The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-22
OLD-TIME THEATERS.
A Mistaken Idea Dsproyed by Inyesti3f
tons Of Archives Of EIildsethan Period.


THERE Is a general idea that the thea
ter in which Shakespeare's plays were
first acted was cheap and poor af-
fair. A contract made 40s years ago last
January between one Peter Sweet. a car
pentar of London. and two theatrical men.
Hcnslowe and Alleyn. which Is preserved
in the archives OF London, goes to show
that the Elizabethan theater. though diff
ferent from our modern theater in every
respect, was large and well appointed
ediflce. The specifications require that
the New Fortune" shall be eighty feet
square outside and fifty-six feet square
Within" the twelve feet next the .outaide
wall being rooted with tile and provided
with leaden cutters" This covered space
was devoted on three sides 10 galleries
twelve, eleven and nine feet high. re-
spectively. and furnished with benches.
and the other side being reserved for the
uses of the players. IN the interior space.
nfty~six feet square was erected a stage
twenty-eight by forty-thsee feet leaving
space tweaty-eigh, by ffty-six feet open
to the air. No seats were provided FOE
this pit as IL was called and the charge
for standing room was ] penny, equlv-
Hlent To about ~ cents Of our money.
Back Of the stage was gallery. utilized
as Julfets balcony or the battiements Of
castle and also occupied by spectators.
Underneath this balcony were two doors
Tor entrances and exits. Near the front
OF the stage were two pillars to support
''howse' and roof over the stage
This building must have accommodated
at least 5000 spectators and as eNtrn
charges were made for admission 10 ths,
galleries q '8ull house must have
brought st the very best $3.50 represent
ing at least 81. s09 ~ our money, no In
considerable sum. considering that there
was no expense for scenery. though
dresses were no less an item of cost
then thsn now. The most striking diff
Terence from one Of our modern fhessters
iteH In the fact that the stage. instead OF
being set Ia an arch, projected into the
audience. who surrounded II on there
sides aud were almost III personal contact
With the actors. There being no scenery.
the art ~ acting appraximated 70 that ~
"FR49FFs and tbs tnaistfnet articulation 10
common or our stage could not have hnen
tolerated Tor an instant The effect of
the t&hleSu or stage picture being unat.
taiuable, the rhetorical ana literary rie-
ment ~ tae play was all important We
see readily why plays ~ the early stage
are tHU uf long rhetorical ard f,onsfguI
PASSAGES and why DESCRIPTIONS Of natural
scenery were required where 10 ARTIFICIAL
scenery addressed the eyes Of the spec
tators Modern stage machinery and
music and especially ARTIFICIAL Hight.
makes me pisy u today an entirely ar
iefeRt "rt form from the play ~ the six
teetih century different IN Character ara
method ~ appeal. bai not necessarily So.
ferinr
rom the strictly pecuniary point ~ Igew.
acting was more lucrative in the age ~
t-A&e bette tnan Il IL now. II Was teat.aad
W e lawsuit ~ The period that tho annual
dividend On nfe-aixteenth 81 the Black
? Fi&fs tfeater WAS GO As money was tlten
worth eight times IS much as a. is now,
tfds safn is equivalent 70 Sc 40 or tss 40
"n ne entire property. The Fortune wa
taTEer than the Black Frara. asa the
builders contract price was bot $50 ssx-
elusive % painting" aud the first years
pFtats must have paid fer IT. Tnis large
return mast be discounted by tho fact lhaf
the building was on ieased ground aua re-
SeFted 20 the owners If the land after a
short term, but il is enoush 10 prove the
very lucrative character ~ successful
theatrical enterprise in the year lpn
Shakespeare theater. the Globe, however,
when rebuilt, Is said to have cost nearly