Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 115

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

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'The first performance after the opening of the build- ing was given by the Brooklyn Philharmonic Society, on Saturday evening. Jan. 10th ; after this many operas and concerts followed in rapid succession, which will be particularized in our chapter upon the His- tory of Music in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn at this time had nearly 400,000 inhabi- tants and, was still without a permanently open theatre. This is unprecedented in the histories of cities of the same size throughout the civilized world. Yet, from the fact of the opening of the Academy of Music, we shall find the space at our command crowded with a larger number of performances than hitherto; and can

notice only those entertainments which were of a superior character; minor concerts and dramatic performances can find no record here. The beginning of the dramatic history of any city showing its struggles for advance- ment and recognition, is far more important and inter- esting than its history after it has obtained a proper basis.

The following is a copy of the billof the inauguration of the drama in the Academy:

BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

Lesee, Henry C. Jarrett.

First Dramatic Performance ever given in this building will take place on Monday Evening, December 23d, 1861. When will be presented Shakespeare's great Tragedy of

" HAMLET."

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Mr. E. L. Davenport

The Ghost of Hamlet's Father Mr. J. W. Wallace

Polonius Mr. Mark Smith

Laertes . Mr. J. H. Allen

Horatio. Mr. Henry Langdon

First Gravedigger Mr. T. Placide

Gertrude, Queen of Denmark. . Mrs. J. W. Wallack

Ophelia. Mrs. Julia Bennett Barrow

King .Mr. Kingsland

Osrick Mr. H. G. Clark

Bernardo. Mr. Matthews

Francisco. Mr. Proctor

Actress . Miss Gimber

Rosencrantz .Mr. Ferguson

Guildenstein Mr. Van Deering

First Actor MIr. Livingston

Marcellus . Mr. Carland

Second Gravedigger Mr. J. Sefton

Prices of Admission.

Secured seats in Parquette and Balcony $1.00.

Balcony, Parquette, and Dress Circle .. 50c.

Family Circle. 25c.

The piece was well placed upon the stage and well performed. Davenport and Wallack were fine in their respective parts. The house was crowded in every part.

The Second Dramatic Performance took place on Tuesday, Deecmber 24th, on which oc- casion Sheridan's great comedy of The School for Scandal was performed, with the following east:

Joseph Surface, Mr. J. W. Wallack ; Charles Surface, Mr. E. L. Davenport ; Sir Peter Teazel, Mr. Mark Smith ; Sir Oliver Surface, Mr. George H. Andrews ; Crabtree, Mr. Thomas Placide ; Si Benjamin Backbite, Mr. J. H. Allen ; Careless, Mr. Langdon ; Moses, Mr. J. O. Sefton ; [Lady Tenzel, Mrs. J. B. Barrow ; M s. Candor, Mrs. Brougham ; Lady Sneerwell, Miss Irving ; Maria, Miss Gimber.

THIRD DRAMATIC NIGHT .- Wednesday, December 25th, 15: 1. Shakespeare's tragedy of "Othello," with the following cast. Otheds, Mr. E. L. Davenport ; Jago, Mr. J. W. Wallack ; Brabantio, Mr. Mark Smith ; Cussio, Mr. J. H. Allen ; Montano, Mr. HI Lang- don; Emelia, Mrs. J. W. Wallack; Desdemona, Mrs. Julia B Barrow; Roderigo, Mr. J. O. Sefton ; Duke of Venice, Mr. Kings- land ; Gratiano, Mr. Ferguson; Ludovico, Mr. Van De ring; Julio, Mr. Matthews ; Messenger, Mr. Carland.

The fourth performance was that of London Assurance; the fifth that of Damon and Pythias, concluding with the comedy of the Honey-moon.

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THE DRAMA, OPERA, MUSIC AND ART.

These performances were great successes. Nothing further of dramatic importance occurred at the Aca- demy of Music in the first season of its existence.

1862 .- Mr. James W. Nixon, manager, presented the celebrated tragedian Mr. Edwin Forrest, for eight nights, at the Academy of Music, with new scenery, etc.

