The sun., 1915-06-03
CENTURY THEATRE
TO Be A MUSIC HALL
VIII BE Modelled After Those
Of the Big European
Cities.
LEASED FOR FIVE YEARS
Original Backcrs Understood
to Be Behind the New
Project.

The Century Theatre. founded as the
tury Opera House and operated by the
New Theatre Company. In which Otto
III. Kahn and others are interested. has
been leased for five years to the Century
Music Hall Company, a new concern. OF
which Ned Wayburn is managing drec-
tor. Although no official announcement
has been made. II Is understood that the
original New Theatre founders are in
terested in the new company.
1t Is planned TO turn the Century Thea
tire into variety house operated like
the big music halls OF Europe. 1t will be
known as the Century Music Hall and
will open early in August with Ned
Wayburn's Town Topics" The entire
upper part OF the building at Sixty-sec-
ond street and Central Park West. will
be altered to accommodate a roof gar
den and outdoor vaudeville perform
ances. a restaurant. refreshment booths
and bar will be installed in other parts
Of the building.
Ten performances n week will be
given At times there will be two enter
tainments going on simultaneously. one
on the roof and the other on the present
stage. which will remain unaltered.
The Lyccum, AS now situated in the top
OF the building. will be done away with.
II is understood that the yearly rental
will not be far from 100000 The
present building and equipment repre-
sent an Investment of about $4,000. 600
s.,,l gg, th. rb.a afV.a IL "a
was abandoned II has been practically
"A dead weight on the hands of its
founders. The upkeep OF the building
has amounted to several thousand dol
lars a week.
one OF the various features OF the
theatre under Its new management and
policy will be the Russian ballet inn
Jorted by the Metropolitan Opera Com
pany. which will be shown there for
fou- weeks next winter instead of at
the Opera House. II is hoped TO make
the Century Music Hall popular en-
tertanment institution in New York. A
summer review will be staged there
each year and with other productions
will be sent on the road to make way
for new theatrical ventures.
The New Theatre was founded IN 1903
by Otto II. Kahn. +. Il. Bourne. Paul ID,
Cravath, Archer NJ. Huntington. Clar-
cnce MHcka!, j. i. Morgan. John Jacob
Astor, Henry Rogers winthrop and
Others. Its first director was Winthrop
Ames. with Ice Shuhert as business
manager In 1911. following heavy
!, ss"s. II was decided 10 abandon the
project. and shortly afterward the New
fheaty Company suspended active
operations although still controlling the
house.
Later the Century Opera Company
was formed and had the use of the
theatre for two seasons for operate
performances. The Metropolitan opera
Company also gave one or two per-
formances "A week there while the New
Theatre was In existence For the past
few years the Century Theatre has been
given over to passing theatrical enter
tainments
Efforts have been made from time Ia
time by the founders to dispose Of the
house. and there have been various re-
ports concerning it's future. The present
solution means that IL win be turned
over to the typical English music hall
style of entertainment, low prices pre-
valing. The Century Music Han Com
pany has the privilege OF renewing It's
lease for an additional period OF five
years.