Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 113

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360


USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y. > Part 113


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189


The following title of the farce alluded to is from the printed copy, published by J. Rivington, New York, 1776:


THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN, A Farce in Tiro Acts.


As it was performed on Long Island, on Tuesday, 27th day of August, 1776, by the representatives of THE TYRANTS OF AMERICA, Assembled in Philadelphia. Published by J. RIVINGTON, N. Y.


On the second page of the book is the following list of char-


acters: Dramatis Persona. MEN.


Slasher, a Shoemaker of New York.


Clark, a Retailer of Rum in Connecticut, Colonels. Remsen, a Farmer of New Town, Long Island,


Ebenezer Snuffle, a New England Parson, Chaplain to General Putnam.


Joe King, Servant to Stirling. Noah, Servant to Sullivan.


WOMEN.


Lady Gates, Betty, her Servant.


OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS.


SCENE .- Partly within the Rebel lines at Brooklyn, and partly at Gowanus.


The piece is not badly written. Its dramatie action is good, and full of fun. It represents the American cause in the most ludicrous light ; and, at the end, makes a somewhat eloquent appeal to all Americans in rebellion against His Majesty. It does not appear as to who performed the characters, and, if performed at all, it must have been in the large hall at the "King's Head." An original copy of this scarce and remarkable dra- matic production may be found in the Library of Con- gress. A reprint of it is in the Library of the Long Island Historical Society of Brooklyn.


For many years after the conclusion of the Revolu- tion, the " King's Head " was known as the " BROOK- LYN HALL. '


1810 .- The next dramatic performance in Brooklyn that we are able to record with amy certainty, took place May 5th, 1810, at Green's Military Garden, which was sitnated where the County Court House now stands. The entertainment was given by a " company of gentle- men " from the City of New York. The following is the bill of performance:


"THE WAGS OF WINDSOR."


Caleb Quotem. . .. Mr. Biven


Captain Beaugard. . Mr. Haswell


with the song of "Go to the Devil, and shake yourself." After which a scene from


" THE REAL SOLDIER."


Captain Cringer Mr. McCready


Nipperkin Mr. Biven


Lenox. . .Mr. Haswell


Major Tactic .By a young gentleman


The whole to conclude with a patriotic song, written and sung by Mr. Haswell, and a "Recitation upon the Relics of the un- fortunate Americans who perished during the War, written and spoken by Mr. Haswell."


1814 .- August 4th, Mr. Robinson* and Mrs. Ent- wistle gave an entertainment at Military Garden, which they termed "Dramatic Olio," consisting of songs and recitations.


The Mrs. ENTWISTLE above named was the cole- brated Mrs. Mason, who made her first appearance at the Park Theatre, New York, in 1809.


Washington, Putnam, Sullivan, Stirling,


Rebel Chiefs.


* Mr. ROBINSON was an old member of the Park Theatre Company, Now York, and was highly esteemed as a gentleman and an actor, lle was a m m- ber of tho Riclanond Theatre, Virginia, at the thno it was burned in I811. and by his presence of mind and noble daring he was the means of saving a large number of lives. He died In New York, Nov. 10th, 1819, at forty- eight years of age.


1107


THE DRAMA, OPERA, MUSIC AND ART.


1820 .- Nothing further is discoverable of a dra- matic nature in Brooklyn till 1820, when two promi- nent members of the profession gave a performance at " Morrison's Hotel" in accordance with the following programme :


Positively for one night only, AT MORRISON'S HOTEL,


The ladies and gentlemen of Brooklyn and its vicinity are respectfully informed that


MESSRS. KILNER * AND SPILLER, t (of the New York Theatre, )


at the suggestion of their friends in the village, intend doing themselves the honor to present them on


Friday evening, January 14th, 1820, (-with a novel entertainment entitled-) "THE ACTOR'S WAYS AND MEANS."


For particulars see small bills. Doors open at 6 o'clock, and the performance to commence at half-past 6. Admittance one dollar. Tickets to be had of Captain Young, J. K. Badell, and at the office of the Long Island Star.


