New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-28
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.
NezU M0ntauk Theatre Progressing
Some Early Performances.
At About

Work OF the new Montauk Theatre. az Livingston
Ct and Hanover Place. has progressed 10 such eI'
thai there now seems 10 De no doubt that II
viii be ready for opening y the -all TIE coTlpie-
ton OF the playhouse and the passing away OF the
old Montauk IN Fulton-st. near Flatbush-ave--for
be down make way for the extension
OF F1atbrsh-aye.-Stu mark another epoch IN the
history Of The drama in Brooklyn Although TIE
old habit Of going the bridge for theatrical
entertainment stiu IS strong, yet the Montauk The
atre has found the production OF first class pleys
profitable. Il Is predicted that, with the
isrge-nent OF The downtown centre through the ex-
tension Of F1atbUsh-ave- and the increase II I'm
portance Of that taoroughfare above Fultoa-st.,
more theatres viii be built and q Brooklyn theat-
ricaI centre viii be developed. Brooklyns prox-
unity 10 Hew-York has always had the effect OF
retardirg the growth Of the drama here. Gabriel
Harrison writing = the early SIS, said With
population q over 651911. and ranking numbers
as the third city II the Union. there but three
places Of amusement that can be looked upon as
Die architectural proportions or class OF
l1--seiI1eT4is t1Enlsned these are the Brooklyn
bT--h-s1 Theatre the drst named being only
TT F4lk and Brooklyn thea1rez are invariably
S5osea curing the summer. and yet thousands OF
OF amusement in New-York.'~ With changed condi-
no2S re stete-eH+ is trus today. large part Of
Ihe patronage. OF tie roof gardens IN Manhattan
s---ce 1.g. ms sac o. the pr-dge For some Tea-
So So Q. oLreE 1Tst class roof garden in Brooklyn
Il@s never seemed - pay Quick transportation
tertairent ,Eere vii Droba5v KEEP ro6F esr5sns
put q Brooklyn for some time.
Probably tie first dramatic performance in
Brooklyn vas given by the British soldiers en-
carnped on Long Island. in August. us. The play
was farce in two acts. entitled The Battle Of
Brooklyn and i supposed TO have been written by
General John BGrgoyne then n command OF the
British forces on Long Island. The scene Of this
production has generally been given as the stone
building on the north side Of old road" fFul-
ton-st), near what IS now Front-st L had been
known as the Corporation Building, because il was
owned by the City OF New-York but the British
renamed It The Kings Head Here all sorts OF
entertainments were given by The British soldiers
reprint Of the book OF the play is in possession Of
the Long Island Historical Society. What Is said
TO be an original copy IS fled away In the archives
Of the Congressional Library. There IS now 10
record o. Who took the various parts the chief OF
which were: Washington, Putnam Sullivan and
Sterling. rebel chiefs" The play which is fun OF
tun. represents the American cause in = 1t1dcro,,s
Light and winds up with q stirring appeal 10 the
Americans n rebellion against his ma fesr,, rbe-a
: no record OF any other dramatic performance in
brooklyn uhul 1a-o. when g company OF gentle
men" from New-York gave two small sats in
Green's Military Garden, on the site now occupied
by the Court House and the Hall Of Records In
tne next ten years there record Of the production
OF no play IN Brooklyn but II 1s20 there was
performance. which must have aroused great in
terest IN those days Il was announced in the fol-
lowing language:
AT M2TTIsons Hotei-The ladies and gentlemen
formed that Messrs Kilner ana spilIe- ~ ,S TX IL
414tatEeJr al the suggestion o.
the village, intend doing themselves the bo-O- -
present Them on Friday evening January Il jssS
W.T. & move! entertainment entitled. ..Tta sc+o-ss
ways and Means Doors omen :
the performance 70 commence al half-oast ~
Eittance. one dollar. ~
This affair took place at the tavern Of Job, y
Morrison. al Columbia and Cranberry SITS
II was not until $50 that dramatic perfoyn,a,os.
with stage. scenery and decorations were 49,
in Brooklyn for a number OF successive rtgt.
They were given by The Chatham, T7ear-s c..
pany O. Comedians" OF New-York at Mrs Cba.
tiers Hall and Exchange Coffee House. IN Front
81 The first building put up in BROOKLYN ,or
theatrical purposes was built by Charles " San
fcro. the manager and owner oof Two Usvho1,ses -
NeT-foTk Il was known the Amphithes-ra s7a
was on the east side OF Fulton-st between Mas
sau-st- and Concord-st- Il was opened On Julv =
-s-e. and ran for month with circus acts sand
WICKED IL with meiodrarna. In September The
place was reopened the Brooklyn Theatre b-lt
a. incident soon after killed the drama IN BrooJxivn
tof many years company advertised E per-
forInanee large audience paid money at the door
1no waited an hour for the curtain 10 20 IN Then
LelLner treasurer 4aor actors could be found 77ba
1913 esAILec 70 pun the building down IN
ssSS sno &C considerable damage before the CO..
$500 80 STOP them. IN ls4s George Waldo T{u
SI ~ neg en o!d building IN the Military Gar
AALp Al attractVe theatre where perforrraTces
1e gwen tor several years The FrooL-i,-- So
800 brtck building. 81 Fulton and 0Ts-ses
80 = -oos i1sc TIE honor Of having some ~ IT,
1s<-oy, - srigsS q the day including the eidsr
S~sS-S James Z AuIdock and John I3rongbsT1