted in
white and gold, an entire new stage to be
built, and new scenery with special drop
curtain. painted Dy SOSman Y Landls the
noted Chicago firm who painted the Alvin
scenery. Mr. Gulick told me the other day
that 1t had been decide definitely not to
attempt to lower the house to the ground
for next season, or any other season.
People like the house as it stands well
enough" he said. "and we think it best to
house as it stands, rather than effect such a
radical change as lowering it to the ground
would be- This really seems good policy
on the part Of Gulick Co., for the pros
ifT n Ia n ma
OF wonder and envy to managers every
where.
Manager Wilt still has two years more
lease of the Grand Opera House. and he in
tends to change the character OF the attrac-
tions to be played there, so that the house
will exclusively compete with the Bjou.
This it has done to some extent during the
past season. but it is Mr.. Wits intention to
adont the same scale of prices rules at
the B0ou, and secure a line of melodramas,
tarces and spectacular pieces, such as tho
BUou has almost monopoiized for the past
two or three seasons. What the outcome Of
this policy Will be is mainly Mr.. Wits con-
cern, but it Is interesting to theater- goers to
know that the four principal theaters Of
Plttsburg have finally paired of, the Alvin
attrs ctionS at high prices, while the Bijou
and the Grand Opera House will fi-ht for
plays, and with pr ces tina are popular. One
thing is certain, that for the present Pitts
burg has her full complement of theaters
and the lunatics who are talking alb out turn.
ing the old postofice intoa theater and who
go about building places of anu sement
chiefly in their minds had better repent of
their madness before it involves money.
The building OF the Alvin Theater de-
serves to mark the be inning of new era Of
theatricals in Pittsburg. The fame of that
beautiful house has spread by this time all
over the world. For once actors and mana
gers do not appear to have exaggerated
when they nave dec ared, as they have witt
one voice, that Mr.. Davis has given America
theater the like of which has never before
been seen. MIR. Davis says that he is well
satisfied with the results OF his first season,
and am sure that the people of Pittsburg
hope that next season will prove even
better list of its attractions for next
season would show that he has right to
claim that the Alvin Tneater will be well to
the front next season.
As has already been stated in this column
Mr.. Henderson is perfectly satisfied with the
business the Duquesne Theater has done
since last Sentem6er. 1 know no reason why
he should not do better in a financial way
next year, for We now holds that thea ter
upon easier term than those first included in
his lease. Mr. Henderson also has no reason
to be dissatisfied with the programme he
has outlined already in The DISPATCH Tor
next season.
The new house which Harry Williams
talked about bHilding some years ago is still
unbuilt, and, as far as know, the Academy
of Music will stay were it is, and continue to
be almost as good as a gold mine to its
manager for some years yet. If were to
take upon me the risky role of prophet, 1
should be inclined to say that the next new
theater to be built in these parts will be
located on the north side of the Allegheny
river. With 10000 people on that side, who
would naturally prefer theater near their
homes, it is really remarkable that man.
ager has plucked up courage to build a
Jbeater long before TINS.
The business done by the museums in both
cities during the past season has been satis-
factory to their respective managers, but it
is certain in their case also that there are
quite enough of them at present.
Largely as result of the increased COM
petition among the theaters here, the quail
ity Of the attractions during the past season
has been raised considerably. In only one
regard here have they seriously fallen OF;
refer to the Shakespearian drama Owing
to the death of Lawrence Barrett and the
subsequent retirement of Edwin Booth, |
there was really no frst-class presentation |
o. Shakespearian tragedy during the past |
season. 1t has been reported in some Phila- |
oeIphla papers, though upon what authority |
nobody seems to know, that Mr.. Booth con- |
tempated a return to the stage next fall. 1t |
,pn-s was said that his intention was to play
phia. Baltimore and possibly Boston, pre-
Benting repertoire of Shakespeariap plays |
and a few other legitimate dramas in which |
he has appeared before. This is now denied |
authOritatively
Three or four months ago saw Mr. Booth |
at the Players Club in New York, where he |
spends most OF his time these DAYS; he was |
standing before a fire in the writing room, |
Immediately beneath his portrait by Sar- |
gent. The picture OF the tragedan in the |
rugged strength of ten years ago, when his |
form was erect and the luster of his eve un- /
dtmmed, made the physical decrepiGude Of |
the original who stood beneath it painfully /
apparent II / am any judge of mans |
health should think that Mr. Booth would |
never walk the stage again. L said much 1
TO Nh. Levy, who managed Margaret Mather
this year, when he told me some time since /
that he had hopes of taking out Mr.. Booth |
again next season, and Mr. Lew who it
will be remembered was intimately asso-
cfated with Lawrence Barrett and Mr.. Booth |
In their last tours, replied that one could |
never tell how fit Mr.. Booth was for acting
by his appearance OF the stage. Mr.. Levy
says that be has often known Mr.. Booth in
late years to have appeared to be too weak
to walk upon the stage and yet when once
In the magic glare of the footlights he
seemed to acquire new vigor end act with
the fire snd freshness of youth. In short,
Mr.. Levy expressed the belief that Mr..
Booth would once more delight the eyes Of
hls million admirers upon the stage.
II Mr.. Booth does not appearnext season
the outlook for Shakespeare is still little
brighter than it has been during the past
year Messrs. Fred Warde and Louis James
who have formed partnership, int end to in
clude Julius Caesar" and "othello" in their
repertoire. Next season they will play "The
Lions Mouth aud Carleton's new classical
drama, "Memnon," in addition 10 the above
honors. Charles b. Hanford,
wEO VIII be remem bered as the brilliant |
Marc Antony in the famous Booth and Bar |
retC production of Julius Caesar" intends
10 star III that sEOwy role next sea son. 1t is
probable that Minna Gale will not allow her
approaching marriage to Interfere with ner
pursuit OF Shakes spea rian honOrs next sea- |