Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-15
Special Correspondence,

n lew 1Ohht ApIll IL ne new
M York Hippodrome the building
VI Of which has cost three and
one-half million dollars is the
sensation Of the present time in New
York and Is likely to become the fore
most topic Of the entire country so far
as amusements are concerned, The
vastness Of this enterprise cannot be
described without the employment Of
terms which would seem absurdly eX-
trayagant to any person who had not
actually seen the Hippodrome, 1t is so
big that the Metropolitan Opera House
In New York, or the Auditorium in
Chicago, or any of the other existing
show places in America might be set
inside It without crowding. The Metro
poitan when full holds something
more than 5000 persons The Hippo
drome seats $500 men and women,
with standing room for thousand
more. 1t stretches from Forty-thlrd
street to Forty fourth street and Is 200
feet in depth. Its architecture Is beau
tiful, and its decorations. although SIM
pie, are very attractive and restful to
the eye. Its stage is enormous, and
like the remainder Of the structure
conveys the idea Of vastness, New
York Is amazed at the realities Of the
Hippodrome During the construction
OF the edifce the public has been kept
constantly informed as TO what was gu
ing on but must have been incredulous
regarding the various published state
ments since the realization Of the aCtu-
al conditions has fairly astounded ev-
eryOne. What is more impressive than
the completion Of this great undertake
ing is the fact that It was invented and
carried through by two young men
under 80 years Of age, Thompson, who
drew the plans, is but 20, and DundN
who was the practical builder, Is but
a few months away from the same age
Not so many years ago neither OF these
young fellows had any money to speak
of. Thompson was an artist and archi-
tect. Dundy was builder, Thompson
evolved a spectacular Illusion which he
called "a Trip to the Moon" and with
Dundy constructed this Illusion and
several instances 1t was the only fea-
ture that made any money II made
enough in course Of time 20 enable the
youthful partners to take up a big
stretch Of land at Coney Island ana
build Luna Park, which Is now per-
manent institution and which has en-
tirely rehabilitated the once notorious
resort for rowdies and Summing par
ties, Luna Park was until this wesl
the greatest amusement institution In
the world. Its successful conduct
would have satisfied the highest am
billions Of most men, but not
these two Perhaps the Hippodrome VIII
satisfy them. Perhaps Mr., Thompson
and Mr. Dundy may be thinking OF
something even greater than this con-
Germ. But at this moment these
youngsters are the actual leaders In the
show business and 1t doesn't look as
though human ingenuity and daring
could possibly conceive any feat eX'
Ceeding the one that has Just been ac-
Compllshed, The entertainment pro-
yided for the Hippodrome is In keep
ing with It's encasement, There are
more than 1000 persons employed In
the performance, together with great
number Of horses. elephants and other
animals. The elephants figure In a
pageant supposed to occur upon the
planet Mars, They come upon the stage
driving great automobiles and convey
ing 10 the scene "A grotesquerle that Is
Ike the vivid figure Of a dream, There
are great numbers of pretty and beau
tifully Costumcd women in this Mars
affair and there are more well trained
eQuestrIennes (who perform a dance
on horseback than were ever brought
tcgother In any two circus shows In
the world, Everything Is upon tre-
Iuendous scale, After the Mars mat
ter there IL a military piece called
Andorsonvile where a big battle Is
fought upon the stage between the civil
war forces OF the north and south, The
climax Of IL all Is reached when troop
Of cavalry dash out upon the stage,
plunge into a wide river Of real water,
swim across, chamber out upon the OPP
posito bank and rush on after the flee-
Ing enemy, II IL n wonderful spectacle
wonderful beyond words. And every
body IL talking about all this and very
much inclined to rub his or her eyes
10 make sure the thing Is real and not
a phantasm Of the night.
-
It was well for Mr., Mansfield that he
postponed his production OF Moleres
THE Misanthrope' until the final week
Of his engagement at the New Amster-
dam theater The public was delight
ed with MIR. Mansfield in his regular
repertoire and filled the large play
house almost to It's capacity at every
performance, The Same public, how
ever win not he very much excited re-
garding "The Misanthrope." 1t Is dry
and dull, stilted and old fashioned, un-
real and un-eYerythlng that makes an
interesting play, MIR Mansfield likes
To appear IN one new role every year
ond the spirit which prompts him Is
most oommendabe II Is well too
that he should seek material OF
high literary and artistic merit,
for Mr. Mansfield is stage eleva-
tor OF capacity as well as purpose
But mere dizziness Is not art
and hamboyant yerbIage is not lItera-