Mr. Forrest's first appearance here was on Monday, February 10th, 1862, as King Lear, supported by John McCullongh as Edgar, Miss Athena as Cordelia, Mad. Ponisi as Goneril, and Mrs. N. R. Forrester as Regan. The tragedywas remarkably well placed upon the stage. Mr. J. R. Smith, one of the best scenic artists in America at the time, painted several new scenes for the piece; and, indeed, it was the first time that any effort had been made to place a performance on the Academy stage with sufficient attention to make it worthy of public remark. The house on this occasion was crowded in every part, and the reception which the grand actor received must have been even highly satisfactory to him, who had so often stood before crowded audiences in the largest theatres in the world. On Wednesday, Feb. 12, he played in Jack Cade, supported by the same company, and with new and appropiatc scenery, by J. R. Smith ; on Thursday, February 13, in Vir- ginius; on Friday, February 14, in Richelieu ; on Monday, February 17, as Damon in Damon and Py- thias; on Wednesday, February 19, in Metamora, (never before performed in Brooklyn), with new scenery, etc .; on Thursday, February 20 as Spartacus n The Gladiator ; on Friday evening, February 21, he had a benefit, on which occasion he appeared n the tragedy of Hamlet. During Mr. Forrest's en- gagement the price of admission was 50c., reserved seats 50c. extra.

Other combinations soon followed, with such stars as John Gilbert, John E. Owens, Lester Wallack, Miss Bateman, Matilda Heron, Hackett as Falstaff, etc., tc. Tuesday, Dec. 23, Mr. Edwin Booth appeared or three nights, as Richelieu, Sir Edward Mortimer, nd Shylock.

After these performances followed all the best drama- ic combinations and stars. Mr. Lester Wallack fre- uently brought over his company from New York, nd presented the old English comedies with the full trength of his company. Joseph Jefferson performed is great character of Rip Van Winkle many times o crowded houses. Miss Charlotte Cushman played Queen Catherine, Meg Merrilies, and Lady Macbeth ith great success. Laura Keene frequently brought ver her Olympic company.

THE CELEBRATION OF THE 300TH BIRTHDAY OF HAKESPEARE, 1864 .- On April 23d, 1864, a " com- limentary testimonial" was given to Gabriel Harrison, nder the auspices of the members of the Long Island historical Society. The date of 23d of April happening

to be the three hundredth anniversary of Shakespeare's birthday, Mr. Harrison turned the occasion into a cele- bration of the Bard's birthday, and, in order to make the occasion befitting, produced a series of tableaux vi- vants, illustrating scenes from Shakespeare's principal plays. The groupings contained over one hundred personsin costume. Between the play and the tableaux, Sprague's great ode to Shakespeare was read by Miss Ellen Grey, in the character of Melpomene. The evening's entertainment commenced, for the first time in Brooklyn, with Shakespeare's five-act comedy of the Twefth Night, with the following cast : Viola, Mrs. Con- way; Malvolio, Mr. Conway; Duke Orsino, Mr. J. Duff; Sir Toby Belch, Mr. A. Vincent; Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Mr. C. W. Lewis ; Clown, Mr. H. Hawks; Antonio, Mr. T. H. Dow; Sebastian, Mr. H. S. Mur- dock ; Fabian, Mr. T. Duncan ; Valentine, Miss Bur- nett; Roberto, Mr. Wilkes ; Friar, Mr. Perry ; Olivia, Miss E. King ; Maria, Miss Mowbray.