Mr. John H. Morrison kept a tavern and boarding- house at the corner of Columbia and Cranberry streets.


1823 .- The Star of June the 5th stated that Mr. Duflon, proprietor of the well-known "Military Garden," was fitting up his place as a summer theatre, where music, recitations and theatrical pieces would be performed. The garden opened on the 14th of June, with a concert ; nothing was said as to stage or dramatic pieces. The Garden is advertised as a " delightful resort, about three-quarters of a mile from Fulton Ferry." It was situated on the spot of ground now occupied by the County Court House and other public buildings. At that time it took up the whole of the block bounded by Joralemon, Boerum, Court and Livingston streets. The entrance to the garden was wherethe County Court House now stands. It consisted of a long frame building, three stories high, entirely void of any ornamentation, through the centre of which was a broad hallway to the garden. The writer used to visit this beautiful resort, when quite young, with bis New York chums, among whom was the well- known James T. Brady.


1825 .- December 15th, Mr. Hewlett, the "col- ored tragedian," ¿ informed the " Ladies and Gentlemen


of the village that he would give an intertainment at the Military Garden, consisting of Scenes from Plays, in imitation of the celebrated Cooper, Kean, Kemble, and Matthews; interspersed with songs from favorite operas." He styled himself " Shakespear's Proud Re- presentative."


1826 .- This year was made somewhat memorable by the fact that Mr. Roberts* and other actors from the Chatham Theatre, New York, appeared with stage and scenery at Mrs. Chester's Hall and Exchange Coffce House. The performance took place on March 2d. The pieces were Matthew's " Mail-Coach Adventure," and "Sylvester Daggerwood ;" Sylvester, Mr. Rob- erts; Fustian, Mr. Turnbull; John, Mr. Wray. Tickets 50 cents, to be had at the bar. Open at half-past six, commence at seven o'clock.


The most complete dramatic performance up to this time, in Brooklyn, took place on the 10th of March. The following is a faithful copy of the printed play-bill :


BROOKLYN THEATRE. At Mrs. Chester's Hall.


The Chatham Theatre Company of Comedians beg leave to in- form the ladies and gentlemen of Brooklyn and vicinity that they will open a Theatre in the above Hall,


FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1826,


With Stage, New Scenery, Decorations, &c., &c., &c. The evening's entertainment will commence with an admired Tragedy, called


" DOUGLAS."


Young Norval (Douglas). Miss Riddle.


As performed by her at the Chatham Theatre, New York.


Glenavan. Mr. Scott


Lord Randolph Mr. Walstein


Old Norval. . Mr. Herbert


Officer. Mr. Elting


Trembling Coward. Mr. Jones


Lady Randolph Mrs. La Combe


Mrs. Entwistle


Anna ..


After which, a comic song by Mr. ROBERTS, called the "Smok- ing Club, or Puff ! Puff !"


A Song, by


Mrs. La Combe


A Comic Song, by. Mr. Wray


The above to conclude with the laughable Farce, in Two Acts, called


" THE REVIEW," Or the Wags of Windsor.


Captain Beaugard. Mr. Walstein


Looney Mc Twalter. Mr. Andrews


As performed by him at Chatham Theatre, New York.


John Lump. Mr. Herbert


Dobbs ... Mr. Wray


Deputy Bull. Mr. Turnbull


* Mr. THOMAS KILNER was born in England ; made his first appearance on the American stage at the old Park Theatre, New York, in 1815, where he was a favorite actor in such parts as "hearty old men." He became man- ager of the Federal Street Theatre, Boston, Mass., and also was acting and stage manager for Barrere, who first put up the "Chatham Theatre," New York, in 1824. He retired from the stage in 1831, and lived on his farm iu Ohio for many years, where he died.


t Mr. SPILLER was born in England, and' made his debut at the " Hay- market Theatre," London ; first appeared in New York, April 26th, 1811, at the Park Theatre, as Frederick in "Lovers' Vows ;" dicd in New York in 1827. Mr. Spiller was a man of fiue literary abilities. He was an actor most at home in ecceutric characters.


