New-York tribune., 1905-04-16
AMERICAN INVASION.
The Shuberts Are Building a
Theatre in London.

The waldorf Theatre. which is about TO be
opened in London under the direction OF my brother
and myself said Samuel S. ShubeTt yesterday
.gs the first playhouse to be built In England on
what may be called the strictly American plan For
centuries English playhouses have been constructed
with what we in America apt TO consider
curious division OF seats The portion or the or
chestra floor situated under the balcony has been
known as the pit, and, excepting only the gallery
has been the cheapest portion Of the house. me
accommodations in the pit have been either wooden
benches or cheap chairs. and the decorations have
been in marked contrast with the handsome FUR
nshings OF that part of the theatre divided from
the Dit only by a rail. In the same manner the
,pstairs seats have been much more expensive than
half Of those downstairs and almost as expensive
as the stalls.
.'Of course. there is a great deal 10 be said in
favor OF this arrangement, else it would not nave
endured long. Almost any regular theatregoer
Will tell you thai next to the seats in the hrst ten
rows Of the orchestra those in the first five rows
Of the balcony are the best in the house They are
eoually near the stage and the person sitting in
them is not equally hampered in seeing and ne
hears much better The custom of having what is
known as early doors-a door opened half an hour
earlier than the others. in order that persons who
pay more may get chance at the unreserYed seats
really makes a further division Of the pit The
disadvantages Of the scheme are chiefly dlsadNAu-
tages 10 the better class OF theatregoers
IN the first place the gentleman or gentleWomah
who sits in the last row of the orchestra stalls has
behind him the poorest class OF LohdOlSIs men H
TOO the artistic soul Of this person Is likely 10 De
shocked bv the sudden degeneration in the decoIt
rions of the theatre. His eye passes along a val
covered with tapestries and rich pushes until sue
denly il strikes bare plaster and painted boards.
Neither Of these things is pleasant Ihey colsluIe
the chief objection to the pit. ,,.
The objection, from the managers STANDPOINT
is that one of the most commooous portions OF the
( house is disposed of at low prices usually two
sniIlings and siXpence. Thus, the manager VINO
sells out the pit may only quarter OF WAT
Il would bring under ordinary circumstances ne
arranRement also fills the body OF the house with
that portion Of the audience who are least easily
! -I5ecaJIse Of these reasons am inclined 10 the
/ American method Of building theatre as prefer
/ able 10 that which has long been IN vogue ~
England; first. because o. the exceeding %
1 the house, which cannot be marred by the diner
pnfiations mentioned and second. because OF ne
that the performances We intend gVlnS ~ M W.
Waldorf are we hope. OF a nature 10 attract equaE
: as many of the better class Of persons as any
other lower fioor Will seat Certainly we shali wan
both the stalls and the pit TO hold the knG OF auu-
ence that would go 70 hear a Mime. DuSe 81 q
1 grand opera company. including CalVe AHce Nell-
I'VE intend to make one two other interesting
innovations IN the conduct of the Waldorf lhea "
! For A great many years in London, ana espeCltIlH
! IN Paris the fees Of attendants at theatres nave
aruoluted 10 almost much as the price or adnlls
sion Programmes sold in England at SIX
pence each q ridiculous figure, and ushers; matro4ls
and Others are tipped literally We shall maze II
an Ironcad rule that attendants at the w aIuOIl
Theatre will receive any tip whatsoever ana tlat
,7rogranlmes will be distributed free, as IN tnls
1 COUNTRY We shall also do as many things Ior lhe
comfort OF our patrons done in our theatres
| in New-Yorlz Water will be passed between me
/ acts and there will be all sorts OF CONF Die
| loungfng and good smoking rooms