New-York tribune., 1897-01-30
NEWYORK THEATRES.
THE ENGLISH CAPITAL IN
NUMBER AND MAGNIFICENCE.

NEARLY FORTY PLAYHOUsEs EXCLUSIVE OF
MUSIC HALLs-NOTABLE STOCK CoMPANIEs-
STRINGENT LAWS FOR THE SAFETY OF
PEoPLE-METRoPoLTAN OPERA
HOUSE SOURCE OF PRIDE.
In none OF the embellishments Of modern
life, except hotels. does New-York excel in o
more marked degree than in its theatres. The
only other cities Of the United States which 1t
is worth while even to mention in comparison
with 1t in this respect Easton and Chicago.
and these are by means supplied with thea
tres and other places of amusement as New
York is even in proportion to their populations.
There is reason indeed. why New-fork. as
theatre city. should fear comparison with any
city Of the world London. with about three
times the population of NewYOrk has only
about a third more good theatres. 1t has, in
deed innumerable music halls. but the most
of them are not of sort that New-York has
anv reason to desire Exclusive of music halls.
there are in NewYork nearly forty theatres
and there are not many over fifty in London. II
there are any OF these it is fair 10 count
about twenty theatres of high class. While
| in New-York there are about fifteen when
could deserve to be ranked with them. 1t VIII
thus be seen that while London is about 200
per cent ahead of NewYork in population. it
is only about 33 per cent ahead with respect to
its theatres. And this reckoning takes no ac-
count of Brooklyn. II Brooklyn is reckoned in.
it will be found that the two cities combined
have very nearly the same number of theatres
and very nearly the same number Of good thea
tres as has London. while still far behind in
population.
But it is ir their general luxuriousness OF fur
nishng and decoration that the theatres OF
~ fb.r
In the world. There is. to be sure. probably no
| other theatre In the world that equals in these
respects the Grand Opera House of Paris. but
that is only one house that surpasses those OF
New-York, among many that do not. In Lon
don the notion Of decorating theatres elaborate
| ly and beautifully seems to be the growth OF
| recent years only, while one OF the finest thea
tres there is controlled and was built by a New
| York manager. Many other American cities
have theatres that are as convenient, comfort'
| able and handsome as could be asked but there
Is no other city anywhere that can present such
a row of beautiful playhouses as Olympia, the
Broadway Theatre. the Empire. the lIetropoli-
tan Opera House. the Casino, the Knicker-
becker Theatre. the Garrck. Roster & Bals.
Days the Fifth Avenue. the Garden Hoyts
ard the Lyceum
Far more important than the beauty OF the
New-YOrk theatres is their SAFETY. The laws
OF the State OF New-York for the protection OK
audiences against fire are among the strictest
in the world. Everything about a New-fork
theatre has to pass the inspection OF the Build
Ing Department. from the original plans TO the
size OF the hose and the power OF the engine
1t is scarcely necessary To say that the building
must be absolutely freproof in the first place
| 1t must also have a brick wall between the
audience and the stage. rising at least four
feet above the roof. There must be streets or
alleyways OF a prescribed width at least
three sides Of 1t. there must be abundant exits
opening into these streets or alleys, ana inc
doors must all open out. The stairs must not
be steep or narrow or crooked. and the en-
| frances to the gallery must be entirely separate
from those to the other parts OF the house
There must be commodious fre-escapes from
every floor on which the audience is to be placed
paratus with tanks. hose and extingushers OF
! suitable size and capacity. fireproof curtain
, must be ready at all times TO be lowered. 70
; cut off the stage from the audence-room
! Every programme must have a plan OF the
= theatre. showing all the exits. There must be
4 10 the number OF seats. no extra seats must o7
n,aced i'm the aises and nobody must, unde'
anv circumstances. tie allowed to stand IN tns
aisles. Nobody must stand. at any time. IN any
passage-way leading from any part OF the suo'. J.
, ence.room 70 an exit and no unsafe NUMBER ~