New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
THEATRE-BUILDING YEAR
Sir Ne10 Ones Under Way, And
Three Projected, IN This City.

The year 1908 will certainly go record
the banner year for building theatres in New
York City. Six new playhOuses are now actu-
ally in process Of construction. and three more
are projected and will be actually begun before
the end OF December. These nine playhOuses
will increase the total number OF amusement
houses OF all classes. in Manhattan alone. to
nearly fifty.
The theatres being built the
Drury Lane. which Oscar Hammerstein is
constructing In West Thirty-fourth-s the
New-Amsterdam. being erected in West Forty
second-st- the Lyric, being built by the Shu-
bert Brothers in Forty-third-st.; the Comedy.
which the Sire Brothers are building for Charles
B. Dillingham; at the southeast corner OF For
ty-ninth-st. and Seventh-ave.: the Hudson
which Henry B. Harris is building in West
Forty -fOurth-st, near Broadway; and the Ly-
ceum, which Daniel FTOhman is completing in
West FOrty-ffth-st, near Broadway.
The three theatres for which plans are now
being drawn are new theatre as yet unnamed.
which will be built in Forty-second-st.. near
Eighth-ave; the new Isnam theatre which
will be built the site of the Parker House
at Broadway and Thirty -ninth-st. and the new
Shubert theatre. which will be built in Thirty
ninth-st.. Immediately adjoining the Casino.
OF the six new theatres. the New Lyceum is
in the most advanced stage of construction. II
is on the north side of Forty ffth-st The en-
trance takes up the full width of the building.
The interior is still in the hands of pIasterers
and decorators. so that clear idea of the color
scheme planned by Daniel FrOhman cannot be
gained There are two balconies constructed
on the cantilever system without pillars to OBJ
struct the view. The stage extends to Forty
sixth-st-. and Is being equipped with many
modern improvements and cOnveniences
Almost directly across the street from the
front Of the Lyceum is the rear OF the new
Hudson Theatre, also in advanced stage OF
construction. The interior is now being deco
rated. The dimensions of the Hudson and the
Lyceum are nearly similar. the width of each
being sixty feet and the depth extending a full
block The Hudson faces the south in Forty
rourth-st-, and its rear wall and stage entrance
are directly upon the building line in Forty
ffth-st The front of the Hudson is yellow
brick This theatre will be managed by Henry
b. Harris. the son OF William Harris the VET
eran manager.
The New-Amsterdam Theatre concerning
which there was such a tumult u few weeks
ago because OF an alleged projection beyond the
building line. is in the rear OF the New-Amster-
dam office building. which towers eleven stories
high just west of Broadway and Forty second
St The Office building was erected first and the
entrance to the theatre is through this office
building. The theatre itself has not advanced
beyond the stage of steel girders and frame
work. but the side walls are being rushed as
rapidly as labor troubles Will permit The rear
wall reaches to the sidewalk in Forty-frst-st
The Lyric Theatre is the house where for
the next ten years. Richard Mansfield will
appear. The main entrance to the theatre
viii be in Forty -secOnd-st-. though this entrance
VIII be simply lobby leading into the side OF
the auditorium proper. The house will face
Forty -third-st, and there will also be an en-
trance on that street. The principal exits will
De In Forty -third-st. The ground floor OF the
tneatre resembles in this respect the plan OF
the Garrick Theatre, in PHILADELPHIA where