The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-18
ASTOU THEATRE NOT OPENED.
,TDJENCE AND PLAYERS READY,
but No LICENSE.

Swau-BulIders say they Got It Fixed
in Time TERRY Society Had . Kick.
Tho new Astor Theatre. at Forty-hfth
.,rae, and Broadway, did not open last
nicht a scheduled. The house was thrown
non. lots Of folks trooped in and flled
overv seat and box. but the curtain didn't
ro nm on the production OF "A dsumm
Wichita Dream" in which Miss Annie
prssell. long a ~favorite with New York
,neatregoers. was to be- seen as Puck, .
,Ms entirely different from those she has
been appearing in for years.
The audienc that began fling into the
theatre as early as 74S O'Clock. sat until
as O'Clock wondering what was causing
the delay. 1t was a well behaved audience
~, became quite restless and showed dis
spproval at the wait by stamping on the
eoor and clapping hands as IL to encourage
,he actors to start in with the show.
A. twelve minutes before Q o'clock Alfred
Rrad,ev. the general representative for
w.Oenhals 4 Kemper, the theatrical man.
ayers who had leased the house and who
were making the S~hakespearian produc-
,ion. came before the footlights and said:
.Ir is with great regret that We must
notify YOU that there will be no perform
ance here tonight. There has been som
dimculty in arranging for a license. We
understand that the Fire Commissioners,
or a representative Of his. objected TO the
",r ~ a NM, in the rear Of the stage
.sS 80 torca Yer into the tank on the
!, the :, ding. This matter was
rsc,;sed and a representative OF the Fire
nooortment was 70 have been on hand at
n'olock his afternoon to give his final
arnroval SO that the Police Department
~r,,d 20 ahead and issue the license. We
Love waited patiently for this representa-
tive of the Fire Department. but he has not
shown nm. Therefore we have no permit
snd oarnot omen.
AN This ia in nowise the fault OF Messrs.
vasanbals A Kemper, the lessees Of this
,taa,re We were assured by the owners
nd builders OF this theatre that everything
wss in satisfactory condition. or other
,issws would not have opened these doors.
Toarno, saw when the theatre will be open
bu, assure YOU that a. soon as matters
con be satisfactorily adjusted an announce
mert Of our opening will be made In the
ruhlic prints. l ask you to please pass
out and ACCEPT return checks at the door.
Tbose holding coupons will please retain
them and they will be good for the same
Seats ON the opening night when It comes.
AS the house was sold out weeks ago
We are therefore not quite prepared to
refund the money that would be required
for all the seats in the house tonight. How
ever at the box Office here tomorrow all
commons or all return checks viii be cashed
II the holders 90 desire"
The audiences died out OF the house good
nah,redlv and lauRhingly and accepted the
return cbecks. Some IoiteTed about the
fover Of the theatre for q time, but this crowd
was made M of univ a few Of the curious.
Nearly every 6rst niGhter OF prominence
was ON hand at the time that Mr.. Bradley
nada his announcement Some OF those
who had nartiee In the house were Irving
Brokaw Hugo Barring, Perry Belmont,
uorrv Claws Mr.. and Mrs. c. Faruuhar,
DR. II +. Bosworth. Diamond Jim Brady
= ". Bloomin9dale, Charles r. Flint, DR..
j II. Gibbons. Charles II. Eaton, Judge
+ H. Gary. the Rev. DIR. Heber Newton,
Charles + Prntt. A. W.. Francis, De Lanoey
NicolI Bravton Iyesapd II. K. Pomeroy.
Perhaps the maddeet man in New York
vi DnLN6 YIN AAA AA@
was Never Bimberg, who Ia the moving
sniri, Of the Long Acre Square Theatre
Comnanv. which erected the p~layhouee.
Il had this theatre ready TO turn over 70
the lessees. WaReuhaIs & Bemper,' said
Mr.. Bimberg. .on last Friday. Every viola
lion tha, had been pointed out and every
ohiac,ion 6Ied against M had been met
and reported satisfactory. 1t was neces-
sarv N cot the annroval OF the Fire Depart
ment before we could take our lioense To
the police Commisaiouer and ret the FINAL
permission 70 omen. On Saturday at noon
battalion Chief william T, Begin OF tn,
Fira BEREAVEMENT. who has the supervision
of the theatres, came to me and stated thai
Che pump we have in the rear OF the theatre
was Inadequate. This pump was Of seventy
gallons CAPACITY and the same as those in,
stalled in nearly every theatre In New
York. The same kind of a pump IL work
inx in the Colonial. Yorkville and Yves
End theatres. which I built. The pumI
Ia used 10 force water up into the tank OF
the roof over the sta9e.