The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-12
Burning of Miners Theatre
Revived Interest in First
Center of American Drama

lin THE Last Days OF Pompeii." Nor
was II so long ago but that the old
timers who still live round about the
bowery can tell you yet-and how
this spot was the cradle of tho Amer
lean stage
The theatre, in short is tradition
in a locality and a town where ira
dition Is all too likely to be buried
beneath an elevated road or smoth-
cred In the swarming population and
fire escape clothes lines of immi-
grants whose traditions are far 9TH
erwise.
There is Chinese tong war on
three blocks to the westward. There
is little bomb and pistol feud among
certain of the Sicilians around La
Fayette and Mott streets. Yet even
the policemen. ringing in at his yell
low box on the corner, knew in way
what the Miners Bowery stood for.
'Ah. this was the great place" he
declared, lin the days when every
thing was below Fourteenth street.
Not SO many years back. neither.
can just about remember IT."
Chief ON Job
1t was Fire Chief Kenlon himself
dashing down town in response to
lho btGOA0 Aaal Atpi ONCd q
bystander who wanted to know why
he seemed to take such a personal
interest In saving the grimy struc-
ture.
The chief smiled his wise smile
It'd be sorter hard for US old tim
ers to see this old place go. We are
growing a little jealous OF our land
| marks"
Getting sentimental. chief?" the
/ bystander replied.
Go home and ask your father
son." the chief replied.
When the nineteenth century was
In swaddling clothes, smart New
York paid 90 cents for a box seat
while less smart New York paid Is
| cents for a seat in the pit or gallery
and grumbled at the cost. For %
cents you could see Edwin Forrest
the greatest American tragedian. as
Lear" or "othello," of "Pizarro.' OF
Damon, In Damon and Pythias.
The audiences were not always for
giving. and those days both eggs and
tomatoes and apples were in the jew
elry class, an impatient audience was
something to be reckoned with-and
lodged. There was the night when
Nine. Francisquy Huttin made her
debut in America as the first ex-
ponent on the American stage OF
the modern school of French dancing
In view of the follies of Isadora
Duncan. and of mankind in general
II not of womankind, it is difficult
to believe what happened
When the French woman leaped
from the wings in her abbreviated
ballet skirts, there was moment.
Mortified silence followed by storm
of Kisses. Before the dance ended. all
the ladies In the lower tier OF the
boxes left the theatre-with a fine
swishing of hoopskirts. for this was
In the year of grace, 1897. They rang
down the curtain on bewildered and
furious audience. nor was she per-
mitted to dance there again.
Nobody Kissed
Yet nine years earlier, nobody
Missed Nine. Celeste. 1t was Nine
Celeste's custom to be discovered as
the curtain rose in romantic and
scanty male attire. somewhere near
turret. with a bow and arrow in
her hand. Her grace was so appeal
ing that when Henry Elliott of Bal
tmore fire saw her from his box
his friends twitted him on his hope
less infatuation. What do you mean.
hopeless?" he said in effect. Il bet
you $500 I'll marry her within the
month" Which he did