The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-15
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according to pattern; the strenuous
public, that feeds on problem plays;
the tired business man calling for
something to make him laugh, and
those who dote on melodrama. So,
many Of the theatres have come to
be associated with a particular kind
Of play, and the public goes there
knowing what to expect and rebelling
II 1t gets anything else. There is the
Manhattan, that has come to be look
ed upon as the theatre of the con-
sentative, artistic element of the
theatregoing; the Empire, regarded as
a producing house; Days as a stage
for musical plays, and so on, each fill
ing a particular niche.
To make money. theatre must
bring in $4,000 or $4,000 week. A
good playing production makes $780,
900, sometimes $1,000, and great
hit brings to the management $4,000
week in the height of the season.
New York managers are tending
more and more to build smaller the
aires. The smaller theatres, in fact,
are declared to be better paying in
vestments. The New Amsterdam has
always been regarded somewhat in the
light of failure because of its great
seating capacity. There are few at
fractions that can ever fill the house,
Richard Mansfield the only one, per-
haps. 1t has been found that pro-
duction shows up much better In
smaller house. unless the attraction
10 some extensive extravaganza with
big scenic effects.
With so many new enterprises plan
ned for this season and the extent the
theatrical world is on tiptoes of ex-
element. Theatre building has been
almost in statu quo since the Chicago
fire, the law complicating building
somewhat with its new regulations.
and requiring greater space for a
theatre, so as to include surrounding
alleys. But the managers have gath
cred courage at last, and to meet new
demands are putting up new build
ings. The Aston is the first of the
new buildings to open its doors, and
for that reason and others caused no
slight ripple Of interest and excite
ment when it threw wide its portals
Friday night.
The Aston theatre, in it's exterior ar
chitecture, harmonizes with Its neigh
Dor, the Hotel Aston. as 1t does in
name, and is pleasing ornament to
the corner of Forty-fffth street and
Broadway. The interior of the build
ing. in architectural design and in it's
decorative scheme. is Grecian. and
everything tends toward harmony and
simplicity. There is no sign any,
where Of gaudiness nor glitter nor
any intricacy of design. The proscen-
ium arch and the boxes are of stone,
simply carved and the color scheme
of the furnishings and walls is a red
dish brown and subdued green: the
curtain. which has heavy Greek de-
sign. harmonizing, and the tapestry Of
the chairs and the carpets of the aisle
center of the theatre there is beau
tiful chandelier of Grecian design,
weighing some three tons and holding
about hundred lights. There are
sixteen boxes, following the usual ar
rangement, and the house has in all
a seating capacity Of $500. 1t repre-
sents for the building alone an ex-
penditure of 100000. and with the
cost Of the land and the total expendi-
ture, stands for the sum of round
million to the builders.
The other new Manhattan theatre
soon to open is to be known as the
Lincoln Square theatre and Is higher
up than any Of the other play houses
have yet gone except the Harlem ven-
lures. 1t is at Sixty-sixth street, with
an entrance through the Broadway
Arcade. The theatre is at present in
chaotic state Of plaster and scaffold-
ing. but the builders promise 1t for
the first of October and the announce
ments for that date are going forth.