Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-06-08

After that they began to multiply in
all the cities and big towns of the
country"
There is an early theatrical his
tory of Perth Amboy, however,
which may be of interest to the
reader. Many can remember the
old city hall, in city hall square,
where stock companies of more or
less ability played all the popular
productions in one night stands; or,
perhaps, you have more vivid recol-
lections of the thrilling scenes in
the blood curdling plays in the old
music hall, which existed between
King and High streets some ten
years ago, and was considered con-
siderable of an advancement over
the crowded quarters at city hall.
All the well known character actors
of the day played stellar roles on
the boards at Music hall, as many
will yet recall. The hall al later
purchased by c. G. SibIey and alter
ed into a factory building.
We are now down to the present
day, and Wilder hall. 1t seems but
yesterday that crowds stormed this
amusement place and witnessed a
repertoire of shows which will live
as long as memory. Columbia hall
In State street, now Kish's hall, was
in existence at that time, but cater
ed to vaudeville and medicine shows
which lured many to the perform
ances. At about this time the Lyce-
UNI roller skating rink was erected
in New Brunswick avenue, but later
converted into a show house because
OF lack OF interest in the great in
door sport. 1t was taken i've by
Sachs and Rose, who termed It the
"Amboy Theatre" and produced
stock, vaudeville and even motion
pictures with varying success.
Majestic Theatre in 1907.
Majestic theatre, in Madison ave-
nue.. opened It's doors on October 10,
1907, and presented About Town"
before a fashionable crowd of 1900
people. For a number of weeks the
new playhouse was most successful,
but first-class shows are not the
spirit Of the theatre-loving popula-
ton of this town. The Amboy thea
ire vas released by Sachs and Rose
to Feiber and Shea, who were suc-
cessful with vaudeville until Proc
tors chain added another link by
securing n lease on the Majestic
playhouse. Then began a clash be-
tween the two vaudeville concerns
in which Proctor, 1t appears, was
victorious, j. F. Ernst was mana
ger when the Bijou ran vaudeville
and later moving pictures. Miller
and Kovacs next got control of the
house and have been playing stock
to crowded houses every week day
night since that time.
Idea for New Houses.
Two ideas for the erection of new
theatres were promulgated during
the past winter but, in both In
stances, no definite action has been
taken. Promoters engaged j. X.
Jensen, a local architect, to draw
plans for q playhouse on the south
west corne of Madison avenue and
Jefferson street, at a cost of $40, 900,
1t was planned to have the theatre
erected along up-to-date lines, and
present but first class stock com
pany shows. but local people inter
ested had difficulty with the hackers
and the idea fell though.
Perrine and Buckelew, of James.
burg, nj of the Bijou, have
planned to remodel that playhouse
into a modern Hippodrome, but 1t is
unlikely that any activities along
this line Will be noted until next
fall.
Perth Amboy continues without
any tlrst~clafN legitimate theatrica.
productions. Week in and week out
vaudeville and stock, not to mentor
moving pictures. are produced tc
local audiences, usually of capacity
house nature. Many believe thai
the steady growth of this city and
vicinity, and the additional trans
p~ortation facilities with South Am
boy and towns in Monmouth county
warrants another undertaking of q
nature similar to that OF w. j,
Counihan and NJ. L. shannon in the
Majestic five years ago. Perth Am
boy has q theatre drawing popula.
ton Of more than 100, 900 people
including residents of Staten Island
Woodbridge, Sewaren, Metuchen
South Amboy, Perth Amboy and
rapidly growing towns in Monmouth
county. who will seize and prof,
by this opportunityH" Is the question