The New York herald., 1921-02-20
When WalIack's Opened.
Notes From an Old Account Book Of
an Event in Stage History.

To THE New YORK HERALD: The COM
ing September will mark the sixtieth
anniversary Of the opening Of the most
famous of New Yorlt's amusement
places. The following items from an
account book OF the time may serve to
recall the event and the actors in It to
many old New Yorkers.
On the evening of September %. 1851.
while the country was in the first stage
of tho civil war, the amusement lovers
OF the city gathered In force to attend
tho opening OF the new Wallack's The
afro at Thirteenth street and Broadway.
tion Of a theatre at that point was con-
sldered an act OF folly on the part OF
tho Wallacks. The doors opened at z
o'clock, the curtain rose at s, and Within
the walls of the building was gathered
a delightful and fashionable audience
with everybody in excellent humor."
The opening play was new comedy
entitled THE New President" written
by @ noted English author. Tom Taylor.
The prices for seats were from 20 cents
to 81, with an added caution to the pub
lie not to buy Of spectators and a fur
ther hint that no FREQ passes would be
issued except 70 the press. Between the
second and third acts the elder Wallack
addressed the audience In what proved
to be his last public appearance on tho
stage.
A large orchestra under the direction
OF Robert Stoepel, a noted musician and
the husband OF the celebrated actress
Matilda Heron. rendered an original
composition by tho leadsr called "A
Musical Panorama OF Broadway" the
parts consisting OF music supposedly
representing the noted places OF the
city: "rhe Harbor of New York, Dod-
worth's Band with Seventy-frst Regl-
ment, Barnums Museum Brass Music
on Balcony, City Hall Mass Meeting.
Bryant's Minstrels. Laura Keeno's. Cam
terbury Hall, Niblos, Winter Garden,
wallack's, Winding UP with Thirty
second Street Railway Galop; Bell
Whistle and Other locomotive Effects"
In the cast Of tho play was Lester
wallaok, then az years Of age and re-
ceiving for his services as actor and
stage manager s125 a week. w. r
Floyd. 20 years old. received $40 a week.
In later years Mr.. Floyd became noted
as stage manager and author Charles
Fisher. the only male member of tho
company outside OF Lester WallaclS 20
have his first name printed on the pro-
gramme, received $40 and was then 46
years Of age. To a later generation Mr..
Fisher was known as a member OF
Daly's company.
w. II. Norton. two years the senior
Of Fisher. was paid $50. Mr.. Norton
afterward became proprietor of the
Shakespeare Vaults and Refreshment
Rooms at s9s Broadway. a resort Of the
literary and dramatic men OF the day.
Charles T. Parsloe, Jr.. a New York boy.
and a universal favorIte OF the people.
was engaged at tho muniflcent salary
of 50 week. Mr.. Parsloe attained
great reputation for his portrayal OF
New York street characters.
George Il. Browne. born IN New
Hampshire in 1879. got 50 also. OF
the stage ne was known as the popular
landlord of an English ale house, orig
inally located on Fourth avenue directly
opposite the stage door of Wallack's
Theatre. His name Is still maintained
over a restaurant In the city.
Mrs. John Hoey, leading lady OF tho
company. tho originator OF fine dressing