The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-10
OUTLOOK FOR THEATERS
RAPID work ON ENGLIsH's OPERA
HOUSE AND THE PARK.
Reported Deal ON for the Grand an q
Vaudeville House-The SYM
dicate's Plans.

Since the contracts for the remodeling OF
English's Theater were let the work has
been pushed with remarkable rapidity and
the whole interior of the theater has been
torn out, chairs, galleries. stairways. floor
and ceiling, and the construction work will
soon begin. The building will be new in
everything but walls and roof. 1t will re-
quire ineessant labor by many workmen
as can find room TO work on the job to fin
ish 1t within the time specified by the con-
tracts. Aside from the great amount of
construction work to be done in remodeling
the foyer, building the new marble STAIR
way, putting in the galleries and boxes,
ETC.. the work of laying the mosaic floors
and decorating the house will take much
time, as it must be done with care and
delicacy. With the remarkably quick work
that has been done in tearing out all the
old stuff, however, Mr.. English is confident
that the house will be completed in ample
time for the opening September q.
The construction of the new Park The
alter promises to be another marvel Of
rapid and thorough construction. The side
walls have now reached almost their full
height and the beautiful Washington-street
facade of the building is half completed.
The original drawings. from which the
printed pictures of the new theater were
made. gave but little idea of the massive
ness of the structure, but it can now be
seen that 1t will be one of the artistic build
ings of the city. The interior construction
is progressing right along with the ex-
terror work and by the time the new build
ing is we'll under roof, the galleries and
floors will be in and the theater will be-
| ready for the decorators 1t is fast reach
ing that stage of completion where the
weather cannot interfere with the work and
it is confidently hoped that the house viii
be completed in time to open at about the
usual date in August
Messrs. Dickson and Talbot, owners of
the Park Theater and the Grand declined
yesterday to discuss the report given out
by John d. Hopkins, of Chicago, that he
was to lease the Grand this year for the
purpose of making of 1t continuous
vaudeville house declaring that nothing
definite had yet developed in it. They did
not even admit that negotiations are under
way. except as this fact might be mega
lively inferred from their refusal to deny
the report.
Those familiar with the situation in the
theatrical world are inclined to believe that
this will be done and that Dickson q Tall
bott will contine their attention to the
Park, while waiting for the clouds now
hanging over high-cass theatrical ven
lures to roll by. The last three years have
| been rough ones on the Legitimate" A
few great attractions have made money
| gers. Hopper and Francis Wilson have
made money in opera; Nat Goodwin, Sol
| Smith RUSSELL Crane and one or two others
! have succeeded in comedy Olga Nethersole,
| Walker Whitesides and very few of their
class have succeeded III tragedy. These
and the Hoyt and Frohman companies
| about complete the list of high-class at
| fractions that have accomplished anything.
| The popular priced theaters and attrac-
| tions, however, have made money. In this
| city Dickson IL Talbot have little more
than held their own at the two high-class
| theaters by careful management, and have
| made their money at the Park
| The outlook for the present season is Pc
culiar The big theatrical trust, known
| has gradually developed and strengthened
| itself during the past three years until now
| the cities of the frst-class and has allied
| to It about $50 houses in the minor cities.
| It has in it or allied 10 it such great book
ger, AL Hayman the Frohmans, Hoyt &s
Thomas, Lederer & Harris and about the
only great attractions not under It's wing
just now are Francis Wilson and Fanny
Davenport In some cities the syndicate
has several theateres and in many of them
it has two. In Indianapolis 1t has but one.
English's Dickson & Talbot are one of
the very few great managing firms that
have felt strong enough to remain OUTSIDE
the syndicate, a thing they can well afford
to do from the fact that many of their
houses are popular priced theaters, and
the syndicate has not attempted to invade
some experienced theatrical men believe
the syndicate Is a good thing and viii last
for wears. while others take the view that
it is bound to go to pieces of its own weight
through the many occasions arising for
iealonsv between local theaters in the
same city whose bookings are made by it,
as well as through the objections Of compa-
MES likely to think they are getting the
worst of it in the bookings. 1t seems GER
tain, however, that the syndicate will cut
a wide swath at least for the first half
of next season and now that it has secured
a house in Indianapolis, it will be apt to
put up a merry fight here The fact that
anolis' which is such a desirable point in
breaking long jumps, makes it certain that
the Grand would get good attractions ana
plenty of them next season. but opposluon
IS ALWAYS more or less expensive, and 1t
is believed that Dickson & Talbot would
not be averse to a deal for prontaole
Lee sc of the Grand for one or two seasons.