The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-02
OUR STAR PLAYERS.
PROPOSED THEArER ron rNEM m
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.

Tno l1cnUe8 As9oSe eno xW~ Nov
York .sasrsaan4s wnI Furnish the Mon
sy-e1So.o 90 n Subscribed IL 20 He
. Typical Asssrioan Thsstsr.
Application has been made for space
in the American section of the Paris ex-
position Of 100 in which to erect q
splendid American theater and roof gar
den, to be1 called the American theater
and to be RiyeiIpver 90 American yaude-
vile, rburiesque. drama and opera per-
formances by American stars Of the first
rank. 1t is intended to make it in every
sense typical American theater in APP
pointments, methods and performers
and it is to be kept open for the entire
term Of the exposition, from April till
November.
The projectors of this unique and
elaborate scheme are three New York
gentlemen, who have notified the gov
eminent officials at Washington, through
their representative now in Washington,
that they have subscribed a guarantee
fund of $3.50, 900 each to carry the plan
through. The main protector of the
movement is Mr.. Alexander Lichten-
stein, one of the managers Of the Har-
lem Opera House in New York, repre-
senting the estate of the late Benjamin
Lichtenstein, which owns the Harlem
Opera House and several large Office
buildings in the same city. The estate
subscribes $3.50, 600, and two New York
business men, one banker and the 9TH
er diamond merchant whose names l
could not learn, have also subscribed
like sum each, making $3.50, 900 in all.
The representative of these gentlemen.
| Mr.. George A. Blumenthal, one of the
associate managers of the Harlem Opera
| House, has filed with the state depart
ment an application for space, setting
forth the full plans of the scheme. He
is now in Washington to present the
details to those in charge of exposition
| affairs and is interesting the New York
congressional delegation and other in
fiuential men in the application.
| Mr. Blumenthal has told several gen.
| tlemen in Washington that for some
| weeks Mr.. Lichtenstein and he have
been completing the final plans for
theater in the exposition grounds, to be
built of steel, 70 feet front and $50 feet
deep, to seat, according to the architects
plans, Q, 700 persons, with roof garden
of most elaborate design, with capacity
that will accommodate 2. 100 people.
There are to be four tiers of proscenium
boxes, four boxes in each tier, on each
side of the stage, making 32 in all, seat
ing eight persons. The total cost of the
building, it is estimated, will be $780,
600.
The entire building will be kept open
seven days in the week from 9 o'clock
in the morning until IL at night, and
three performances will be given each
day. In the morning, from 10 to half
past ~, there will be vaudeville per-
Torrance by American performers of the
first rank. In the afternoons and even
ings operas, dramas, comedies and bur.
lesques will be presented. If an opera
is given in the afternoon, then in the
evening there will be drama or COM
edy, or vice versa. This plan, it il
thought, will be to the advantage of ev-
erybody concerned, as it will enable the
sightseers to witness greater variety
of entertainments and a greater number
of our representative actors In limited
period, while it will also give the actors
opportunity to enjoy the sights OF the
exposition during their engagement al
the theater. Each star and company
that plays at the theater will be re-
quired to give from three to five per
formances week-in no case more than
five.
In selecting the actors who are to ap
pear at the Exposition theater it is the
intention of the management to engagt
only those who have achieved national
fame and who are regarded here as thor
oughly representative Americans. Ne
gotiations have already been opened
with Mr.. Richard Mansfield as the fore
most exponent of the American dramatic
actor, with Mr.. Nat Goodwin as thu
representative comedian and with Mis-
: Lillian Russell as the leading comic op
era prima donna. No selection has We
been made for the burlesque roles, bu
this class of entertainment is to be on,
of the features of the series of perform
ances, and the very best actors and &C
D tresses obtainable will be secured.
The productions as we'll as the play
3 and the operas and the actors will b.
thoroughly American, and the protector
of the scheme have already made ar
1 rangements with several American cos
tuners and scenic artists TO provide tn
necessary appurtenances.
] Mr.. Paul Steindorff has already beel
engaged to conduct the operas and bur
lesques that will be presented. Stag
hands, ushers, box Office officials ant
doorkeepers-in fact, everybody employ
: ed in or about the theater-will b
: Americans either by birth or adoption
!, and even the programmes, posters ant
, tickets will be printed by Americans
One novel feature will be money ex
: change in the lobby of the theater, wher
; French money will be changed free o
!, charge into American, which is the onl.
kind of currency that will be accepte'
in payment for tickets. On the roo
= promenade concerts will be given after