The evening times., 1896-05-23
FAILURE OF | GREAT FIRM
Abbey. SchaeftsI & Grau, Csle-
hrated Managers. Assign.
RUINED BY BAD VENTURES
Immense F6rtnnes Made In the OPP
cratic Field Swallowed Up by Dis
astrOus Dramatic Underta kings.
Liabilities $500, OO,O8o-Famous Ar
fists Brought to America by Them.


and brilliant career as operatic and IRA
matte managers, after introducing to the
American public the greatest actors and
singers of Europe, after presenting srahu
opera ON u more splendid scale than has
ever before been attempted IN This country
Mcssrs. Abbey. Schoerfcl aud Grau. con-
trolling the Metropolitan Opera House ana
Abbcy's Theater in New York, and the
fremont Thcater in Boston, have found
themselves i'll serious financial di1ficui
ties and made an assignment yesterday
Their operate ventures since 1881 nave
given them magnificent profits, but thcir
dramatic undertakings have been most dis
astrous and have not only swallowed up
all the great gains of the opera seasons, Dut
have run the firm into such debt that they
fiud themselves as IA firm and as individuals
practically stripped OF every dollar that
they owned.
ASSIGNMENT WAS INEVITABLE.
Mr.. Abbey was recently taken i'll and is
now lying al the Gilsey House. When lie
recovered sufficiently to he able to converse
with his partners the situation was placed
before him aud twas seen that an assign
ment was inevitable. The papers We're
SlputI ststti'idN WI - -" As'--' - 49,
ION and Mr.. Louis j. Phelps being named as
assiguees.
The gentlemen who had been consulted,
and the personal friends OF the firm, were
extremely generous and numerous offers of
.arge sums We're made 10 tide them over
temporary difficulties. But with debts
pressing heavily, and Mr.. Abbey lying
III, it was thought best to face the disaster
bravely.
II has been gossippcd that the liabilities
would reach $500 coo. but this is not
the belief of those who are IN Position TO
know. When the assignees have made
their report, it viii probably be found that
the sum owed does moi exceed S3Oo.cOO.
and may prove to lie less. Against this
he firm have numerous assets, which may
produce. If not forced upon the market.
$500, coo.
ABBEY AND GRAU'S CONQCESTS.
Under Abbey. schoeffel n Grau's di-
ION many or the most Distinguished
players and voclls, s'or foreign lands made
,heir bow to the American public.
on the evening OF November :, 1850, Mr..
Abbey introduced To us Nine. Sarah Bern
hardt. who took the entire country by
was on January FL, 1896.
Mrs. Langtry. much discussed, often
abused but still a powerful magnet to
American dollars, was the next novelty
served up to Mr.. Abbey She made her
first appearance on the evening OF Novem-
Der 6, 1889.
Then came Henry Irving, Ellen Terry
and the London Lyceum Theater Company
on October 20, sS3.
Coquelin. the inimiIahe, appeared here
under Mr.. Ahbey's direction in the fall or
1888, and Nine. fame Hading opened at
Ahhey's Theater in January, 1894.
In November, 1887, the boy pianist. Josef
Hofmaun, was presented 10y Mr.. Abbey at
the Metropolitan Opera House and scorrdan
enormous success. Ercn that spacious audi
torium was not capacious enough TO ac-
commodate the crowds who flocked to hear
his infant prodigy. MesSrs. Abbey Il Grau
were supposed tohavemade a foriuneby his
venture alone.
They also managed Sarasate, the violinist,
and Eugen D'AIbcrt, the prince of French
pianists.
Mounct-Sully appeared at Abbey's The
ater on the evening OF March 26. 1894, but
nis cnga cement was not successful.
Reianc and Beerbohm Tree were other
recent importations. Wilson Barrett. Nine.
Modieska and Lillian Russell have also been
directed by Mr.. Abbey.
IN THE WORLD OF SONG.
Mcssrs. Abbey & Grau's exploits in the
dreaded domain ruled by the prima donna
and the easily excited tenor have been no
less noteworthy. The divine Patti sang for
them through the season OF 1SST'SS, and
again in 1890.
Nine. Christine Nilsson was first heard
here under Mr.. Abbey's management in
Boston on November l. 1882, and again in
the season of 1SS3-S4.
Albam sang here through two seasons
1890 and 1891. under the direction OF the
interchangeable impressarios.
The more recent achievement of the mana
gers in the song world are better known.
To them we owe the pleasure of Esving
heard again and yet again the matchless
vocaIization of the brothers De Reszke, of
having listened to the bird-like thrills of
Melba and the liquid notes of Emma Eauies.
Calve the Carmen of Carmens was
brought 10 us by Abbey & Grau. and re-
stored TO us again last season by the same
lavish hands.
In word, all the great ones associated
with the most splendid vocal achievements
of the world have been cajoled by Abbey
into casting their pearls broadcast in Amer
lea.
One has only to instance Maurcl, Lassalle,
Nortiica, Plancon. Kaschmann, ScaIchi. Ia
magno, SauderSon. and DeLusSan to prove
that the treasures of he musical world have
been garncred faithfully by Abbey X Grau,
and poured without stintinto the lap of in
satiable Father KHickerbocker
According to u statement made this morn
ing by Mr.. Louis ]. Phelps a member of the
.aw firm of olin, Rives & Montgomery, the
assignment is without preference to any
body.
1t was filed in the county clerk office at
1890 O'Clock this morning. No particulars
are given. The assgnees are Louis James
Phelps ard Arnold A. Rand. The latter be-
ongs to Boston. .