The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-08
A BIG THEATER COMBINE.
NE MANAGEMENT FOR ALL
SOUTHERN HOUsES.

Sandy Cohen and Henry Horne have
an Option on the Savannah Theater
With This Idea-If They Secure it
the Building VIII be Entirely Re-
constructed-A Scheme to Have
Nothing Booked for the South TX
cept First-class Shows.
Savannah may have a new arst-olass
theater next season. If the movement now
on foot takes definite shape there will be no
doubt about it, Sandy Cohen, the hustling
theatrical man, and Henry Horne, Maoon's
real estate dealer, are the men who are at
the bottom OF the scheme. They have
secured a sixty days option on the theater
property from Proprietor johnson, and
they are hard at work endeavoring to
make arrangements TO close the option.
The idea is 20 form a great southern
theeter combination with all the houses in
the principal cities under the management
OF Harry Green valid Of New Orleans who,
with J. W. Mcdonnell, is soon to
open up the American Theatrical
Exchange In New York. Macon and
Augusta, it is understood are already in
the trust, and the effort will be made to get
in all the other Georgia cities.
DNA41 blhoI-CLAS6 6hOWS FUR IhE bOO
Birmingham, Chattanooga, Montgom-
cry, Mobile, Nashville, Jacksonville and
Charleston are also TO be put under the con-
troll Of the new company, which will be
controlled by a few first-class theatrical
men. IL the scheme works successfully
nothing but the finest shows will be booked,
and the south will have as good plays be-
fore its footlights as any which delight the
great cities Of the north.
~ i ~.
Savannah theater they will, as soon as the
season closes. commence the work Of inns
provement. Nothing but the walls Of the
old building will be left, and practically an
entirely new play house will be
constructed of the latest modern
style. The nine feet on Bull
street granted by the last session of the leg
islature will be utilized and the building
will be about four stories high.
TO BE A METROPOLITAN THEATER.
1t will be on the plan of the metropolitan
houses, with waiting and smoking rooms
attached, where the patrons can enjoy
themselves between acts Mr.. Cohen will
be here next week and he will know by that
time whether he will able to purchase the
theater from Mr.. johnson. The price is not
yet known, but it is held, according to
rumor, at between S75, 600 and 100000
II the Savannah theater is demolished to
lak6 way lOE modern IDEAS one OF the mOSb
historic buildings In the United States,
clustered with many memories of the
noted actors of America, will be
wiped out. 1t is now the Oldest theater in
use in the country since the Walnut street
theater Of Philadelphia gave way to the
march of improvement.
THE THEATER sEVENTY-FIvE YEARS OLD.
1t was erected in 1875 and has been used
as play house seventy-tive years. Speaker
Crisp Of the National House of Representa-
tivea was an actor in his early days on its
stage, and from behind its footlights For
rest, Booth, Barrett, Mccullough and other
famous and lesser lights of American
drama have swayed audiences to applause
Its old walls have resounded hundreds of
times with political eloquence from the
Threats of noted men like Alex
Stephens and Bob Toombs. In the
stirring days Immediately pre-
ceding the war from its stage Numbered
demands for secession and appeals against
hastiness.
But all these historical and tender memo
ries Of bygone days cannot keep the old
building intact. The people do not want
thsater relic, but a house of modern style
to suit the plays Of modern days, and things
seem now to be in fair way to bring this
state of affairs about.