New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-02
STAGE FOLK BID
WALLACK'S COODBY
Famed Actors Who Played
at Old Theatre Attend
Farewell Ceremonies.
HOUSE TO MAKE WAY
FOR BIG SKYSCRAPER
Rose Coghlan, Who Played on
Opening Night, 33 Years Ago,
Last TO Leave Stage.

When the curtain slowly descended
for the last time at Lester Wallack's
playhouse, at 1880 last night, bunch
of roses lay outside the fold close to
the footlights that will never fash
again. Overcome by a rush Of mem
cries, Rose Coghlan had forgotten 70
pick them up.
A conspicuous note Of buyoant pink,
the roses symbolized, against their
background Of sombre green, that feel
ing Of gratitude that there had ever
been at Wallack's at Thirtieth Street
and Broadway. Again and again in
the eulogies emphasis on the Wallack
tradition overshadowed sadness at the
passing of a venerated theatrical land
mark which is RACED that a skyscraper
may rise.
In the presence of Miss Coghlan, the
leading lady who graced its opening
night on January 4, 1882, and a few
first-nighters who were there. Wal
lacks had an impressive funeral ser
vice. Granville Barker sounded the
keynote when he said that it was no
disgrace to speak Of Wallack's death
bed, because death in this instance
came with glorious honors.
AS soon as came to Wallack's !
realized that there was an atmosphere
here" said Mr.. Barker. 1--WE English
men like to call it tradition. How il
comes we don't know. unless an mani
mate building responds to affection and
care, so that house becomes more
than its walls. We are proud to stand
at the deathbed of Wallack's Theatre,
for the spirit that made Wal!acA's
great is not dead" 1850,
Augustus Thomas quoted from Will
lam Winters review in The Tribune OF
the old houses first night in 1882, when
"The School for Scandal" was the play
Mr.. Winter had written that a first
night at Wallack's was like a state re-
ception, a time Of great enjoyment
with refinement and high social vital
ity. Old friends both behind and be-
fore the footlights had wrought this
magic touch, Mr.. Thomas said. AN
audience can work with a stranger, but
it's better to work with friend. Les
ter Wallack had his friends. and they
co-operated with him"
Liilah Mccarthy, leading lady in
"Androcles and the Lion and the wife
of Mr.. Barker, said that 1t was a
pleasure for the last leading lady at
,-to1l 4kn tn the
first leading lady.
ALFRED in the silk gown and pow
dered wig which she wore as Lady
Teazle" thirty-three years ago, Rose
Coghlan recited an epilogue writer
for the occasion by Oliver Hertord
When she finished the audience "wa'
laughing hugely to keep. back th'
tears" as Mr.. HEREFORD had written.
Cries for Charles Burnham failed e
bring before the curtain the retiring
manager of the theatre.
The name of Wallack has beer
known in New York dramatic circle:
since 1852, when James William Wal
lack landed here and began the pro
duction Of plays in leased theatre al
the corner Of Broome Street and Broad
way. In a few years he built his owr
| mouse az luc NOlAiIA Va N4+-A $3.50
Street and Broadway.
The present house, at Tbirhetf
Street and Broadway, was built by the
son of the original Wallack-John Les
ter-who is the one most familiar e
New Workers now. He made his mrs
appearance on the stage in 1877, an(
was famous Immediately as an ex
| tremely handsome player Of llgh
comedy. In 1861 his father made hin
manager of the playhouse at Thir
teenth Street and Broadway, and II
| 1882 he opened the house which wal
darkened forever last night.
John Lester Wallack chose Sheri
dams "School for Scandal" "a hi!
opening play, with Miss Rose Coghlar
as Lady Teazle. John Gilbert playeC
opposite her in the part of Sir Peter.
Besides the feature of last nights
farewell to Wallack's, the epilogue o.
Oliver Herford, read by Miss Coghlan
Granville Barker, Augustus Thomas
and a dozen others VINO have had to d'
with the history of the theatre spoke
Granville Barker gave the last per
fortnance Of Anatole Frances "Th'
Man Who Married a Dumb Wife" anC
| Shaw's "Androcles and the Lion" TO Z
large audience. Then Miss Coghlar
came down from her performance o.
"Trilby" and the others gathered.
Standing for the legitimate in dra
ma, and the best of that, Wallacki
never descended TO melodrama or the
| lesser forms Of dramatic entertain
ment. Moving picture suggestions foi
Wallack's would have scandalized thu
spirit that lay behind the name. Thu
brought group of the best known
and most famous names in the histor!
of drama 10 the houses footlights. Z
few of them were Joseph Jefferson
Rose Coghlan, Mary Anderson, Adj
Dyas, Annie Robe, Efie Germon, Maud
Adams, Kyrle Bellew, Harry Edwards
Herbert Kelley, Eben Plympton, Johr
/ Gilbert, Osmond Tearle, George Hol
land, Z. S. Willard, Mrs. Patrick Camp
/ bell.
Last season Cyril Maude had a yer!
successful season in Grumpy" an'
was engaged to return next year, bu
the decision to pull down the house
caused the engagement TO be can
celled. The effects OF the theatre vii
be sold at auction Wednesday while tn
pickaxes tear away another landmark
both dramatic and scenic, Of the olde
Manhattan.
FATHER OF LACROSSE DIES
Geo. Massey. British Sports