1863, like 1861, will stand out in bold relief in the history and progress of the Drama in the City of Brooklyn. Even the inauguration of the Academy of Music had not yet satisfied the people, or given them ą temple devoted to the Drama solely, where they could nightly gather for the enjoyment of rational amuse- ment. The performances at the Academy werc but occasional, and, frequently, the prices too high to suit all classes. Besides, the place became the resort of the fashionable, who vied with each other in the display of dress, which was the means of shutting out a large number of highly intellectual people, who could not afford the display of silks and velvets, or roll in fine carriages to the Opera, Grand Concerts, or the Drama. The public, however, by the opening of the Academy of Music, had been awakened to the desire for the Drama, and had tasted from the magic goblet of the tragic muse, as presented by the great Forrest, with his magnificent figure, voice, passion and pathos ; or Matilda Heron, in her wonderful rendering of Camille, with her tender and mysteriously sympathetic depths of human nature, and whose mantle as an artist was fit to adorn the shoulders of a Rachel. Miss Bateman, too, had touched the hearts of young lovers of both sexes by her charming personification of Juliet ; while Falstaff, as rendered by Hackett, cracked the sides of his audience by his unctuously told lies. Indeed, a new spirit was infused in the people for a theatre proper in the city, and not a building devoted to all kinds of entertainments. In 1862 the upper part of the building at the corner of Court and Remson streets was fitted up in the form of a theatre, and opened as

Hooley's Opera House, and was devoted wholly to negro minstrel exhibitions. This place be- came a success at the start, and acted as another incent- ive for a theatre. The writer, who was always anxious to have a theatre in Brooklyn, appreciated these facts, at once called on Buckley T. Benton, Esq., who was

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

finally indneed to build a theatre. On the 1st of May, 1863. the foundation for the building was com- meneed. The writer at once became an applicant, among many others, for the lesseeship, and accom- plished his objeet at a rental of $6,500 per year.

The Park Theatre Opened .- On Monday evening, September 14th, 1863, the first regularly established Theatre was opened in the City of Brook- lyn. The writer named it the " Park Theatre," after the old Park Theatre of New York, for many years the honored temple of the Drama in this country.

The location of the theatre is on Fulton street, directly oppo- site the City Ifall. The front is of Nova Scotia stone, presenting a handsome elevation of 60 feet, with a width of 56 feet. The entrance is in the centre of this building, while the theatre ex- extends 110 feet along Adams street. The auditorium has a parquette and a dress circle, or gallery. The theatre seated 1,200 people. Mr. Gabriel Harrison here introduced, for the first time in any theatre, what he termed "sunken footlights," so that the front edge of the stage was not interrupted by the scolloped tins, which usually prevented a full sight of the actors' feet. This was an innovation that was soon followed by almost every theatre in the country. The ceiling was handsomely frescoed with the representation of the patron-muses; and, instead of the usnal brackets and globes of light projecting out from the side walls, perplexing the sight, a large corrugated reflector hung from the ceiling, imparting a mellowness of light that was perfectly agreeable to the sight. The stage was 60 feet broad by 31 feet deep. There were two private boxes, and the whole theatre had a bright and pleasing effect.

The object of the manager was to conduct the theatre on the most refined principles, with a stock company of excellent artists for the performance of light and pleasing comedies, dramas, and musical pieces of every character. The following is the bill for the opening night :

PARK THEATRE. Fulton Street, opposite City Hall.

LESSEE AND MANAGER. . Gabriel Harrison.

STAGE MANAGER Mr. B. A Baker.

SCENIC ARTIST Mr. George Tirrell.

MR. GABRIEL HARRISON

Respectfully informs the public that this New and Elegant Theatre will open for the REGULAR SEASON

On Monday evening, September 14th, 1863, with a first-class company, consisting of the following ladies and gentlemen :

Miss Henrietta Irving. From the Western Theatre.

Miss Mary Shaw From the Baltimore Theatre.

Miss E. Couren From the Boston Theatre.

Miss E. Burnett From Niblo's Garden.

Madam Pozzoni . From the St. Louis Theatre.

Mrs. Tyrell From Laura Keene's Theatre. Miss Curtis, Miss Singleton and Miss Norton.

Mr. George H. Andrews.

From the Old Park Theatre, N. Y.

Mr. Delmon Grace . From Winter Garden, N. Y.

Mr. George Metkiff From Walnut Street, Philadelphia.

Mr. Walter Lennox From Laura Keene's, N. Y.

Mr. T. C. Gonilny From Niblo's Garden, N. Y.

