The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-06
New York Theatres Seventy Years Ago
Broadway's Famous Actors, the Bowerys Thrills and
the Minstrels of just Before the Civil War.

To THE NEW York HERALD The in
teresting memories OF the opera and the
theatre in New York recalled by your
readers awakened my mind to things
theatrical OF seventy years ago.
In the early SOS Castle Garden was
entered by a bridge over the water be-
tween II and the Battery sea wall.
believe Jenny Lind closed that favorlte
theatre.
Barnun's, at Broadway and Ann
street, came next p. II. surely did fool
tho folks in many ways, though many
went there to see Mr.. and Mrs. Barney
Williams in their ireland as 1t Was
and ireland as It Is" BILLY Bow
legs" was also drawing card, RS the
Florida Seminole Indian was In the days
news. The Mcstayer family of dancers
varied the freak attractions
The Park Theatre, on Park Row near
Lovejoy's Hotel was destroyed by fire
about 1851. Booth, the great J. b.. was
the attraction I recall that the the
stre was burned on a Saturday after
noon. for 1t ended my FIRST weeks ven
ture as a roller boy for one OF THE
NEW YORK HERAfp's Franklin presses.
Burton's was in Chambers street op-
posite tho City Hall, and there the Ina
mense English comedian, with Brougham,
the equally famous irish comedian, de-
lighted tho lovers OF the burlesque. Bur-
toms in 1854 gave way for a municipal
building. Burton and Brougham were
to open in Tripler Hall, annexed to the
IIafarge, in Broadway opposite Bond
street. but fire destroyed both the Satur-
day night before the intended Monday
opening. This and the murder OF DR..
Burdell IN Bond street gave the news
papers their scare heads OF the day. The
I.afarge and the theatre wero rebuilt. the
latter az tho Winter Garden with the
Fat Bs'' In their burlesdus OF "Ca-
MILE" then being played by Matilda
Heron at Wallaok's.
The Purdy Theatre. in Chatham street
near Pearl street, 10 recalled by Jay
Gardner Blay's reference to Chanfrau's
Nose. This theatres loft was called
the "sailorman's delight" for as soen
as Jack Tar landed he took his Susan
to Purdys. Jack shouted at the wit.
shed tears at the pathetic and lost pa
tlence at delays. For instance. while
a star was holding the house as otaelto
tho audience was outraged when on
Othello repeating his demand for "thc
handkerchief" an impatient sailorman
shouted, use yer fingers and go on with
the play" Such comments were the
rule at Purdy's Chatham Theatre in the
early sos.
There was theatre at the junction
Of Chatham Square, Division street and
the Bowery. l was taken there to see
East Lynne" Though not quite un-
Outstanding the sweets OF the story /
was, like most boys, impressed with
anything funny. Such an incident oc-
Cured when the actress threw open a
door as she said. "Tho sea breeze Is so
refreshing" and wondering why the
audience laughed, turned and instead
Of the sea breeze saw stage hands ar
ranging the next scene.
The Bowery. the temple Of thrills, had
four tiers OF circles and a pit with board
benches at one shilling a seat, the best
to, be secured by a. struggle. The odors
of picked pigs feet. tripe and peanuts,
the dropping from tho top gallery OF
various favors, the rush OF the bouncers
to drag out offenders, gave the balcony
and family circle aristocrats about as
much excitement as the play.
Notwithstanding these incidents, the
Bowery audiences represented the East
Sides best families. It's favorite actors
included Mr.. Hanlin and his wife, Mrs.
Shaw, Susan and Kate Deneen. the
tragic Eddy, the comedian Jack VII
mans and his relative by marriage. Little
Maggie, In child parts. Who has not
heard of the famous Maggie Mitchelps
Cricket on the Hearth" her first ef-
fort on the Bowery stage?
There were Cooney and Taylor--thcir
acting dogs and young Cooney as the
monkey. "Israel Putnam" and his fiy-
ing horse rushing down the almost per-
pendicular cliff. escaping the FIRE Of the