The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-11-22
A NATIONAL THEATER.
Details of One to Be Founded by
Social Leaders.

Foyer WAI1 BE One OF the ERNEST ARR
Galleries In America Except the
MetrOpOIitan-SOcial Censorship ON
the Boxes.
With subscription in all Of $3,000,-
900 from thirty wealthy New York
men prominent in finance, patrons of
art and stanch supporters of grand OPP
era at the Metropolitan Opera House;
with the purchase of the entire block
front from SiXty-second to SiXty-third
street, facing Central Park West; with
plans ordered for a superb theater to
cost 100000, containing an immense
foyer which Is to be decorated by ia
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-
cas- National theater, long dreamed of,
has been founded in New York, with
Heinrich Conried at It's head.
The plans and aims and general de-
tails of the establishment Of theater
to do for the drama in the United
States what the Theatre Francois has
accomplished for France or the Burg
theater for Germany were explained
recently to a reporter for the New
York Herald by q we'll known financier
whose patronage of artistic efforts in
America has caused his name to be
widely known. He has been a COM
handing 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 a 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 apollo
gies to them-working along rational
lines from a combined educational,
artistic and amusement point Of view,
calculated to win general popular sup
port-the support of the entertainment
n a G l.
ly inclined few.
81 and other men blessed with means
and an inclination to bring about
dramatic 'consummation devoutly to be
wished met Heinrich Conried and talk
ed it over with him. We talked 1T
over with him confidently because we
had observed his work on the Irving
Place theater stage and in the Metro
epolitan Opera House. Perhaps every
body does not know it, but after ne
had been a leading man and star up
on the local German stage-the old
Thalia theater in this city New YORK;
and started managerial efforts on his
own account he faced difficulties and
won success against obstacles that
were heartbreaking.
1--WE noticed all this, and when he
was transplanted to the metropolitan
Opera House we saw him rise to MS
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
ed to found a national theater which
we knew he had had at heart this long
time.
''To make a long story short, num-
her of gentlemen were approached, and
II was at once found that they were
heartily interested in the project. l
need not mention them all, but may
say that among them were Clarence
Mackay, Henry Morgenthau, james
Speyer, James Stillman, Daniel Gug-
genheim and many others.
1.-THE plan was that thirty gentlemen
should subscribe 100000 each, and for
their investment they should have as
collateral, as it were, site to be pur-
chased for about $1,O00000 and the
theater to cost 100000 more. The
thirty were readily found. In 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 in Amerl-
ca It will be begun next spring and
will take over a year to complete. IL
will be large, but only large enough
TO make it best adapted to dramatic
performances and opera comique. The
prices, by the way, will be from 70
cents to 50. The stage will be up to
date and the interior decorations will
be superb, but artistic.
saThe foyer will be one Of the nnest