New-York tribune., 1916-06-24
THE BOWERY THEATRE
A Famous Playhouse -Four Times Burned
and Rebuilt.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Apropos of the account Of the reeen.
sale Of the Bowery Theatre, as published
in The Tribune OF yesterday, the following
memoranda concerning the famous theatre
may interest your older readers:
The original intention of the owners was
to call the theatre "The Bulls Head" but It
was named "The New York Theatre" and as
such opened October %, 1925. The first
manager was Charles Gilfert; the stage man
ager George Barrett, and the leader Of the
orchestra, Mr.. Taylor, from the Park Thea
ire. The initial programme consisted o.
an opening address, recited by George Bar
rett; the comedy The Road 70 Ruin;
second address, written by Dr. Farmer and
spoken by Miss Young, and the farce "Rais-
ing the Wind"
Edwin Forrest, a member OF the company
made his first appearance November s, act
ing Othello On December 1 Julius Cesar
was produced, with Forrest as Mark Antony
william A. Conway as Brutus and George
Barrett rs Cassius.
In "The New York Mirror and Ladies
Literary Gazette" published July p, 1871
the title New York Theatre Is used in is
review of the performance, but in the same
journal of August %, 1927, the name Bow
erv Theatre" is used. and, with the exception
of the years 1912, when it was called
the American Theatre. 1t was known as 'hs
Bowery until, in recent years, it became 'n'
Thalia.
The theatre was destroyed by fire on me
evening of May 26, 1923. "The New for'
Mirror" of date May 81, 1923, has The iO'.
lowing: I'VE understand that arrangement
are In a state of great forwardness for ereeV
ing another and still more beautiful edihee
on its site, and that it is intended 70 con
struct it with an Aladdin-like rapidity
This statement was truthfully borne ou''
for the new Bowery was opened on Augus.
20, 1928 within three months. This ouio'ns
was destroyed by fire on the morning
September 22, 1896: was rebuilt and openeS
on January 3, 1897; and was again OorD.o
down, Monday, February is. 1888 ana aga"
rebuilt and opened May 6, 1888, under '"'
management of Thomas Hambln.
The Tribune article OF yesterday aN
Colonel T. Aston Brown, in his story u
the New York Stage" state that LONDON 40
surance" received its first production j..
America at this theatre In lelz' Oo'O"
Brown giving May IS as the date IRIS
mistake. as "The Dramatic Mirror ana -.
erary Companion" published in PhIaoe'pn'',
in ls4l, James Rees, editor, has under da'e y
October 16. is4l, the following: "Inea,h,
calls in New York-The Park. On MohuN'
evening. October II, a new comedy was p'V
duced at this theatre under the tite OF ~"
don Assurance repete with Wit ana h1inV''
full of stale Jokes. with many new ones %,
Of that decided character which cannot "a"
to please and render comedy attractive
The same journal, In its issue Of Noye",'
her l3. 1871, announces: philadelphia
mt Street Theatre London Assurah0'
This popular modern comedy was prooD.'1
at this house or Saturday evening, No'em',
6. in a style Of magnifcence unparaIleieu
our stage history for years" The b0"s.I
Theatre production in New YORK ahhoo.s
Most magnfcently appointed the s'e"s,'
and furniture surprising anything ever ~
fore seen in the United States
The Bowery was, for the fourth time D"
history of nineteen years, destroyed oy
on the evening Of April %, ls'o' =.
Davenport's benefit was TO have taken P'a,'
but Just before the hour for opening W.
doors fire was discovered in the earpen's.
shop of the theatre. and the buiid'ng va
entirely destroyed. The present theatre ~e,
built and opened August 4, is45, ana "'-
been standing for seventy-one years.
1t is worthy Of note that in the FOUR "'''
above recorded not single life was lost
My first visit 20 the Bowery was on ~
return TO New York from New Orleans ln
Nav. 1865 saw "Uncle Toms Cabin VIZ"
Mrs. G. c. Howard the originaD as Iopsy
Ny last visit was few years since "hs'
| saw Jacob Adler in one of his pertormsncs''
WILLIAM SEYMOUR
South Duxbury, Msss., June II, 1910