Mr George Rea, Mr. S. Florence, Mr. H. Flood, and Mr. B. A. Baker .. .Of the Old Olympic, N. Y. Together with a numerous Corps de Ballet.

On this occasion will be presented Buckstone's excellent Comedy, in three acts, entitled

" Married Life."

Mr. Coddle Mr. George H. Andrews.

Mrs. Coddle. Miss H. Irving.

Mr. Dore .. .Mr. Walter Lennox.

Mrs. Dore. Miss Mary Shaw.

Mr. Lionel Lynx Mr. Delmon Grace.

Mrs. Lionel Lynx. Miss E. Couran.

Mr. Younghusband Mr. Metkiff.

Mrs. Younghusband. Miss Burnett.

Mr. Dismal Mr. Gourlay.

Mrs. Dismal. Mrs. Tyrell.

To conclude with the musical farce of " The Loan of a Looer."

Peter Spyke Mr. Walter Lennox.

Captain Amesfort. Mr. Metkiff.

Suezsell. Mr. Gourlay.

Delve. .

Mr. Rea.

Gertrude (with song). Miss Mary Shaw.

Ernestine ..

Miss Burnett.

Orchestra, of 26 performers, under the leadership of John M. Loretz, Jr.

PRICE OF ADMISSION.

Private Boxes. $5.00

Orchestra Chairs 1.00

Parquette .75

Balcony . .50

Family Circle. .25

No Extra Charge for Reserved Seats.

The theatre was packed from parquette to gallery. The following expression of the success of the opening we take from the New York Times :

"The charming little theatre, the first attempt of our sister city in the dramatic line proper, was opened last night to the fullest house we have ever seen. Long before the rise of the curtain, the cheerful placard of 'standing room only ' was placed conspicuously at the door, and hundreds were compelled to go away disappointed. We have already given a detailed de- scription of the house, which for neatness and elegance of finish, is a credit to the eity and an exception even in the long list of metropolitan theatres. The bill for the first night included 'Married Life' and ' The Loan of a Lover.' 'The company in- cludes several well-known names, prominent among which are : MIr. G. H. Andrews, "Old Park," favorite, and Miss Mary Shaw, sister to Mrs. Hoey and Mrs. Watkins. It would not be fair to criticise elosely the initial performance of an opening night, and yet it affords us pleasure to state that Mr. Harrison's cast, seenery and appointments are by no means inferior even to those which at Wallack's last season we so pleasantly remem- ber. Mr. Tirrell's seenes are worthy of special commendation, ranking far above those of ordinary establishments, and worthy really to be examined as works of art. After the first piece, Mr. Harrison, who was loudly called for, made a neat and telling specchi, thanking the audience for their generous patronage and promising to do all in his power to deserve a continuance of public favor. The orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Loretz Jr., was well balaneed, plastic, and practically useful."

The house was well filled night after night to wit- ness snch pieees as "The Soldier's Daughter," " Beauty and the Beast," " John of Paris," " Sketehes in India," and sneh light pieces. On Monday night, November 16th, the style of the performance was changed to s heavier elass of plays, in which the manager, Gabriel Harrison, appeared as Julien St. Pierre in Sheridan Knowles' tragedy of "The Wife," in which he was sup- ported by Miss Irving as Marianne, with the rest of

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THE DRAMA, OPERA, MUSIC AND ART.

the cast filled out to the best ability of the company. It is always an unpleasant task to write in the personal pronoun I, even when used with the greatest modesty, but as the matter is one of history, the writer shall allude to himself as if speaking of another person. On Mr. Harrison's first appearance, the house was crowded in every part, and he met with such a success as an actor that he performed the one character for a whole week. The second week he performed the character of " Claud Melnotte " in "The Lady of Lyons ;" third week, " Carwin " in the drama of " Therese ;" fourth week, in the drama of " The Impostor." This was the first production of a Brooklyn dramatist on a Brooklyn stage. It was a translation from the French, made by John J. Ryan, one of the editors of the New York Herald, and adapted to the stage by Gabriel Harrison. This drama had a run for ten nights, and was with- drawn on account of the illness of Mr. Harrison.

