Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-10
In Sight for a National
Theatre in New York.
Three Millions Subscribed for
Erection Of Combined
Theatre and AIT MuseuH.--To Be One Of
Worlds Finest Of Its Kind.

New York, Nov. 9.-With Subscrip-
ton in all of $4,000, 600 from 30 wealthy
New York men, prominent in hnance'
patrons of art, and stanch supporters
of grand opera at the Metropolitan
with the purchase of the entire block
front from gid to 63d street, racing
Central park west; with plans ordered
for a superb theatre to cost $z'ooo.ooo
containing an immense foyer enriched
| with treasures, making it the grandest
art gallery of New York with the eX-
ception of the Metropolitan Museum of
Art: with a committee OF women who
are leaders in New York society and
who are to decide who shall be accord
ed boxes in this artistic and social
rival to the Golden Horse Shoe" of
the Metropolitan; with these and other
details quietly arranged. Americas ma
tionaI theatre, long dreamed Of, has
been founded in New York, with Helm
rich Conried at it's head.
The plans, aims and general details
of the establishment of theatre to
do for the drama in this country what
the Theatre Franchise has accom-
plished for France. or the Burg theatre
for Germany, were explained, yester-
day, by d well-known financier, whose
patronage of artistic efforts in America
has caused his name to be widely
known. He said:
For some years there has been much
and earnest talk about the founding of
a national theatre, which has been sad
ly needed, but its worthy promoters
were not equipped with financial means
toward its accomplishment. L and
other men, blessed with means and an
inclination to bring about a dramatic
contamination devoutly to be wished,
met Heinrich Conried and talked it
over with him.
ITO make long story short, num-
Der of gentlemen were approached and
it was at once found that they were
heartily interested in the project.
need not mention them but may say
that among them We're Clarence Mac
kay. Henry Mergenthal, James Speyer
James Stillman, Daniel Guggenheim
and many others.
The plan was that 80 gentlemen
should subscribe 100000 each and for
their investment they should have as
collateral, as it We're, site to be pur-
chased for about 100000 and the
theatre to cost 100000. The 30 We're
readily found. The theatre will be be-
gun next spring and will take over a
year to complete. No one will be per-
mitted to own a box unless accepted by
the committee"
The company will be the best that
unlimited money can command The
theatre will be an authority in its act
ing..r-It willsaim at purity In English
pronuncia tion, passed upon, where
there is difference of opinion. by a COM
mittee from Yale, Harvard, Columbia
and Princeton. A committee Of artists
will be consulted as to the scenery and
costumes.
The season will be 30 weeks. There
will not be any long runs. Ten plays
will be produced the first year; 10 each
year following. And on two nights
| each week there will be opera comique
not comic opera as Broadway unhap-
PLY knows it, but genuine delightful
opera cOnique with artists drawn from,
| Paris, Berlin, Vienna and other foreign
cities. as well as home singers and a
| contingent from the Metropolitan OPP
era house.