New Britain herald., 1924-05-17
M. HANNA s MEMORIES OF
 MAIN STREET OPERA HOUSE
Was Business Manager of Playhouse for a Term of Five Years - Plays He Brought to This City.

The early history of the New Brit
 ain Opera House on Main street, now
 known as the Palace thcatcr, is en in
 teresting account of some of the at
 fractions which used to come here
 and much of the early history and
 success of the venture which was at
 that time a new and stupendeus ona
 tor this city. is centered around the
 orforts of the late John Hanna ana
 lis son. W, W. Hanna. Mir. Hanna
 has furnished the Herald Wi'h sh ih-
 Icresting account of some ot the pays
 that showed at the house during his
 term as business manager.
 The old New Britain Opera House
 was opened in May, 1881, on its pres
 cr, site close to Lafayette street.
 Eugene A. Burt, the manage ot the
 strickland House at the corner of
 Main aud East Main streets now call cd the Bronson hotel, IVES the first manager.
 The opening attraction at the new theater was "Faust,' by the Strlkosh- Hess Opera Co, one Of the best travel ing companies of the early days, The performance opened to packed house and to make the event ono to he rem embered hy the patrons, each person received a silk souvenir pro- gram. Several Of these are still m cN- isience.
 Despite the success nf tho attend anee, tho show was a llnanCirl failure for the management because of the large guarantee paid the opo1 com bany. George Holland. with nn extra fine company. followed the first fea- ture but because the weather was OK" c"cdingly warm, the attcndance was poor and the business was onl" fair The Opera House closed its doors after its first season.
 Several different managers tried their hand at running the house, fol- lowing the withdrawal Of the Hannaa from the theater, hut they all lost money up to tho time of tho con- ilaeration which destroyed the house,
 During Mir. lnnra's time as busi- noss manager, "Billy" as he is better known about tho city, won praise from all sources for the quality of shows which he was booking. In those days. play critics wore quite tho lhinr in this city and even in his first year. Mir. Hanna became known as one Of tho most nrosrr .alye managers Of show houses in the state.
 Tho expenses of the house wrre about $500 month. \ force of 27 men was constantly employed there and Janitor Hugh Hcslin with three assistants kept tho place warm. Ed ward Kent. the stage carpenter, was well posted in his duties and inc house was equipped with corps Of efficient ushers composed Of Nessrs. rarkcs, tonnor. Nothnarle, weicks. l'srnard and Andrews. Exceptionally fnc music r@s rendered under tho leadership Of profe-sor Charles Mgel- Ter.
 People who rcmr nlbrr sotis of the above itcris contained in this account furnished by Sir. Hanna, can recall thn interior of the house " hon if was considered one of thc most beautiful in Nov England.
 The following nrason. tbe show house opened with a change of man agsm"nt. Burt had soon tired Of the show bushes and hr was glad 10 give over the cares and worries 10 his sur- ccssor.
 Tho late ]. fianna. ho was one or the largest stock holders in the Opera House, secured five yrar lcagc on the place from the company ai.F W. ! W. Hanna assumed the business man ? cement booking The shows. Some of the best attractions in the corntrv played al tho Opera tioure until the | opening of the EussWtn lycoum. Among them were Mary Anderson. Margaret Mather. Jauevack and ncah Robson and Crean. Frank Mayo, E,- | ans and lIoyc. Joe Murphy. Bfiy Scanlon, Thatcher Primrose and Wets's Minstreis. Mcstayor and Vaughn and Daly Brothers.
 statson's "Mikado" pIa-cd three times in one season and the popular tlie Akerstorm played two weeks each for three seasons in succession. Sbe held the house record for paid adtnis- ; sions in one night. total Of 1.407 crowding into the houso when the sesting capacity was only 900.
 The thsatsr. however never va. profitable. Some attractions played 10 large houses. but to secure them ! large percentage was given some times reaching S5 per cent. This. ]. coupled with the heavy expenses un- 4 Her which the ilouee was run. left lit 4 tle but debts for the management.
 Following the opening Of the Russ ! win I.yceum burIesque and tab shows i acre booked steadily at the theater, \ put as there was no organized burIes- | rue wheel. the attractions were wild 4 at and few and far between.