New-York tribune., 1902-01-03
KEITH'S NOT DAMAGED.
THEATRE UNINJURED BY THE FIRE OF
YESTERDAY MORNING

The belief that Keiths Union Square Theatre
was considerably damaged by the fire of yesterday
morning premature. It is ometimes hard to
judge just what fire is doing by looking at it.
and this of those times. The fire in
and over and under the tailor's shop next door
to the theatre. There a small room
under the tailor's shop belonging to the
theatre, where a few valueless old costumes
and properties were stored. These injured,
mostly by water. and this was the only damage
which the managers would admit yesterday that
they had suffered. Even this entirely
disconnected from the main part Of the theatre
The building where the fire occurred is separated
from the theatre by a solid fire wall The present
theatre was built according to the new fire laws.
in 1883, after the destruction of the old Union
Square Theatre by fire. and the incident Of yesSer-
day morning proves the effectiveness OF the precau-
tions then taken to the safety of the build
ing. The performance went usual yester-
day, and there was a large crowd in attendance
all through the afternoon and evening
1t is a coincidence that there should be even
suspicion of fire in another New-York theatre so
soon after the burning of Miners Eighth Avenue
Theatre on Tuesday night, especially there had
been no important theatre fire in the city in more
than six years. This period of the year seems to
be a peculiarly dangerous for theatres. The
Fifth Avenue Theatre burned January 1.
1873 and again January 2 1891. On that occa-
sion rnisapprehension occurred strikingly like
that Of yesterday. Herrmanns Theatre was next
door to the Fifth Avenue. Mr.. Hermann had
spent good deal of money in redtting the house,
and he and his wife stood across the street. with
sad hearts, watching the fire. and not doubling
that their theatre burning. Finally they
thought that they the roof fall in. and then
they philosophicay gave it up and went to sup
per The next day it proved that. except for
little hole in one wall the theatre uninjured.
A list OF the most important theatre fires which
have occurred ir New-York may be of interest
Ricketts, Circus and Greenwich Street Theatre
December 4, lls9 EauXhau Garden August 50
lS4S Bowery. May % 1928; September %. 1886; Feb
ruary 49, ISSs, and April 25 1915. Lafayette, April
II, 1923 Mount Pitt Circus, August ), 1929. Ma
September IS 1876, and May 6 1872 Whites Melo
deon. May 20. 1919 Woods Opera House, Decem-
Der 20 1854 Tripler Hail. January S, 1854. Crystal
Palace, October .. 1851. Barnums Museum, July l3,
NUNS, at F'ourteenth-st., December "a, 1872 But
ler's American Theatre, February Is, 1872 Acad-
enly of Music. May q. 1865. New Bowery, Decem-
ber IS, 1866. Winter Garden March 20 1851 Theatre
s, 1868 Kelly & Icons. November IS, 1872. Days
Fifth Avenue, January l. 1873. Tony Pastors, No
555 Broadway, December IS, 1876. Abbey's Park
Theatre October go 1882 Windsor, November q.
Hart's Theatre Comique, December %. 1884 Union
Square, February 2S 1885. Tony Pastors in Four
teenth June 6. 1885 Fifth Avenue. January 2.
1891 Metropolitan Opera House, August p. 1892.
Eighth Avenue. December 81. 1901.
December seems be the worst month for
theatre fires which show a tendency to run over
a little into January. More than a quarter of the
fires in this list in December. Dispatches re-
ceived Yesterday afternoon told of the burning OF
the Vendome Theatre. in Nashville, Tenn, another
victim Of the fatal January 2.