The New York Herald remarked that " Mr. Harrison conceived and acted his characters with great power. He has a nervous manner and an excellent voice, which he manages well. Per- fectly at ease on the stage, he is also utterly without the affected poses, exits and other traditional nonsense of the profession, and is a valuable addition to our list of actors."

The New York World endorsed the above in saying:

" Mr. Gabriel Harrison has a firm appreciation of stage art. He has a capital presence, enunciates finely, and furnishes throughout excellent reading of his text. His actions are ani- mated, easy and natural, and in some scenes he is surpassingly fine. There is a taste and a gentlemanliness in all that he does."

These remarks of the press were more than gratify- ing to the writer. Success and fortune seemed to be extending their hands, bnt sunshine can be obscured in the brightest day. Mr. John J. Ryan, of the Herald, and several other highly cultured gentlemen, suggested that Mr. Harrison should introduce the English Opera upon the boards of his theatre. The idea seemed a good one, and Mr. Harrison immediately organized an English opera troupc.

1864 .- After some three weeks' preparation of new scenery, dresses, &c., &c., at an expense of nearly $3,000, he announced the engagement of Mad. Compte Borchard, of the Italian opera, as sorprano, Mr. Wil- liam Castle as tenor, Mr. S. C. Campbell, baritone, and Mr. Theodore Thomas as leader of the orchestra. Castle and Campbell were members at the time of a minstrel troupe, and had never before performed in opera. The orchestra had thirty in number, and the chorus thirty-seven picked voices.

Monday evening, January 4th, 1864, was presented Balfe's opera, in four acts, entitled the Bohemian Girl, with the following cast, viz: Artine, Mad. Compte Bochard ; Gypsie Queen, Miss Mary Shaw; Thaddeus (his first appearance in opera), Mr. W. Castle ; Count Arnheim (his first appearance in opera), Mr. S. C. Campbell ; Devilshoof, Mr. Geo. Rea; Forstein, Mr. Pike ; Captain of the Guard, Mr. Florence ; Tambourine Dance, Miss Jennie Gourley ; Conductor, Mr, Theodore Thomas ; Master of Chorus, Mr. Metzler. New scenery, dresses, &c., &c.

The houses were crowded for a few nights, and al- though the press of New York and Brooklyn spoke of the performance in the highest terms, still, with the extraordinary expenses of the two companies, the man- ager found it impossible after a few months' struggle to keep his theatre open any longer. The operas of " Maritani," "The Bohemian Girl," and "Fra Diav- olo " had been placed upon the stage in the best pos- sible style to no other effect than the ruin of the manager; and, in the latter part of February, 1864, Mr. Harrison retired from the management of the Park Theatre. The house was then let out to Miss Fanny Herring, who performed for a week; after her Mr. Hackett had the house for a week, and the theatre changed hands till April 2d, when Mr. and Mrs. Con- way became the lessees, and opened with the play of Ingomar, themselves taking the parts of Ingomar and Parthenia. They met with some success. Their sum- mer season, as they called it, lasted nineteen nights, when they closed the theatre until the 3d of Septem- ber, on which occasion they re-opened the Park Theatre with the comedy of "School for Scandal" to a full house, with Mr. and Mrs. Conway performing the leading characters. The first season of Mr. Con way's management was a struggle, but by hard work and ex- cellent management (with an occasional introduction of stars) the theatre became a marked success. At the time they took the theatre, the great Rebellion was over, and the people of the North flushed with victory, and an immense amount of money, put into circulation by the paying off of thousands of troops, gave the masses means for enjoyment, and all kinds of places of amusement gathered in rich harvests.

The Brooklyn Theatre .- The Conways ex- tended their ambition, and after several years of brilliant success in the little Park Theatre, they felt that they must have a larger one. Upon their application, Judge McCne, Messrs. Kingsley and Keeney purchased the old St. John's Church property on the sontheast corner of Washington and Johnston streets, and at once began the ercction of a fine theatre. It had a width of seventy fect on Johnston street and one hundred and twenty-eight feet deep, parallel with Washington street, with the entrance to the auditorium on the extreme south end on Washington street. This entrance was 28 feet wide by 40 feet deep. The face of the building was constructed of Philadelphia brick with brown stone trimmings, with no pretension to arcli- itectural beauty. The anditorium was well arranged and the decorations were of the richest description. It was equal in this respect to any of the finest theatres in New York City.

Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Conway were the lessees, and the doors of the Brooklyn Theatre were open for the first time on October 2d, 1871, with Lord Lytton's admirable character comedy of Money, with the following distribution of characters: Alfred Evelyn, Mr. Frank Roche ;* Sir John Vesey, Mr. F. Chippendale ; Mr.

1118

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Graves, Mr. E. . Lamb ; Sir Fredrick Blount, Mr. M. A. Ken- nedy ;* Cuptain Dudley Smooth, Mr. R. C. White ;* Mr. David Stout, Mr. G. C. Charles ;* Lord Rosemore, Mr. C. Loveday ;* Old Member, Mr. George Spear ;* Sharp, Mr. J. Mackay ; Ser- vant, Mr. F. Edwards ; Toke, Mr. A. S. Wright ; Clara Douglas, Miss Ella Burns ;" Lady Franklin, Mrs. Farren ;*. Georgiana Vesey, Miss Maud Ernest .* Prior to the comedy, an opening address, written by Mr. John Brougham, was delivered by Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Conway, and at the rising of the curtain the national ode of the " Star Spangled Banner" was sung by the entire company.

The house was crowded with a brilliant audience, and the future of the theatre promised prosperity ; but the Con ways lost during their management, up to 1875, over $12,000. After the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Con- way, which oeeurred within one year of each other, in 1874 and 1875, their daughters managed the theatre for a short time, but not successfully.

No two dramatie artists were ever connected with the history of the drama in Brooklyn more deserving of a biographical notiee than Mr. and Mrs. Conway.

For years they worked night and day for the ad- vaneement of the drama and the pleasure of the peo- ple, and we deeply regret that our limited space will not allow us to do them justice in full detail.

FREDERICK BARTLETT CONWAY was born in Clifton, England, February 10, 1819, and was at the time of his death 55 years of age. His father-known in dramatic history as the Elder Conway -was an actor of eminence, one of the proud names that adorn the British stagc. Frederick, a lad of unusual promisc, was en- tered at Oxford at an carly age, in the expectation that he would adopt the clerical profession. The histrionic instinct of his race was strong within him, however, and would not con- forin itself to the vocation selected for him. He broke away, and went upon the stage as soon as his majority was attained. With that quick, manly intelligence and artistic impulse which were among the distinguishing features of his subsequent career, his advancement was exceptionally rapid, and at the age of 24 he had become one of the favorite impersonators of "leading juvenile" characters in his native country. He was judged competent to sustain opposite parts to the brightest stars of the theatrical firmament, and the record shows that his pri- vate life was one of moderation, modest and manful persever- ance, and the closest attention to the study of an art he held in profound reverence. Ilis fame grew steadily, and when, in 1851, he accompanied the cminent comedian, Mr. William Dav- idge, to America, Mr. Conway found that his good name had preceded him. llis welcome in this country was prompt and cordial, and he at once took high rank among the most capable and erudite members of his profession. His first appearance in America was made at the Broadway Theatre, New York, where he performed Charles Surface in the "School for Scandal."

About this time Mr. Conway formed the acquaintance of a brilliant young actress just then ascending to fame, Miss Sarah Crocker. The acquaintance, promoted by an enthusiastic devo- votion to a common art purpose, speedily developed a tenderer feeling, and the beautiful and talented young artiste soon be- came Mrs. Conway. It was a brilliant and prosperous alliance of hearts, animated by the generous impulse that leads to renown

devotion to each other and to their art. Mr. Conway was one of the most pains-taking and sympathetic artists that ever supported a star actor. His admirable support of Edwin For- rest for over one hundred nights at the Broadway Theatre, New York, inet with the full endorsement of the press. Mr. Forrest

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Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 115

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

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