Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-14

Playhouse Alone to Be Erected In
 New York Will Cost S2,O00, ,0OO.
 Foyer Will Be One of the Finest Art
 Galleries In America Except the
 MetropoIitan-social Censorship on
 the Boxes.
 With subscription in all of $3,OO0,- 900 from thirty wealthy New York men prominent in finar.,e, patrons of art and stanch supporters of grand op- era at the Metropolitan Opera House; with the purchase of the entire block l front from Sixty-second to Sixty-third street, facing Central Park West; with ! plans ordered for a superb theater to cost $2,000,OO0, containing an immense ! foyer which is to be decorated by fa- nous painters and sculptors of the United States and Europe and be en- riched with treasures, making it the greatest art gallery of New York, with the exception of the Metropolitan Mu- scum of Art; with a committee of wo- men who are leaders in New York so- !, ciety and who are to decide who shall be accorded boxes in this artistic and social rival to the golden horseshoe" of the Metropolitan-with these and other details quietly arranged Ameri- ca's National theater, long dreamed of, has been founded in New York, with Heinrich Conried at its head.
 l The plans and aims and general de tails of the establishment of a theater to do for the drama in the United States what the Theatre Francais has accomplished for France or the Burg theater for Germany were explained recently to reporter for the New York Herald by well known financier whose patronage of artistic efforts in America has caused his name to be widely known. He has been a com manding factor in this the most impor- tant move ever made in the interest of the stage in America.
 "For some years" he said, there has been much and earnest talk about the founding of national theater which ! has been sadly needed, but its worthy promoters were not equipped with financial means toward its accomplish ment. Nor were they-with due apolo- gies to them-working along rational lines from combined educational, artistic and amusement point of view, calculated to win general popular sup port-the support of the entertainment seeking masses as well as the artistical- ly inclined few.
 T and other men blessed with means and an inclination to bring about a dramatic 'consummation devoutly to be wished met Heinrich Conried and talk ed it over with him. We talked it over with him confidently because we had observed his work on the Irving Place theater stage and in the Metro politan Opera House. Perhaps every body does not know it, but after he had been leading man and star up- on the local German stage-the old Thalla theater in this city (New York -and started managerial efforts on hls own account he faced difficulties and won success against obstacles that were heartbreaking. We. noticed all this. and when he was transplanted to the Metropolitan Opera House we saw him rise to his greater opportunities. All this showed us that the artistic bent, the business acumen and broad views of the man were those qualities which were want cd to found a national theater which we knew he had had at heart this long time.
 ITO make long story short, num- Der of gentlemen were approached, and 1t was at once found that they were heartily interested in the project need not mention them all, but may say that among them were Clarence Mackay, Henry Morgenthau, James Speyer, James Stillman, Daniel Gug- genhelm and many others.
 ''The plan was that thirty gentlemen should subscribe $100.000 each, and for their investment they should have as collateral. as it were, site to be pur- chased for about $1,0000O0 and the theater to cost S2,000O00 more. The thirty were readily found. Tn fact, we can make it forty if we choose. The block from Sixty-second to Sixty third street, Central Park West, was purchased, and plans will be given out shortly for the finest theater fin Ameri- ca. It will be begun next spring and will take over a year to complete. It will be large. but only large enough to make 1t best adapted to dramatic performances and opera comique. The prices, by the way. will be from 25 cents to @. The stage will be up to date. and the interior decorations will be superb. but artistic.
 ~The foyer will be one of the finest art galleries In America, barring the Metropolitan museum. Famous sculp- tors and painters of this country and Europe will provide mural and other decorations. and for these and art ob- jects for the foyer s2Jo.ooo will be ex- pended.
 There will be thirty boxes. and in order to insure that the box shall be so- ciaIIy select a committee of women prominent In New York society will pass upon the names of the applicants for a box in permanency. which will cost s1O0.OOO. As in the Metropolitan. a box holder will own a share in the