# HEWLETT was a mulatto. His histrionic education was caught up by being an attendant to the celebrated Cooper and Cook when traveling through the country on their starring trips. His imitations of all of the great performers were recognized as correct, and evincing great discrimina- tion and dramatic genius. He was born at Rockaway, Long Island, and died somewhere in Europe.


* Mr. ROBERTS made a great reputation in New York by his excellent performance of Bob Logic in the comedy of "Tom aud Jersey." He made his first appearance in America, at the old Circus in New York, on the east side of Broadway, between Grand and Howard streets, in 1823. He was so attractive at one time as a comedian, that the manager of the Bowery Theatre, New York, paid one thousand dollars, the penalty attached to his articles of agreement with the Chatham Garden Thcatre, to secure his ser- vices in 1826. He was born in Scotland in 1798, and died in Philadelphia in 1833.


HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.


Caleb Quotem. Mr. Roberts


(As performed by him at the Chatham Theatre, with the songs of " The Life, Birth, and Parentage of Caleb Quotem," and the " Nightingale Club.")


Lucy . .


Miss Riddle


Grace Gaylove. Miss La Combe


Tickets fifty cents, to be had at the bar. Children half price. Doors open at 6, and performance to commence at 7 o'clock. A band of musicians from the Chatham Theatre will perform. No postponement on any account. Places may be secured from 2 until 6 o'clock on the day of the performance.


The old Brooklyn Star, a weekly paper, spoke of the hall having been fitted up with stage, scenery, &e., &e, and said the part of Lady Randolph was sustained with great ability by Mrs. Entwistle, and that Miss Riddle, as young Norval, was indeed interesting, and gave promise of great excellence in the future. Mr. Roberts was highly extolled as Caleb Quotem, and the whole performance spoken of as a great success.


On Monday evening, March 13th, the house was filled to overflowing. " The Soldier's Danghter " was performed with great applause. Mrs. Entwistle* was the lively widow, and Mr. Scott, as " Frank Hartall," sustained his reputation as a fine actor, while Roberts took the house by storm in his eomie songs. "'The Spoiled Child " was the after piece, with Miss Riddle.t as " Miss Pickle." On Tuesday evening, March 14th, " The Stranger" and " Lover's Quarrels " made up the bill. Thursday, March 16th, the tragedy of " Jane Shore" and "Animal Magnetism " were performed, with Mr. Scottt as " Lord Hastings," Walstein § as " Gloncester," Wray as "Radcliff," Elting as " Cates- by," Turnbull as " Lord Derby," Herbert as "Du- mont," Andrews as " Behinour," Cad well as "Officer," Mrs. Entwistle as " Jane Shore," and Mrs Walstein| as " Alicia."


March 18th, the same names filled up the east of "John Bull," and a favorite faree. At the bottom of the bills it was advertised that the horse boats would be in readiness at the Catherine Ferry, from S to 12 o'clock, to convey parties back to New York.


* We regret that we have not the space to speak of Mrs. ENTWISTLE in pro- portion to her great merits. She made her first appearance in America at the Park Theatre, 23d of October, 1809, as " Mrs. Beverly." in the tragedy of " The Gamester." She was at that time Mrs. Mason, and was the leading favorite in comedy and tragedy for many years. Her polished and elegant deportment in her performances of women of fashion was extremely fascina- ting. There was nothing forced, nothing studied, nothing which the most fastidions tasto would wish altered, nothing of the common-place artitlee called stage trick, none of that daubed over-doing which, like caricature in painting, ralses the coarse merriment at the expense of the natural pro- priety and truth, but was of the refined. polite, yet natural and pungent quality of humor which casts a mild sunshine over the heart, filling it with pure enjoyment. She was born In England, and died in New Or. leans, La., 1835.


1 MINH RIDDLE made her debut in the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. in 1×23. After playing many seasons in New York, Boston, and other cities. IN a great favorite, she retired from the stage for several years, but returned to it at Laura Keene's Theatre, in 1856, as Mrs. Smith. ller last engagement waw at lloward's Athena um, Boston, where she died In 1861. She was a lady of eminent and spotless character.


