The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-27
POSTERS THAT SHOUTED
PICTURES THAT SERVED TO STIR
THE BLOOD OF PIT AND
GALLERY
FAMOUS THEATER FENCES
Prominent Hills at Some of the His
toric Old PIayhOuses In
New York City in the
ByEOneS.

BygOnes.
From 1850 to 1860 the eye Of pedestrians
was often drawn to huge colored play
posters that stood in various parts of
the city Brooklyn at this time had
no theater. New York managers, there
fore, owned fence spaces-headed "Pur-
dys National theater," Broadway thea
ter" "BUrton's theater," "Old Bowery
theater, "Wallack's theater," "Barnum's
museum" etc, etc-on different thor
Oughfares.
One OF the earlier plays pictured was
1.-THE Colleen Bawn," by Dion Boucicault
1t was performed 9,lOO times in New
York, and was a benefit to Agnes Rob
erts0n, at Winter garden, on Broad
way opposite Bond street. during her last
week in America, July 3, 1860.
1t was an Irish love story and drew
forth a fence picture of Lake Killarney
by Moonlight" with the reflection of the
moon or mountains, rocks, boulde~s,
trees, grass, etc. A calm, tranquil
stream with high and low lands; a boat
drawn up on the shore, with a high
rock standing out in the stream that
finds many inlets; a rocky bridge crosses
the water with trees and woods on either
side; a solitary rOwbJat with two men
gently gIides down the lake; all IS quiet
stiffness. What more romantic spot
could suggest Irish love, valor or fllal
pride.
Among the Dickens dramatizations
seen on the boards in days gone by
"Dombey and Son" and "Oliver Twist"
were wei liked, but neither drew the
game audiences that greeted David Cop
periield' when performed at Burton's
the&ter on Chambers street, New York
with the following cast: Mr.. Micawber
Mr.. Burton; Pegotty, Charles Fisher;
Mrs. Micawber, Mrs. Eddy; Rose Dart}e,
Nine Ponisi; Miss Betsy Trotwood. Mrs
Hughes
1t drew forth fence picture Of the sea-
shore with a hut with windows, and
stove pipe constructed out Of q little boat,
An Old tar sat IN the garden outside,
smoking and looking seward while his
wife sat by sewing and Little Emily pass
Ing in and out made notable feature Of
the scene. This was Dickens MASTER
piece and will ever be remembered in
Mr.. Burton's ''Nicawber"
On Oct. 10, 1859, the following an
nouncement appeared: Benefit and last
performance Of Mr.. Burton, the great
comedian, IN which he will appear In
two grand Recommendations and
evening" 1--WE never" says Hutton,
saw Mr.. Burton or Mrs. Hughes again"
Mrs. Hughes retired to private life, and
MI. Burton, billed for a few weeks in
other cities and came back to New York
quite broken in health and died at his
residence in Hudson street on Feb. 10,
1850.
On Jan. 16, 1853, much interest was
created by the pastor on the Wallack's
space that announced THE Poor OF New
York" with the following cast:
Adam Fairweather ........ Mr. Rlalxe
gideon Bloodgood ..............M Mr.. Norton
R65G 9tard Mr. Lester
EuWarQS ...,.........s............M LeVere
SalI Fa4rWeather .........Mr. Davenport
livingston ......................Mr Mr.. Sothern
SuIly '.'-..'''......'.......;.... Mr.. Sloan
gan :.......................Mr. T. B. Nelson
Miss Fairweather Mrs. Blake
1IiSa Bio lny Ms Cooke
On Tuesday, March 20, 1858, the Niblo's
space presented an attractive picture in
the return of the incompatible Ravels.
Probably no play ever presented more
lightning changes, especially in the scene
Of the hut Of the peasant, that by a wave
OF the wand was transformed into a
palace, with brilliant lights and marble
floor, with winding stairs and statuary.
oil presenting a scene Of magn1hcence
with grand ballet advertisement
danced to exquisite music The cast pre-
scented was Gabriel, Antoine and Jerome
assisted by their great double corps OF
artists. Positively their last performance
in America previous to their final retire
ment from the stage. The charming
Theresa Rolla, Marietta Zanfretta. on the
tight rope, Kerie-Ka, Gabriel RaVel in
the comic part of Ventiatan-Antoine as
Kimba, jerome as playing Biano-Bianco
Antoine and Brocolo Jerome.
This play bill wildly portrayIng the
Vicissitudes Of life in New York caused
many a passer-by to stop and look at the
picture of a snow storm in Union square
at night. Il was nearly midnight; people,
tightly mufited, passed to and fro along
the path through the storm; the trees
were covered with snow while outside.
illuminated, stood the Everett house, the
Clarendon, the Spingler institute, Or
Cheever's church and the massive brown
stone houses of some of the wealthy
A space eagerly watched by the children
of Brooklyn was "Barnum s." recalling
memories of the woody horse" the Fee
jee mermaid 1.-The What Is It." "thc
living whale ITEM Thumb, 1.-The
giant the Siamese twins" the fat
woman etc. One of the day and even
ing performances" about this time Q858)
was the storm at sea-" which closed
with terrific thunderstorm off Ireland,
vividly pictured. The dark waters rise
high as 4 vessel rising and falling on the
waves appears, and, struck by lightning,
loses her masts. Now rendered helpless,
she moves along and strikes against the
rocky coast. The crew escape over the
bow and are saved by a rope thrown by
'wreckcrs" from. the top of the mountain.
This was che of the many remembered
ATTRACTIONS of the museum.
Exciting pictures were often seen on the
''space' of Purdy's National theater on
Chatham street New York, and none
more so than the dramatization of the
world renowned Jack Sheppard The
play was presented in different acts
viz, a the old London bridge, (2) Jona-
than Wilds house in the Old Bailey, 60
the night cellar, a. the burglary al