Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-12-03
Historic Old Union Square Thea
ter to Be Raced.
MORTON HOUSE ALSO TO GO
History Of Morton House and the The
alter Are Closely Linked-Theater
Once First-cIass Producing Play
house, In Which Many Of the
Famous Actors and Actresses Of the
Present Day Made Their Debut
Ended Up as 6urIesque House.

Two historic landmarks Of New
York-the Union Square theater and
the Morton house-which have stood
for half a century In Union square. at
one time New York's rialto, are to be
RACED to make way for more modern
structures.
The Union Square theater built and
opened by Sheridan Shook In 1871, be-
gan as variety house. Later II be-
came a first-class producing playhouse,
In which many OF the famous actors
and actresses Of the present day made
their debut. 1t winds up its career as
burlesque theater.
In Days Of A. M. Palmer.
AS variety or vaudeville house Il
opened with program including the
Martinette-Ravel troupe OF pantomlm.
lists. the team of Harrigan and Hart.
and Jefferson de Angels. When A. NJ.
Palmar, who afterward made the
Palmer Stock company famous In
America and England. was placed in
charge of the theater, he began
staging series of London REVEALS.
with Miss Agnes Ethel, once leading
lady for Augustin DAILY, In the lead.
Others in the company we're Kate
Claxton. Clara Morris, Eliza Weather
by. who afterwards became Mrs. Nat
Goodwin; Clara Jennings and Emily
Mestayer. James O'Neil. later of
Monte Cristo" fame; j. II. Stoddard,
Mark Smith. Charles II. Thorne. Jr.,
Maude Harrison and Agnes Booth
came later.
New plays were soon added By the
company, which took on other play
ers. including Mckee Rankin, Louis
Aldrich, John Parselle. c. T. Parsole.
Minnie Palmer. Rose Eytinge +. F.
Mackay. Marie wilkins. Charles Cogh.
Ian and Richard Mansfield.
The most famous success OF the
Union Square was the 1.-TWO Orphans"
translated from the French and
hawked about for 81 500 until Palmer
read II. II ran $50 nights. and was
the sensation of the theatrical season.
Kate Claxton, who played Louise. the
blind girl. bought 1t outright and
played It for twenty years.
Other famous plays produced were
"The Bankers Daughter" MY Part
ners." THE Celebrated Case" Ark
wright's Wife" and Brighton" The
successes We're followed by stock pro-
auctions. in which Frank Mayo. Min
ME Palmer, Nelly Howard owen
Fawcett, Kate Denim Wilson. Charles
l.. Harris, Lawrence d'Orsay and Au-
gustus Cook and others played
The first performance of The MI
kado" in New York was given In tho
Union Square, with Roland Reed and
Alice Harrison In the title roles
Charlie Chaplin Made Debut Here.
In 1851 James NJ Hin took the the
alter and brought ont new and un-
heard-of star. Margaret Mather. and
put on Romeo and juliet" During
his management Chauncey Olcott OBJ
tanned his first engagement in opera.
little later Charlie Chaplin. now fa-
nous movIng-picture comedian, made
his debut in New York. with small
part in speciality company. which
lasted week and was a frost"
Later the theater was turned over 10
Keith. who operated II as a vaudeville
house for many years. after which II
became burlesque stock house.
The history of the theater and the
Morton house are closely linked. rs
they adjolned. The latter was a great
place for the meeting al the actors
and managers. II was also the home
Of group Of politicians of the old
school. of which John Reilly. the old
registrar and Tammany leader of the
East side, was dean. His table in the
Morton was always surrounded by
friends of that day.
EiAIn CHEl ETnMN tn nalnnN