New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-05

FIVE THEATRES CLOSE
PERFORMANCE At GRAND.
Some Managers May Seek Imjunc'
tions-Others Making Changes.

Mayor Mcclellan yesterday ordered the closing
Of six theatres IN Manhattan. The order
obeyed by Eve Of them-Hubers. Hurtig
& seamon's the Madison Square, the Prin-
cess and the Vaudeville. 1t was disregarded by
the Grand Opera House. except that the gallery
closed.
The fact that the Grand, at Eighth-ave and
T>xenty-third-rt. would give its evening per-
formsnce Of The Earl Of Pawtucket'
nounced at the theatre almost soon as the
Mayors order published in the afternoon
newspapers. The box Office kept open for
the sale OF tickets usual. and many peopls
who went there 10 ask II II safe TO buy tick
cts IN view Of the Mayors order. were told that
the theatre was 20 be kept open unless platoon
OF police appeared on the scene and prevented
the opening OF the doors. Bronson Douglass
said as the representative OF J. II. Springer. the
manager:
We have complied with the orders for changes
/ so far as IL was possible To comply within the
| time allowed. except in one particular. We were
ordered 20 substitute chairs for the wooden
benches In the gallery. but there is n dispute
between two OF the depa tments as 10 the wis
! dom OF doing that. The Health Department
! wants chairs In the gallery. while the Depart
/ ment Of Buildings says the benches are better.
! Mr.. Springer is trying to have the order modi-
/ fed he contends that the theatre is one OF the
/ safest in the city. and we shall give the per
J formance tonight as usual Tomorrow there
viii be an application for AL injunction to pre-
vent the Mayor and the Health Commissioner
| from interfering with the business Of the the
I stre.
Police Captain Cottrell and several other men
from the station in West Twentieth-st at
the Grand an hour before the time for opening
the doors. They did not interfere when the doors
were opened. however. and the only concession
made by the manager 10 order the gallery
closed. There were rumors during the evening
that Health Commissioner Darlington would go
TO the theatre and order the police to close 81.
but the performance went without dis
turbsnce and enjoyed by large audience,
although the gallery empty. Near the close
OF the performance AIr. Springer said to news
paPer men:
| do not wish 81 to be understood that I have
6eiied the Mayor and Health Commissioner Oar
lington. II I am ordered by the proper officials
10 close the theatre il viii be closed. OF course.
The fact is that order TO close the theatre was
served on me. ! saw the order mentioning the
Grand Opera House among the other theatres to
be closed. published in an afternoon paper. and I
went at TO the Mayor ia company with
! my attorney. Ebert Crandall of No 1l5 Broad
way. At the Mayors Office ! a bulletin
about the Mayors order, put did not regard
that as an order to me. ] had seen the Mayor
( previous day about the order 20 substitute
chairs for benches ia the gallery. and / brought
that matter up again. but the Mayor said he
must refer TO DIR. Darlington
| There is a peculiar situation here. The theatre
! is owned by the Jay Gould estate and by the
I terms OF my lease the estate must make any
| changes ordered by a city department. Samuel
Singleton is the superintendent Of the theatre.
acting for the Gould estate. BY the terms OF
the lease, l turn the theatre over TO him every
! night after each performance closes. orders
10 make changes are referred TO Mr.. Singleton.
He could close the theatre any time he saw
/ fit ~ he ala not want 20 make the changes
ordered. ] asked this afternoon for another
inspection OF the theatre, and there n
promise that such inspection should be
made but il made this afternoon. /
shall see Dr. Darlington in the morning, and
t-y 10 have the order 10 close modified. II that
is not done shall apply for an injunction and
order 10 show cause why theatre which is
safe should y closed because there is a division
OF opinion as 10 benches or chairs in the gal
lery.
J CANDIDA" AT CARNEGIE LYCEUM.
Arnold DAILY was not to te sidetracl,ed in his
efforts 10 introduce G. p. Shaw TO New York
by any such little thing as the closing OF a
theatre He heard Of The Mayors action regard
| ing the Vaudeville in time TO have all the
scenery and properties for Candida" carried up
20 the Carnegie Lyceum. where the perform
ance was given last night The players were in
formed in time. but word could be sent 10
the orchestra. SO two carriages waited for them
I in frort OF the Vaudeville Theatre. and as soon
as they appeared they were bundled in and
driven 10 the Carnegie Lyceum. A notice was
posted in the lobby or the Vaudeville. and the
l audience made its way TO the new scene OF
Shaw propa EanGa any way IL chose. Tonight
Mr.. Daily expects to give the play in Mendels-
sohn Hall lie says he viii give II somewhere
every night. IL he has 10 hire room The
changes demanded al the Vaudeville mostly con-
/ celn the construction OF the proecenium arch
which a. present is fitted with modern
| grooves.
After giving out his order TO close the SIX
theatres. Mayor Mcclellan said the other tne-
| stres hcs shown & disposition 10 carry out the
I recommendations Of his committee, althoush
some had required considerable urging. ana tinie
4 would be allowed to them in making changes
which required time. He said 1t was ms ih'e"-
tion 70 have q permanent board OF public saie9s'
coyn,osod Of Assistant Sanitary Superintendent
Ia.nson representing Health Commissioner DaI
r,c.op. r p Miller, chief engineer OF the buiio-
So, r,eaartr,ent OF which Isaac n Hopper i
sure-lntendent. and William 7. Beggin' pat
,oi,o, chief. representing Fire CORNERSTONE
,-tcro,,. HAYES This board viii continue "ie
work Of inspecting theatres and all o'ner p,aee'
a., ,-,sob the public gathers in large NUMBERS
- .,r,,,, reports and Recommendations TOT
80 &c was suggested recently by Inc ir.o-
- enss,,inr about the board the Mayor saiu'
, .. ,,,,-o this board make an inspection
.Sc~o altera are MADE aie WI. a..
a.teI 'l,ts VII that II uaascs ns
, boafd .sneo ,,onths. When these tneaues "a
eftl.,,,s 18th the reasonable reSuSss r,,hi,o tr
| ,oreral departments anu ~ ~
~<~cud