The sun., 1915-06-27

are all tnat are 10
stand for the new establish
ment known as the Rialto. which
Is soon to open its doors. OF the
theatre memories that cling to the in
stitution there is none so important as
the presence Of Oscar Hammerstein,
who found In this institution the op-
portunity to reveal the many sides OF
his remarkable personality. The build
ing itself was wonderful tribute to
his indefatigability and his courage in
what seemed the hour OF final defeat.
The old building that stood on the
present site of the Victoria Theatre
was said to be car barn for the old
Seventh avenue street cars. II had
been tried for various theatrical par
poses. There the optimistic John
Doris installed an altogether harmless
and one ring circus which proved too
quiet even for the taste OF New York
in those days. Then one Of the first
Of New York's dancing resorts was at
tempted. but the scale was a bit pr!mi-
tive. So after a while there seemed
nothing to do but allow the place to
stand vacant.
How such a valuable property could
IN those days'have failed to attract the
attention Of real estate spectators Is
not easy to understand. There was talk
OF the impossibility OF clearing the
title and there were other explanations
as to the neglect OF this accessible
spot, which Is said to bring Mr. Ham,
merstein now in rent $S5,000 q year.
At all events the desirability Of the
site escaped the notice Of other theatre
managers or they were too sluggish to
take the trouble to ascertain how the
title to the property could be cleared.
But Oscar Hammerstein was des.
perate after the Olympia with it's two
theatres and its roof garden was taken
away from him by the foreclosure OF
Q mortgage he had made. II looked
as IL his career in the theatre history
Of New York had come to an end He
had neither money nor financial back
ing. But he had his native astuteness
and he had an eye on the northwest
corner Of Seventh avenue and Forty
second street. His experience here
showed how much greater after all is
the idea than the money. Mr.. Ham,
merstein set out TO discover what were
the obstacles to a long ground lease on
that property. He finally discovered
that somewhere IN the middle Wes,
there lived some elderly heirs whose
refusal to unite with others In making
any disposition Of the property had
caused its comparative uselessness.
Oscar Hammerstein did not trust
his work to agents He started for
the West with no other knowledge OF
these persons than the town in which
they resided To have inquired toe
carefully in New York among those
familiar with the real estate situa
tion would have beer to arouse sus.
picion. He went alone on his errand
his purpose known only to himself
and by diligent search he fount
the necessary heirs. 1t did not take
long for the persuasive manner OF thu
magnetic New York manager to pu
before the owners of the property tn,
advantages OF a union with him Be
fore he left them to start back tC
New York they were his allies. l
was not long before the necessary
papers had been signed and Oscar
Hammerstein was for a long term O
years the lessee Of the property.
This much secured. there was III,
building OF the theatre. The banks
were not disposed to be liberal MI
Hammerstein had just lost the valu
able Long Acre property. lie m gh
fal. into the same financial difficult
tieS again. There was no eagcrAes
To come to his assistance. But tn
necessary money was raised. although
with such restrictions that Il wa
some time before Mr. Hammcrste!I
had free hand II. III. administra
tion OF his playhous, ltmatel,
however. his genius Tor Success baga
TO assert itself again.
So II was not long before the man
oger who had lost the whole block o
broadway had made the Victoria
profitable property, had built the re
public Theatre and further down III
street had erected the Lew Field
Theatre, wh.ch mas now become III
Harris, Then there was the Mania,
tan Opera House TO come latcr :
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