Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-06-08
THEATRE HERE
IN YEAR 1853
So Boston Paper Says
Some AmbOy History.

Of Thespian artists as early as 1853,
H--.olo,,s Tho theatrical com
W IVA
ment IN the boston SpdP'i "'''
toned the foregoing, related, IN
part, Of the opening OF the nIsL
theatre in New York CITY IN I1'6'
and hat Perth AmbOy ana Newport
r. l., followed SUIT WIN pIayHouSeS
only five years later. -pIouu
and naughty baWstoH-Was not
amused in this fashion uhuI 49,
Down through the ages the anna
teur theatrlcala OF old coIollal Gays
have advanced INTO the ~ OF pro-
f~essiOnallsm. Yet, with Jhe advance
ment of art on the stage theFe mas
been no decided increase, IN proper
ton, in the enthusiasm ana attend
ance at the SHOWS OF TO-DAY as com
pared with the rough and probably
uncouth plays OF centuries ago.
Perth Amboy has witnessed dla-
logues in court rooms, musical com
edies in music halls, stock companies
in playhouses and theatrical troupeS
In stellar productions at a twentieth
century theatre, but the success OF
all has been limited and the days or
their e~Nistences numbered
Search Library
There may be a difference in opln-
ion, however, as to the date OF the
first production In Perth AmDoy. A
careful research in the archlVes OF
the public library, II through lhe
annals Of Perth AmDoys early MS
tory, fails to reVea any Information
pertaining to early theatres IN
Perth AmbOy, as mentioned by the
Boston paper, although 1t rs noted
In William A. Whitehead's "COntTt-
buttons to East Jersey History" that
amateur Thespians held forth in the
court house at frequent intervals as
far back as 1857. The history re-
lates of the passage of the act, pro-
viding for the court house, by the
General Assembly on June %, 1856,
and makes the following comment
of conditions in 1928, the date of
the production Of the history:
"As It now stands the court house
was furnished In 1867, and from
that time until 1775 1t was occupied
by the courts and assembly; from
beneath It's roof came forth some of
the patriotic resolutions and ad-
dresses by which that body warmed
the hearts of Jerseymen and pre-
pared. them for the struggle to
which events we're impelling them;
and there, too, did the Thespians of
the anti-revolutionary period de-
light select but approaching audi
tories"
What the Boston Paper Says.
The Transcript discusses the pro-
gress Of theatricaIs in old war times
in the following manner:
philadelphia Is rather Jealous of
her record for historic and other
antiquities. In Chicago they point
to their landmarks and in
each case that it is the biggest OF
the finest Of its kind that has been
conceived, much less constructed. In
the Quaker City they put the en-
phasis vi age That is the Oldest in
the country they tell US. The lat
est structure to have this distinction
conferred upon 1t is IN old distillery
and malthouse which has recently
fallen into new hands and In a few
weeks will be torn down to make
room for a modern business block.
But 1t was not always devoted to Its
recent uses, nor was 1t erected for
such a purpose. 1t was built In
17G6 for a theatre and in November
of hat year The Gamester' was the
play with which It's career was open
ed. Its degradation dates from
1922, when fire destroyed the In
terror and 1t ceased to be a temple
of the drama.
All this, of course, is interesting
now that the old landmark is about
TO vanish, but the Philadelphia pa
pers claim that the venerable relic
Is the Oldest playhouse in America,
the first home of the drama They
do not say that it was the first thea
! ire, though that would be the gener-
al inference. On the other hand, 1t
has not been a playhouse at all for
ulnety years, The further claim
may be possible that on April 10.
1857, the first American play by an
American author was produced
there. 1t was called The Prince OF
Parthia,' by Thomas Godfrey, a locaI
author, and no doubt this assemb.
ling Of home talent was very inspir
ing. Seven years later the Proyin'
cial Congress passed a law forbid
ding theatrical performances, and il
went out of business for three years
when the British took possession
and gave amateur performances
there. Having a playhouse ready &c
hand, they were not obliged to desc
crate a church for the purpose, al
was the case In Boston. The bar
was lifted in 1889, however, and il
mad a prosperous history for almost
a ~ nTnflnN ~. ,nFt1 4ha a. 49,.