Year: 1870

A Dird's-cyo Wow of the Thsatres.


Many important and radical changes have
taken place in the metropolitan theatres within
the past few years. Old landmarks have dis
appeared and new features have been intro
duced. To the popular thirst for sensation
everything Of the old school, except in few
establishments, has been sacrificed, and the
stage carpenter and scenic artist is Of more
''The Black Crook" with all its evil tenden-
cies, had this germ of good in it 1t aroused
managers to the idea Of placing plays on the
stage with more attractive surroundings than
before, and compelled them to expend more
money on scenery and appointments for really
meritorious works than they heretofore
dreamed Of If take the principal theatres
in New York-Booth's, Wallack's and the
Fifth Avenue-we can safely challenge compe-
tition with Europe in regard to their stage
setting. Niblo's and the Olympic are also up
to the same standard In the three first men
toned theatres the legitimate drama Aourishes
like bay tree both financially and artistically.
Even the sensational school is rendered tole-
rable and even attractive by the artistic care
bestowed upon it. The Importance of theatres
at the present day may be ascertained from the
internal revenue returns, which show that a
very considerable amount of money is annually
expended to afford amusement Of this kind to
our citizens The managers do not yet, as a
general rule, come up to the expectations and
demands of the public in their companies. The
star system still holds its ground with many
of them. They do not eem to understand that
perfect ensemble of cast is preferable to a
single star and bundle of sticks Those
theatres which have been fortunate enough to
secure first class artists in their stock compa-
nies have been rewarded this season by an
appreciative public. No matter how appa-
rently capricious and whimsical theatre-goers
may be in this city, they never fail in time to
recognize true merit and repudiate charlatan-
ism. The Lenten season has initiated heavily
against the managers, and they look forward


with eagerness and anxiety towards the joyful
Easter time, when sackcloth and ashes will be


discarded. 1t is rumored that daring the sum-


mer season an attempt will be made to locate


the home of Italian opera at Booths magnif-


cent dramatic temple. It will be indeed a


change for the better from the ungracious
place it has had heretofore. In Booths it will


have everything in its favor, and if the man
agement win only avoid the trickery and parsi-


mony hitherto characteristic of the direction OF


Italian opera and labor to secure good, fresh,
aeknowledged artists, the theatre will earn for
, itscIa lasting reputation. There is no use in
presenting before the New York public, the
majority Of whom have abundant opportunities
OF Witnessing and hearing the best operas in
taropc, mutilatcd, inferior and disgraceful
performances under the name Of Italian opera.
Lsi the same care be bestowed on the lyric
drama as there is in every other species Of
amusement in this city, and there is not the
slightest doubt Of its success. Another fea-
ture in amusements is the uptown tendency
Of theatre-goers Within very few years there
will be little encouragement to any establish


ment of this kind below Union square. The
theatres seem to be in advance Of other places
Of business, and they are gradually pushing
their way into districts which even the present
generation remember to have been once rura
in appearance and importance,