New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-02
THE OLD UNION SQUARE
Was First a Variety Theatre,
Later Housed Well Known
PLAYS and PLAYERS.

tomorrow afternoon by b. F. Keith Of the
old Union Square Theatre on a first class
basis, the memory of those theatregoers
who have such a thing as memory
awakes to recall days not so long ago when
there was not such a place on the face OF
the earth as the New York that we know
to-day and when the New York that did
exist then had for it's theatre centre the
tree-lined square that has never yet grown
up. 1t was forty and half years ago that
the Union Square Theatre was built. and
1t was about then that the city began TO
gather its strength for the tremendous squirt
1t has made toward Spuyten Duyvil, squirt
which carried its attention away from the
districts that were new then and left them
TO grow old in their immaturity the way
persons sometimes do.
In opening the sociable little theatre as
Nome for high class vaudeville Mr.. Keith
Is going back to first principles, for II was
as a first class variety (as vaudeville used TO
be called that Sheridan Shook built a
theatre on the site of the old Union Palace
Hotel, and opened ii on the night Of Sep
TENDER H. 1871, under the name Of the
Union Square Treatre. On the first pro-
gramme appeared the names of Felix
Rogers, george H. OOtS, lIlHHIo w IIi4'O4O'
Belle Hewitt. Marie Bonfanti, David Bra
ham Cmusical directory, Annie Adams
american debut, Fred Foster (English
comic singer, the Mathews family Of gym
nasts and NJ. Grossi and an excellent corps
de ballet. The Martinetti-Ravel Troupe in
the pantomime "Pat-a-Cake, Bakers Man,
Lew Rather, Ashcroft and Morton James
Wambold, Madelaine Hardy, JEFF de An
the variety business also appeared during
the first season. A melange called Ulysses,
or the Return of L. S. g. was among the
first productions. Other events that were
considered noteworthy at the time were
the first appearance at this theatre of Har-
rigan and Hart on November 20, 1871, that
of Gus Williams on November q. and the
first American appearance of the celebrated
Vokes Family on April IS, 1872.
At the end of the first season Robert
Butler, who had managed the house since
its opening. left. and Sheridan Shook en-
gagged A. NJ. Palmer as manager The
theatre had failed as a variety. and II was
decided to make 1t a first class home Of
the drama" The first attraction under the
new policy was the Alice oates Burlesque
Company, which began summer season on
June 3, In play called Fortune and His
Gifted Servants. This company included
several names known to the stage to-day.
II was composed OF Nellie Allen, w II.
Crane Harry Allen. Harry Pratt, c. II. I
Drew, A. w. Marlin, Mrs. James A. alice
Oates and Frank Howson (musical direc-
tori
New York seemed in a better way TO
supper: theatricals in summer then than
II does to-day. for without relying on the
avalanche of visitors that characterize the
hot season here now. the city kept this
theatre open until August, when It closed
for repairs.
II was In September Of its second year
that the Union Square began the career OF
dramatic offerings for which It is best re-
merncered to-day. The second season
opened with Sardou's Andrea" called here
agnes" In the cast were Agnes Ethel.
for whom the play was adapted; Jennie
Lee. r. f. Mackay, Emily Mestayer, Ed
Lamb. Welsh Edwards, and w. S. Quigley.
Agnes was followed by such plays as
London Assurance" The School for
Scandal" Money" "a Son Of the SOIL"
"Orange Blossoms" "Atherly Court" by
John Brougham; lone Hundred Years Old"
"A Business Woman" Cousin Jack"
"Frou Frou," the last OF which was offered
on April IA, 1873. with Agnes Ethel as Gill
berte. Fanny Davenport played Gilberte
on May IS at benefit performance Of
"Frou Frou."
Kate Claxton's first appearance at the
Union Square was In June of the same year
as Georgette in Fernando" In this play
Agnes Ethel played the title role, and Mrs.
e. I. Davenport played the Countess Clo-
tide. Following Fernando" came pro-
duction of Caste" In which j. II. Stod
dart was the Eccles.
A second summer season was inaugural
Cd on June Is, with Charlotte Thompson IS
Jane in "Jane Eyre"
A name that will ring familiar TO theatre |
goers Of a couple of decades ago is that OF
Rose Eytinge. In the fall Of 1873, when tho |
Union Square opened with a play called
The Geneva Cross" Rose Eytinge APP
peared as Gabrielle. Charles Thorne and
Stuart Robson, both of whom were prime |
favorites. were also in the cast
The next play to be given on the stage |
that was already beginning to win name |
for itself was ''The Wicked World" in |
which Clara Morris and Mckee Rankin |
made their first appearance there. Such |
plays as Led Astray'' (Which Dion Bouci- |
cault had adapted from La Tentation') |
Camille" sto, followed.
The stock company which presented the |
offerings of the Union Square Theatre dur
ing the season Of lS74-'75 was composed OF |
players, every one Of whom either already |
I'D won or later acquired reputation |
which ranked him. or her, among the lead
ing players Of the American stage. There |
were Clara Morris. Rose Eytinge, Mckee
Rankin. Charlotte Thompson. Charles |
Thorne. Kate Claxton. Stuart Robson, Maud |
Granger. Claude Burroughs and f. f. Mac
kay. One Of the FIRST plays of tho season
presented by this company. was THE Two |
Orphans" Loves Sacrifice" followed, in |
which Kitty Blanchard made her first ap-
psarance as guest player" at the Union |
Square.
In the preliminary season of ls7s Eben
P1ympton's name appears. Mr.. Plympton's
latest appearance In New York was in The |
part of Count Anteoni in THE Garden OF |
Allah" The regular season OF 1875 began
with the presentation of Rose Michel"
The season went on with practically the
same company as II had during the year be-
fore. and several exceptionally long runs
WerA achieyed. -------~---------