The New York herald., 1922-10-22
Old Nights at Days Theater
Struggles and Failures of Augustin DAILY Before He
Attained the Height Of His Ambition

bilt, Henry CIews. Peter Gilsey. James
Gordon Bennett. William Winter. David
Dudley Field. Cornelius Vanderbilt the
FIRST. John Hoey. Sidney Dillon. ex-Gov-
ernor Horatio Seymour and Oswald OF
tendorfer.
They found the building ornate IN
design with an interior warm and taste
full. Tho auditorium had large mirrors
incased in satin and velvet frames placed
along the wall. 1t was thoroughly COM
Portable in its arrangements and bril-
liantly lighted with the latest improve
ments introduced in the use Of gas for
Illumination. During the time the build
ting was under construction everybody
connected with the establishment labored
early and late to help in rendering the
event all that was hoped for 1t. Fore
most In activity was DAILY. whose bound
less energy acted as an incentive to
others. He was all over the place, d.
recting rehearsals. overlooking the work
about the stage and In front of the
houss. while he conferred with scenic
artist. property man and the man in
the box office.
He scarcely left tho building. and
early comers on that opening night
caught a glimpse Of DAILY in his shirt
sleeves helping a stagehand to stow
away q carpet used in the play. the last
rehearsal Of which had Just concluded.
When later he was called before the
curtain the effects OF his constant exer-
tions were plainly evident. He was worn
and tired, his hair was sadly In need
,f txcx os,A 10 90 cy,o ~ ov,<
OF a shave.
But the promise OF . great night
In the theater failed Of realization. The
play upon which so much depended
proved dismal failure. The company
struggled with dull and pointless COM
edy. which dragged on interminsbly. the
final curtain falling after midnight. and
the patience Of the audience was sorely
tried.
In the middle Of the second act one
Of the characters was called upon to
strike gong az the signal for the ap-
pearance Of servant To the man In
the flies who had charge Of raising and
lowering the act drop It sounded like his
cue, and in the middle OF the scene the
curtain descended. 1t was quickly raised
and the act in its entirety was played
anew, when the same incident OF the
gong was repeated. Again the act was
played over. this time the error being
avoided and the scene played to its fin
ish. The one redeeming feature OF the
evenings entertainment. Or. Holiness
poetical salutation. came first on the bill.
That the spectators were deeply dis
appointed at the outcome OF the nights
promise was not to be wondered at. yet
when they assembled In the lobby be-
tween acts and discussed the evenings
program no such expressions as 'Tts
boomer" "It's rotten" or kindred
phrases were heard. Credit was given
the company for its efforts, the man
ager was complimented for the artistic
and splendid manner in which the play
was mounted and keen delight and
satisfaction were expressed over the
work OF DR. Holmes. The audiences
condemnation Of the play, while not
audible, was so marked that it needed
no prophet to foresee the fate of the
so-called comedy. Success was absent
at the opening Of the new house and It
really never came TO 1t in. any great
measure in after years. .a.at
Mr.. Daly's efforts in the new theater
proved unavailing. For some four
years he struggled against the failure
he intuitively felt was approaching.
During his tenancy OF the house he
added much to his artistic reputation but
he suffered severely financially. His most
important productions were Loves La
bour's Lost" considered the finest pres
entation OF the play ever seen on the
stage: "Pique' and The Big Bonanza
the latter two his own plays and the
only ones that Showed a profit. 1t was
while he conducted this theater that
DAILY gave John Drew his first engage
ment In New York. and introduced for
the first time Ada Dyas as his leading
woman.
In 1877 Daily retired for while
from the theatrical field, declaring as
he left the building in Twenty-eighth
street on the last day OF his manage
nent there that ''he had never known
a happy day since he entered the house
when Fortune proved a misfortune"
Some years later Daily entered into
his own at the Thirtieth street house.
There he reached the height of his
ambition, to be kpown as the foremost
manager Of the time.
CHARLES BURNHAM.