New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-11
THE DEMOCRATIC CIRCUS
TUNNEL UNDER A THEATRE.
THE GERMANIA. IN EIGHTH-sT., WILL
PROBABLY HAVE TO COME DOWN.

theatre which has had its share Of hard
fortune is now probably condemned altogether by
the needs Of the new rapid transit tunnel 1t is
certainly condemned, viii be- in the legal sense
Of that term, for the city will acquire title to It
and remove it if necessary, and it will probably be
necessary. The theatre is the small one in Eighth
St, known just the Germania.
Actors believe that it is bad luck to build a
theatre where a church has stood though there
are some notable Instances where the belief has
proved TO be unfounded. But this theatre is a
case in point. It built on the site of a church.
and it has had all sorts OF luck, especially bad
luck 1t has always seemed to be or less
in the way Of something other. It was much
in the way Of adjoining building that a large
square corner had to be taken out OF the back Of
the stage, and every scene Of any depth had to be
set so to fit around this corner
1t was a variety theatre once and 1t was used
for the exploiting Of the plays written by its
ager, Mr. Poole. after whom it was then called
He was most prolific writer of plays. and many
Of them were produced on his own stage. Then
being still called Poola's Theatre, it used for
travelling combinations OF an inexpensive sort, and
had varying degrees Of prosperity.
Then there John Wilde, who had been for
years a fayorite member of Edward Harigan's
company, and he thought that anybody so popular
as he ought TO have theatre of his own and plays
Of his own and no end of profit of his So he
got Pooles Theatre and a play modestly called
Running Wild" and had opening night. The
closing night followed hard upon" and Mr. Wilde
decided to go back to Mr.. Harrgan's company.
There he recovered some of his losses by of
salary of sl51 week. which curious he
ceived because he insisted having the largest
salary paid to any member Of the company. and
Mrs. Feamans got $50 week.
The theatre then had variety OF fortune and
misfortune. 1t was used for a considerable time
for the production Of plays in Yiddish, at small
prices, and finally II was turned into German
theatre. 1t was managed by Gustav Amberg, who
had formerly been manager of the Thaa Theatre,
IN the BoWery. and of the Irving Place Theatre,
then called the Amberg Theatre, and he gave
musical and dramatic works in il, having a stock
company bringing star actors from Germany, dip
ping INTO the German classics and not scorning
modern farce. He gave many crediJa Die and in
terestlng performances The theatre is
Mr. Phillips has two years lease of the house,
ana II Is thought that this will expire before il
becomes necessary 70 remove the building. a the
places where buildings are inte7fered with will be
the last TO be reached in the construction of the
tunnel The land where the theatre stands belongs
10 the stuart estate and the. building Leonard
H. t1angen. The arrangement with regard o this
ana other properties is that the constructors Of
the tunnel shall the buildings II possible and
otherWlse the city shall restore them they were,
after the tunnel is done if the want them SO
restored The engineer, Mr.. Parsons said vester-
day that an attempt would be made to shore I'D
little expectation that IL would succeed Mr..
t1enSen could not say positively what he should
40 IN case the theatre was torn down. He thought
II hkey that he might part with his title to it in
stead Of asking the city TO rebuild il for him and
dlloW the land to be used for other