The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-11
TO STANDING ROOM ONLY.
AN AUDIENCE OF NEARLY 1000 AT
THE NEW THEATER.

EaWHnmahinns surprised ana OFau-
fed at Being Given so Handsome n
Structure-The Opening "a Success
From Every standpOint-COlIecto
BeekvvIth's Address-Pres. Green
wall Delighted with the Recep-
tIon the House Received-"DariS-
est Russia" n Good Play.
"Parquette, standing room only" was
the sign that appeared above the box office
Of the new Savannah theater when the
doors were opened last night at 7:So o'clock
and it was not many minutes before the
necessity for that warning became appar
ent. Before the curtain rose on the first act
Of Darkest Russia il was seen that the
notice would have to be sim further iimi-
ted and it was abbreviated to read stand
ing room only" And there was not much
of that.
1.-THE biggest house that ever got into the
Savannah theater." was the expressed
opinion Of old theater goers There were
200 people crowded into the gallery alone
and about GOO in each the gallery and par
quete making in all nearly 20OO people who
were there to see the opening.
The new theater was perhaps the main
attraction. People who have been accus-
toned 10 the old theater all their lives
wanted to see what the new management
was going TO do. They wanted to know If
the promises made were TO be
fulfilled. They went with great expecta-
tons and they were not disappointed. It
was more than they had expected in every
way, and another surprise was that it
was ready for the opening night. This
would not have been the case had ii not
been for the untiring energy Of President
Henry Greenwall. who, on his arrival here
from New York few days ago, put on an
extra force of men and pushed everything
forward in double quick time.
The general opinion was that the new
theater is a gem. The Morning News has
already given detailed description of the
interior Of the building and in no wise did
its appearance under the brilliant lights.
fall short of what has been said of it.
1t was all the people of Savannah could
have expected and they are pleased and
delighted.
1t was shortly after o'clock when Mr..
Emile Newman introduced to the audience
collector OF customs j. J.. d btChWltus
who made the opening address. Mr.. Beck
with was warmly greeted when ne appear
ed on the stage. He said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Six years ago
In sack and buckskin l appeared upon the
boards of the old Savannah theater and
pleaded with a Roman mob" and can
wen remember that after / felt securely
footed upon the rOstrum that had been
improvised for the occasion, l turned to
that magnificent and enthusiastic repre-
sentation and in the words of Brutus, babe
them BE patient till the last" Tonight
/ appear in a role entirely new. I am
here and TO recount In simple vein and In
speedy sketch the old, old story of the
structure and its purposes-that have TAX
en- their places In pages of historic MEM
DRY.
The march Of time respects not per-
sons-so they say-and why should H.
structures? The OBJECT that epitomizes a
nations BIRTH It's loyalty to preserve
One note from our dear old liberty bell
would arouse the martial frenzy of 7,O0O.-
600 Of men, and In twelve months the
gandest army that ever marched to meet
a foe would bivouec upon our continental
shores. The history of our race has been
that when the days of mans usefulness
are DER. he must give place to stronger
arm and quicker brain. The tooth Of
progress regards not structures.
For twenty-seven long years the people
OF Savannah, with an apathetic character
istic, peculiarly their own, bore with the
declining usefulness of the old Savannah
theater. Thanks, thanks, to a providen-
tial interference and a little hard cash."
the old theater has been scutted from
bowspTit to spanker-boom, and the people
OF Savannah are henceforth to enjoy a
modernized theater."
Mr. Beckwith then read short sketch
OF the old theater with an account Of how
the new one came to be built by the
GreenwaH Theatrical Circuit Co
In the absence of his honor the Mayor
he continued, lin behalf OF the manage
ment, extend to you a hearty welcome to-
night. Now that your drama-loving home
has been remodelled l sincerely beg that
you win rekindle your love for the art
and by your attendance and kind words
encourage these strangers who have come
IN our midst who have bought our prop
erty, and who will gladly share our bur
dens"
Mr.. Beckwith. at the conclusion of his
address, introduced President Henry
Greenwall. who made a few remarks well
coming the audience TO the new theater
and extending them a greeting from the
management. Mr.. Frank Cox, the archl-
tect, was also introduced TO the audience
and made a few remarks. To him belongs
much OF the credit for getting the house
ready for the opening well as for build
ing 50 handsome theater for Savannah
Eight of the ten boxes were occupied
On the left in the upper boxes were Mrs
T. T. Johnson and two daughters, Mr.. and
Mrs. Cornell and Mrs. J. c. Shaw, in the
lower boxes, Mr.. and Mrs. j. b. West, Miss
West and Mr.. J. F. Harrison, Act
ing Mayor Thomas Screven, Col. John
Screven, Messrs. A. c. Wylly and Ham
mond ]. Read. On the right in the upper
boxes We're Miss Annie V. Jones, Miss
Caroline Jones. Mr.. E. n. Hancock and
Mr.. NJ. B. Lane, Misses NJ. z. and K. S.
Roche and Messrs. I. ". Lyon mad s. A.
Torlay; in the lower boxes were Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry Greenwall, Miss Fannie OPP
penheimer of New York and Mr.. j. r. b.
Beckwith Mr.. Emile Newman Mr.. and
Mrs. d. Kraus.
The entrance to the theater on either
side was decorated with the large pots
Of flowers from the Savannah, Florida and
Western ticket office.
Everything was carried out systemat-
ically and in order and there was not
hitch in the programme from start to fin
fish. The six ushers We're in charge of
Messrs. z. r. Hernandez and George Rob
bins. They had charge of this part of the
work in the old Savannah theater, and
md to har