1 Mr. Scorr was a very large man, and was known among the playgoers as " Fatty Scott " lle wana tine actor, as the writer can tentify, as he has often men him on the stage of the old Chatham Theatre, where Scott made his appearance on the 10th of May, 1825 lle often performed the part of


Thus we have the record of the first dramatie per- formance in the City of Brooklyn, with stage, seenery and decorations in full, and for a consecutive number of nights with success.


Mrs. Chester's coffee-house was sitnated on Front street, east side, and was known at the time as 28 and 30 Front street. The coffee-honse consisted of two frame buildings, made into one, with a large room on the second floor, which was appropriated for balls and publie meetings and the same as was used on the occa- sion of the dramatic performances above mentioned.


1828 .- The Amphitheatre .- The next event of importance in the dramatie history of Brooklyn was the erection of an Amphitheatre, on leased ground in Fulton street, east side, between Nassan and Concord streets. The ground was broken for this building on the 22d of May, 1828. Its front was of brick, while the theatre itself was mostly of frame. It was erected by Charles W. Sandford, lawyer, of New York City, and for many years Major-General of the First Division of the New York State Militia. At the time he erected the Amphitheatre he was the manager and owner of the Lafayette Theatre and the Mount Pitt Circus, New York. His object in the erection of the Brooklyn theatre was to find use at times for a portion of his over-full company. This was the first building ever erected in Brooklyn for theatrical purposes. The wife of Mr. Sandford was an actress of superior ability, and a vocalist of remarkable skill and sweetness of voice. Her representation of the part of Clari in Payne's opera of "The Maid of Milan " was a splendid performance, and was repeated many times to crowded houses in the City of New York.


The above Amphitheatre was first opened to the public on the evening of July 17th, 1828, with great feats of horsemanship. Among the company were the celebrated Richie, De Forest, Whittaker and Master Alexander ; boxes 50 cents, pit 25 cents : open at î, commence at 8 o'clock. The Brooklyn Star remarks that the new theatre " was a plain building, suited to convenience rather than show. The drop curtain was beautiful and the scenery very fine. The ring for the horsemanship was directly in front of the orchestra. while the seats for the occupants of the pit were under the boxes." On the evening above mentioned, the melo- drama of the " Broken Sword " was performed. “ It was well done, and attracted the silent and orderly attention of the audience." The performances were


** Fitz. James," to Il. Wallack's " Roderick Dhu," in the dramaet "T lady of the Lake." Scott was born In Philadelphia, and died in New York, in 1849, Hle was not related to the celebrated J. R Scott.


§ Mr. WALSTEIN was born in New York, made his first appearance at th Chatham Garden Theatre in 1825. lle was a good actor and had & am jer sonal appearance for the stage. He died In Philadelphia in 1436


U Mrs. WALSTEIN was the alster of the celebrated Mr. Barnes, She her debut, at the Old Park Theatre, New York, April 17th, 1816, in the char acter of the " Nurse." in " Romeo and Juliet." She became ao larg a ] D that she was unfitted for the stage. She retired from the profe n Ja 0. ary the 8th, 1839, and died in New York, April 1st, 1856.


1109


THE DRAMA, OPERA, MUSIC AND ART.


given two or three times a week, and for a while did rather well, through the attendance of country people of the Island coming in to sec the circus. On August 14th, Mr. Richie took a benefit. This was the last night of the scason. September 5th, the place re-opened as the Brooklyn Theatre. The ring was removed ; the company was excellent. The following picces were performed, commencing with the musical drama of " The Poor Soldier," and the following cast :


Patrick (with songs), Mr. Gainer; Darby (with two songs), Mr. Roberts; Dermont (with a song), Mr. Blakely; Captain Fitzroy, Mr. Neilson; Father Luke, Mr. Quin; Bagatelle, Mr. Walstein; Boy, Miss Fisher; Norah (with songs), Mrs Sandford; Cathleen, Mrs. Fisher; after which the laughable farce of the " SLEEP WALKER ": Somino, Mr. Roberts (in which character will be given imitations of Messrs. Kean, Macready, Hilson, Simpson and Cooper) ; Sir Patrick Maguire, Mr. De Camp ; Scilly, Mr. Blakely; Squire Rattlepate, Mr. Woodhull ;* Mrs. De C., Mrs. Walstein; Ellen, Mrs. Fisher.


