The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-10
Rialto Moves Again.
New York Theatrical Headquarters
Working Up Town.

Last week was moving time for the
theatrical Rialto. Years ago. before the
war, the Rialto was situated down in
the vicinity of Broome Street The pres
ent generation of theatrical old men love
to tell you the glories of the RiaIto in
the days when the Union Square Thea
ter-now Keith's-was the center of an
things artistic
The Rialto and the lambs Club. which
have usually been located close TO each
other, settled for time along the west
side of Madison Square This was in the
early SOS, when the Madison Square
1'heater was In the hoodtidc OF its early
success.
= The Lambs Club then Occupied prem
ises In Twenty-second Street. and be-
tween the. club ard the Madison Square
Theater many an actor prominent in his
profession helped TO wear out the rave
ment
About ten years ago the Rialto began
to move ncrthvard again. The erection
Of the Empire Theater was a nrst step
in that direction. The conversion of the
ol6 Park Thester into the present Her
aid Square Theater emphasizes the
movement
Richard Mansheld's management of
the Garick Theater was another reg to
hold the Rialto in its new position, and
the opening OF the old Roster & Bal
Music Hall in Thirty-fourth Street
clinched matters. The RiaIto then ex-
tended from Thirty-1fth Street south
to Twenty-ninth.
Such theaters as the Broadway, the
Empire and the Knickerbocker natural
ly made many of the actors stroll up
Broadway a bit. but the enterprise of
Oscar Hammerstein. more than any
thing else. resulted in the last change
of the Rialto Hammerstein deserted
Thirty-fourth Street and moved UP to
Long Acre Square. well northward on
the old Albany Post read where 1t
branches OF to the west Of Central
Park Land here was cheap and the
nous Olympia.
But Hammerstein was too far ahead
OF the RiaIto this time, though ii tried
to follow him. and he was unable to
meet his expenses with the Olympia.
He lost the building. though il still
stands as a monument to his enter
prise.
other managers following in the foot
steps Of Hammerstein, built other thea
tiers near Long Acre Square ard on
Forty-second Street, until il became
Obvious that the theatrical center of the
town would be around Long Acre
Square for many years 10 come.
Last week came the climax. The shop
keepers. annoyed by the number OF ac-
tors standing on the sidewalks. COM
planned to the police. and Captain Cot
trell issued an order that no more loafng
IS 10 be permitted along that part OF
Broadway So the actors must now
move.
At present the actors can rest undis-
turbed north OF Forty-second Street. for
the police order only affects the Tender
loin district: but some day. few years
| from now, the shopkeepers OF Long Acre
/ Square will probably ask the police to
make the actors move on again. Then
the Rialto will take another step for
ward-this time probably up TO the Co
lumbus Circle. at F'ifty-ninth Street
The moving OF the Rialto is marked
once more by the moving Of the Lambs
Club. This actors club is now building
| a new clubhouse on West Forty-fourth
Street near Broadway, and by Christ
mas time It Will have deserted its pres
ent clubhouse. on Thirty-sixth Street.