The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-06
'ut up the big auditorium which stands
o-day directly in the rear Of the old tav-

put, up the big auditorium which stands
to-day directly in the rear OF the old tav-
ern.
They had vaudeville at the Garden long
and on the stage where the women orchee-
ira holds forth nightly many performers
who are now topliners got their start. In
the old safe in the off ce there is a little
well worn book in which Mr.. Kramer
entered their names and what he had
agreed to pay them. This little book
runs back to the opening Of the Garden
sions Of the sons that have succeeded him
AL n Bill, as they are known. They'll
let you peek into the book. but as for let
ting you look over the list Of names and
the weekly stipends as entered by their
father, that would be impossible.
You see it wouldn't be right to a lot
OF these people that are way up in the
theatrical world now explained Al as
he handled the little thumbworn book.
In fact We promised some OF them we
never would let it be known what they
started at.
There's Emma Carus, for instance.
You'll find her name here in the beginners
class. but nv. wouldn't she have a fit II
she saw 1t published what father paid her!
He used to hire all these folks himself and
when it came to picking live ones there
wasn't a better man than he.
There's Joe Welsh and Harry Won Til
ger and Cole and johnson and Al Reeves
oh, l could go on and mention a host OF
'em that we're nobodies when their names
went into this little book It's been q
great training school for the talent and in
fifty years there never was a complaint
made OF the character OF any act per-
formed.
My father opened il ns a place where n
man could bring his family. a place where
you could sit and hear good music and see
nothing Objectionable. and he never had
anybody say that he hadn't found it that
kind OF a place"
There was a time IN the history OF the
Garden when it took. on a martial mir.
That was in the early DAYS of the civil war.
In those DAYS it was the great German
resort OF the town. II was Mr.. kramer's
idea that the Germans should turn to and
help tho Union and no turned the place
into n great recruiting station for the
German re eiments. Everything was done
there TO stimulate tho loyalty Of the Ger
mans to their adopted country, md there
wore nightly calls for volunteers.
Charlie Morlath. who still gees aronnd
the tables at tho Garden seeing that
things run smoothly, welcomed the crowds
that dropped in that first night hfty,one
wears ago to see what kind ri place
Kramer had made out Of the remnants
OF the old tavern and coal ward.
There used IN no crowds or the Bowery
in those DAYS. " said Morlath the other day.
Not the kind Of people You zee now. but
more like the folks IN broadway uptown.
only they didn't hit II up as much.
They didn't fly around in taSicabs.
to he sure. and there wasn't 40 much
champagne drunk or Holsters eaten az
YOU see no.. They liked good substan-
tial things to eat. and they came here TO
get them.
when they put on German opera in
the old theatre next door they'd come in
between the acts to get a bite and their
carriages would be lined up in front.
You don't see many carriages now. but a
good many OF the old Germans drop in at
table and keep the birthday, and hen we
always have the sightseen that think
they re seeing the slums when they get
down here on the Bowery now"
or the original employees there's old
Pop Kelly, the Waterman. who locked up
the Garden the first night after the last
folks had gone and In doing the same
thing to-day.
One Of the old Bowery boys. the real