The Miss FISHER, mentioned in the above cast be- came the well-known favorite, Miss ALEXINA FISHER,


* JACOB WOODHULL, whose real name was Hull, was at one time one of the most noted and remarkabie meu connected with the drama in New York. He made his first appearance upon the public stage at the old Park Theatre, in 1816, in the character of Jaffier, in "Venice Preserved," made a success, and soon became a valuable addition to the Park company. He was an educated and lively-hearted gentleman, and of versatile talents, always ready to do a favor, aud made every one his friend whom he met. One of the best critics of New York remarked "that no one man on the stage could possibly fill Mr. Woodhull's place as a versatile actor, and that while he was one of the most useful men to a manager, still he was the most ill-used actor that ever trod the hoards of a theatre. His good nature was imposed upon, as he would consent to perform any part that would accommodate the management. He played the blood-thirsty villain, misers and young spendthrifts, grayheards and lovers, walking gentlemen, soldiers, sailors, Irishmen, Scotchmen, Dutchmen, Jews, Gentiles, Turks, Indian savages, the heroes of dramas, and all with perfect satisfaction to his audi- ence. Week after week, month after month, and year after year, he went through his performances of all these various characters, with more propriety and rationality than many would-be stars." Mr. Woodhull pos- sessed a remarkable memory, an assertion which oue anecdote told of him will serve to illustrate. " Oue evening, after the performance, while standing in a saloon with some gentlemen, enjoying a social intercourse, one of the party inquired of Mr. Woodhull, "How is it possible to commit to memory Iso many parts in so short a time ?" Woodhull replied it gave him no trouble whatever ; that he had frequently committed a character by once reading it. This the gentleman doubted so emphatically that Mr. Woodhull immedi- ately offered to wager a champagne supper for the party there and then on the spot, that after reading a column of advertisements from any newspaper only once over he could repeat the whole letter-perfect. The wager was accepted, and Mr. Woodhull was the winner." On another occasion, one of the actors failing to appear at night to perform the character of Ludovico, in Sheilds' tragedy of " Evadne," he, on arriving at the theatre, was requested to take the delinquent's place. He conseuted to do so if the management would keep the curtain down while he had time to read over the words of the first act, and so on, between each act, that he might have a chance for study. This, with the little time he had between the scenes in which Ludovico does not appear, was all the time he had to commit this difficult blauk verse part. And yet it is stated that he not only performed the part without a single prompting, but to the applause of the audience and the astonishment of all the company around him. It was for Mr. Woodhull's benefit at the Park Theatre, New York, in 1826, that Edwin Forrest made his first appearance before a New York audience. He performed the part of Othello, and carried the house by storm. He was at that time a stock actor at Albany, N. Y., aud was allowed this opportunity to do his friend Woodhull a service. The occasion made Forrest, as it was not long after he was prevailed on to play a star engagement at the Bowery Theatre, where he made a great success, and soon had his pay raised from forty dollars a weck to two hundred dollars a night. Mr. Forrest himself told the writer these facts, aud spoke of Woodhull in high praise. Mr. Woodhull left the Park company in 1832, and went with Mr. Barus as stage manager of the Richmond Hills Theatre, N. Y., but the cholcra, whose first terrible visitation occurred in that year, caused his death on the 31st of August, when he was only forty years of age. He was born in Greenwich street, New York City, 1792.


and turned the heads and hearts of all the men who saw her. They became wild in admiration of lier beauty, fine acting in comedy, and sweetness of voice in singing.


It appears that a company from New York advertised a performance to take place at the Amphitheatre on the night of Sept. 23d; money was taken in at the doors, and the audience, after waiting for nearly an hour for the curtain to go up, discovered that neither actors, or treasurer could be found ; on which the en- raged audience took satisfaction by commencing to pull the building to pieces, and did much injury before the constables could quell the disturbance. The advertisc- ment did not mention who were the managers. The press and people of Brooklyn looked upon it as a shame- ful swindle. This had the effect of keeping all man- agers away from Brooklyn, and nothing occurred in the dramatic line for a number of years. The Amphi- theatre was numbered among the things of the past, and so ended the first attempt to give the drama a local habitation in Brooklyn.


