New-York tribune., 1912-01-07

Nearly Every Old Amusement Centre Is Benu EnIarued and
Others Are To Be Formed Uptown and Downtown
MARKET SHOWS STRENGTH IN FIRST WEEK OF NEW YEAR

Many hundred thousands were set aside
last year for the enlargement of the old
theatre zones and also for the creation OF
other similar centres in this city.
And IL was in the last month Of the old
year, just when the majority OF persons
interested in realty affairs were positive
that no other amusement projects would he
launched, that the Palace Realty Amuse-
ment Company, OF which Martin Beck is
president, made public its plans. 1t would
put up. it said. at 47th street and Broad
way, a spacious theatre with a seating
capacity of about two thousand 1t added
that II had leased the site to be improved,
which is Nos. 1864 and 1866 Broadway and
Nos. 15S to 10 West 47th street, for one
hundred years at an annual rental of about
$4,000
The work Of tearing down the old three
and four story buildings on the site was
begun last week. Consequently, about a
week elapsed from the day the plans were
announced to the time Of beginning the
work of clearing the plot. Usually the
promoters of playhouse project are occu-
pied long time in perfecting their designs.
The preliminary work often takes months
TO get in satisfactory form.
The Palace Realty Amusement Company
has therefore made an enviable record for
dispatch in planning and putting into effect
Job requiring a large initial outlay of
cash and some hundred thousands before
the playhouse is opened.
on the same day that the work of razng
the old buildings on the plot at 47th street
and Broadway was begun, II was learned
that the theatre TO be erected by the
Minsker Realty Company on a plot. 1OOx165
feet at the southwest corner of Houston
and Chrystie streets. will be eight stories
1t was also reported that it had been leased
from the plans TO Jewish theatrical syn
dicate for a term Of twenty-one years.
The theatre will be erected from plans by
Thomas w. Lamb, at a cost OF S250.O00 II
will have a seating capacity of about 2O5O,
and the roof garden Will have seats for
about fifteen hundred persons.
The old year was especially noted for
the lavish sums arranged to be invested
in new theatres. II does not seem likely
that the new year will duplicate that
record. but II will be much occupied in
building the houses, for which plots were
bought or leased and designs drawn last
year
Gentle reminders of that fact were the
reports last week about the Beck and
Minsker projects.
The assertion that the city has too many
theatres is frequently heard in realty and
other circles If it has more amusement
centres than it needs. how can it maintain
TIE fifteen or more theatres designed in
1911 which are yet to be built.
Patrons of Theatres.
hro,.or 90 ,,,,,,,, ,.o,-. ,y-orior,ao 4,
the realty field was asked not long ago a
somewhat similar question. He said: "A
modern theatre can be proitably built
every time three big transient hotels are
erected. Visitors to the city are the best
patrons Of It's theatre and hotel centres
Some people say there are at least two
hundred thousand visitors in New York
every day Of the winter season; others
many more than that
1T Is a certainty that more than 90 per
cent of them see one or more shows before
they set foot for home Many come TO the
city just TO witness the latest play. The
number of daily visitors this year is much
more than II was last year, and is getting
bigger every month. New York is still
growing at a most lively rate and, what
with the increase OF population and Wis
have TO be enlarged on q large scale every
year"
A story is told in realty circles about a
prominent owner who had spent many
years travelling in this country. He stood
several nights at 42d street and Broadway
looking at the passers-by after the the
atrs crowds were out"
Whom did you recognize among the
promenaders?" he was asked,
The first night l saw many persons
whose homes are in the Middle West the
second night some well known persons of
ST. Louis, Baltimore, Milwaukee and of
many other cities miles from New York
But" exclaimed the inquirer, where
was old New York in the throngs?'
Just glimpses Of it in the crowds" he
replied
A three story brick and stone theatre
IS 10 be built at No. 162 East s6th street
on a plot 27.1ox1022x irregular, by the
Eighty-sixth Street Theatre Company
from plans by Thomas w. Lamb. 1t will
cost 10000
Other theatres planned last year are as
follows:
height Location. Cost.
stories Delaney and Eldridge sts.. $50, ,OOC
Sf0Tips-l1Gth 81 an