New-York tribune., 1911-11-26
Theatre Plans.


The array Of theatres is startlingly large
Il is probably the biggest number for a
similar period in the history Of the city.
Tbs figures can be increased. too, for in
this analysis Of the building vigor Of the
greater city from August to date the pro-
posed payhouses OF less than $4,000 each
have not been embodied nor have those for
which sites have been filed but no plans
fled. Two Washington Heights sites were
bought last Thursday On them big thea
tres will be erected representing an invest
rnent Of about S1,0O0.0O0 a one story brick
theatre, with a seating capacity of several
thousand is TO be erected at the northeast
rorner OF 1O6th street and Fifth avenue by
lanes A. Earle jr. and James =. Sullivan.
the plans have been drawn and filed by
Hofman Brothers. This theatre is in one
= the most rapidly growing fiathouse sec
bns Of Manhattan. According TO reports
will be devoted TO vaudeville. There are
TWO other playhouses. designed for East
Side districts. where the cost of construc-
don is much below the $4,000 mark which
are not to be in the class of moving picture
heatres. They will be theatres in the true
sense of the word, il is said.
Supposing, however. these two later prove
70 be old buildings remodelled for moving
glcture use, there will still remain the grand
total Of eight legitimate amusement places
ieyoted to the dramatic art, launched in a
period OF about fourteen weeks. Truly, that
is going some" as regards catering to
iheatre patrons.
Some real estate leaders exclaimed not
many weeks ago that the city had too many
modern apartment and fat houses. many
Rore Office skyscrapers than it really need
cd. and also a little too much of several
other classes OF buildings. Not a word was
said about theatres. for the good and suffi-
cient reason that the majority of real es-
tate experts pay practically no attention at
all TO theatre building. excepting, Of course.
the effect of playhouse projects on various
and adjoining districts
They know that 4 playhouse IS failure
when frs doors arc closed for want of pay
ing patronage or when interest on mort
cages on tho property are unpaid. as well
as taxes. water rates and other maiE-
tnsnce charges. They try 10 avoid being
hentifed with theatre building, owing 10
krger risks being involved in such work
than IN other realty enterprises NeVerthe-
ess. they think mat eight more theatres, as
against eleven Office buildings, eleven lofts
three big dwelling houses. tWenty-eight
APARTMENT houses and thirty-one 1athouses,
does not balance, the proportion of amuse-
ment places 10 other new structures is ap-
psrently wrong.
And this number Of modern theatres, after
they had been thinking and dreaming that
The supply Of local theatres was 50 bount-
ful that stars and lesser stage favorites
must he playing nightly 10 many empty
SEATS,
Yet. this list Of proposed theatres clearly
indicates that money and in big amounts
Is 20 be had for charging the principal
amusement centres of the greater city. In
reaching their views the realty experts
must have overlooked some important fac-
tor IN the growth Of amusement centres
What was it2 The number of transcieht
Visitors 10 the city. many Of whom come
70 be amused and therefore are literal
theatre supporters while here, according
to persons engaged I'm putting up theatleS
and IN owing and managing them.
'Dwellers in the city give TO us each
Year many millions for entertaining them
IN our playhouses." they add, but aren u
the out-of-town visitors among our best
Patrons? Certainly they are. and they
number from 10000 TO 10000 daily"
The number Of visitors is increasing
rapidly. much more quickly than the popu-
lation Of the city, Is given as another
reason for the big increase in theatres by
heir promoters. Plays may fail, but some
now mortgages on theatres are seldom can
oelled
Few cities Of 10000 or even twice that
Size can boast Of eleven office buildings OF
tne most modern type, Of eleven loft struet-
Vres, Of twenty-eight big apartment
houses and thirty-one fathouses up-to-
cate in every respect
Old New York is too busy with other
matters 20 notice these building feats X
means that good sized city is 10 be put
I'd Immediately within its borders. Moth
ins unusual about the size; little below
normal If anything.
Where is the topheayiness complained
about? Maybe the apartment houses are
100 high and too broad. and there are too
many empty rooms Is your rent lower
Than II was last year? DO you know OF
kny conservative apartment house owner