1840 .- Colonnade Garden .- A new place of amusement made its appearance in Brooklyn under this name, and was located on Brooklyn Heights, on Col- umbia street, opposite to Pineapple strect, on August 6th. The vaudeville of "The Lady and the Devil " was presented, with Mr. Graham and Mr. Charles in the cast. " The Rendezvous " was the after-piece. The stage and scenery of this place was of temporary construction. Several performances were given by good actors, but the dramatic part of the garden soon came to a final exit.


1842 .- June 29th, Mr. WALCOTT* made an at- tempt to introduce the drama at the Colonnade, and appeared as " Hector Timid," in the "Dead Shot." Mr. Collins, the Irish comedian, also appeared on the same little stage.


1844 .- Some actors from New York fitted up the long room at City Hotel, Fulton strcet, with some scenery, and performed the drama of the " Drunkard;" the enterprise was a failure. The drama in Brooklyn now became perfectly dead, until


1848 .- When, in November, Mr. GEORGE WALDO HILL, a personal friend of the writer, made an attempt to establish the drama in Brooklyn. He became the lessce of the large frame building that stood in the grounds of " Military Garden," Duflon's old place, and known at the time as the "City Hotel." The beauty of the old garden had been destroyed for many years


*Mr. WALCOTT was a great favorite at Mitchell's Olympic Theatre in New York; was for several years a member of Mr. Wallack's Company. His perform- ance of " Lavator," iu Planche's conuic drama of that name, was a master performance. He was the author of "Hiawatha, or the Ardent Spirits," and "Laughing Water," "Washingtou," "Giovanni in Gotham." "David Copperfield," "Richard the Third to Kill," " The Customs of the Country," and "Snips Snaps," all excellent hurlesques. He was born in London, Eng- land, 1816, and died in Philadelphia, May 13, 1868.


1110


HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.


past by the encroachment of buildings on the adjacent streets, which had left only the centre part, containing a few bushes and the building alluded to. Mr. John Tremble, the celebrated theatre architect, transformed this building (known as the Assembly Rooms) into a beautiful little theatre, with a parquette and a balcony cirele, with scats for six hundred people. Mr. Hill was under the impression he could make the place pay under the form of a "Dramatie Asso- ciation." There were a few unprofitable performances given, when he closed the place for a few weeks and re-opened it as a theatre, on the 19th of December, with a small stock company of but little merit. This second attempt soon became a failure, and the place remained closed until


1849 .- When, June 11th, it was opened with a good company. The picees were the " Youthful Qneen," Connt De Odenstein, by Mr. Bass. On the 12th, " Charles the II," Bass as Captain Copp. On the 16th, " The Dead Shot" and "Wandering Minstrel," with Bass in the leading characters. On the 18th, Mr. Walcott, of " Mitchell's Olympic Theatre," New York, appeared as " Jeremiah Clip " in " The Widow's Victim." Friday, the 22d, Miss Fanny Wallack ap- peared as " Panline," in the "Lady of Lyons," with John Dyott as " Claude," and Bass as "Col. Dumas ;" this was a splendid cast. Saturday, 28th, " Naval En- gagements." On the 26th, " The Married Rake" and "Brooklyn in Slices," with T. B. Johnston in the easts. As a summer season experiment, it was a fail- urc. September 29th the place was opened again, with Barney Williams as "O'Rafferty," in " Born to Good Luck," and the after-piece of the "Secret," with the eclebrated GEORGE HOLLAND as " Thomas." This was the gentleman whom a professed Christian minister refused to do funeral service over, because he was an actor, and whose name became prominently associated with " The Little Church Around the Corner." On the 24th of September, J. R. Scott* made his first ap- pearance before a Brooklyn audience. He performed the character of "Michael " in the drama of the " Adopted Child." There were not over a dozen per- formances given, and the place was closed as an utter failure.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.