Re- the name change issue. Local TV news on Nov. 30th showed the front of the theatre. The upper marquee still read “Wang Theatre”, but the name on the large, lower, marquee had been changed to “Citi Wang”.
The Harlem Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. B. Lichtenstein is listed as the “sole prop.” Admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The seating was : Orchestra: 553, Balcony: 402, Gallery: 600; total: 1,555 seats. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide x 36 feet high; the stage was 39 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor, had both electric and gas illumination, and had 10 members in the house orchestra.
The 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide says of the Grand Opera House: “…we find on the northwest corner (of Eighth Ave and 23rd St) the Grand Opera House, erected by Samuel Pike, and afterward purchased by Jay Gould, and managed by the redoubtable Col. Jim Fisk. This theatre has been recently remodeled, and is now one of the city’s most popular playhouses for combinations. It is still owned by the Gould estate and is managed by Augustus Pitou”. The admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. There were 2,149 seats and 500 standing room places. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide x 32 feet high, and the stage was 63 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 11 members of the house orchestra.
In the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide, the Irving Place Theatre is described as “…the most prominent German theatre that the city boasts of, where the best German company in the United States can be seen.” The admission prices ranged from 35 cents to $1.50, with boxes selling for $10 and $15. The capacity was 1,528 (1,128 seats plus 400 standing spaces, or “admissions” as the Guide calls them.) The breakdown was: Orchestra: 540, Balcony: 251, Gallery: 279, Boxes: 58. The proscenium opening was 42 feet wide x 29 feet high. The stage was 36 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 14 to 28 members in the house orchestra.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Fitchburg Theatre on Main St. has a facade photo taken in May 1941. The theatre’s entrance was in the middle of a 2-story business block with a rather nice facade. The attraction posted on the marquee in white letters on a dark background is Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr in a movie with a title that looks something like “G-WhitComrade X”. The Report states that the Fitchburg has been playing MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old; that it’s in Good condition; and has 1066 orchestra seats and 685 balcony seats; total: 1,751 seats. The 1940 population of Fitchburg was 41,800.
Koster & Bial’s is mentioned in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It says “This is one of the newest and most beautiful places of amusement in the city, and was erected by Oscar Hammerstein, who intended it for English grand opera, only to be, however, converted to its present use, as a thoroughly first-class music hall, after failing in its original intent.” The manager is listed as Albert Bial. The seating capacity is given as 3,748. (But that figure may include standees). Ticket prices were 25 cents to $1.50. The proscenium opening was 42 feet wide x 42 feet high; and the stage was 46 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor.
The old Murray Hill Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The manager was Frank Murtha, and ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1. It had 1,319 seats. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide x 32 feet high, and the stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre auditorium was on the first floor. There is a note that the theatre is new and presents “combination shows at popular prices.”
Thank you, Warren! I would have had a tough time trying to find the old Murray Hill Th. here in CT. And yes, prior to 1970, there were many long-distance trains running out of GCT to points in New England, Montreal, upstate NY, and the Midwest (Chicago, St. Louis, etc.).
The old American Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide, an annual reference for roadshow managers. The seating capacity is: Orchestra: 671, Balcony: 593, Gallery: 800, Total: 2,064 seats. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide x 39 feet high. The stage was 58 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both electric and gas illumination. There were 15 members of the house orchestra.
The old Broadway Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The seating capacity is given as: Orchestra: 626, Balcony: 436, Gallery: 538, Total: 1,600 seats, plus boxes. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide x 36 feet high. The stage was 48 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both electric and gas illumination. The house orchestra had 24 members.
A Murray Hill Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. According to an article in the front of the Guide, the Murray Hill had just been built, had 1319 seats and was located on Lexington Ave. between 41st and 42nd streets. It was offering “combination shows at popular prices”. Did this theatre eventually become a cinema and under what name?
As the Boston Music Hall, the Orpheum is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide, an annual for roadshow producers and stage managers. The manager was L.H. Mudgett. The seating capacity was 2,397 but that figure is slightly different from the breakdown— Orchestra: 1257, Balcony: 680, Gallery: 466, total: 2,403. There is a note that a proscenium arch can be erected if needed and that scenary can be used once the portable proscenium is in place. (I wonder how long it took to put it up.)The comment is also made that the auditorium is on the ground floor, which it was on the Hamilton Place side (it was one flight up from the Winter St. entrance, and later, from the Washington St. entrance.) The Guide also says that the Music Hall had electric illumination.
Keith’s New Theatre in Boston is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The managers are B.F. Keith and E.F. Albee. The seating capacity is given as 3,000, but that could not possibly be correct. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to 75 cents. The proscenium opening was 34 feet, 4 inches square. The stage was 41 feet deep. The theatre was on the first floor. It’s possible that the seating capacity figure includes several hundred standing spaces.
As the Park Theatre, the State was listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The manage was Eugene Tompkins who also ran the Boston Theatre to the north. The seating capacity was given as 844, but that seems to be close to the figure for only the orchestra and the first balcony. The breakdown given is Orchestra: 591, Balcony: 249, Gallery: 600, total: 1,440, but the Gallery figure may include standees. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide x 32 feet high. The stage was 37 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 11 members of the orchestra.
The Columbia Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The seating capacity is given as 1,800. Ticket prices were 15 cents to $1. The house had both electric and gas illumination. The auditorium was on the ground floor. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide x 38 feet high. The stage was 40 feet deep. The house orchestra had 10 members.
Yes, in theatres circa-1900 the seats were smaller (because patron’s butts were smaller) and closer together. Also, in the top balcony they often installed benches instead of individual seats. And they thought nothing of admitting standees in large numbers. So when these old theatres were re-seated in, say, the 1940s, the total capacity went down. At the Astor, however, they removed the second balcony but enlarged the first balcony; they removed the stage and shoved the main floor seating into the stage space, so when they got through, the seating capacity was not changed that much.
The RKO Grand, as the Grand Opera House, is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The managers are F.R.Hamlin and H.L. Hamlin. The seating capacity is given as 1,700 (but that figure may have included standees). The proscenium opening was 35 feet wide x 33 feet high. The stage was 42 feet deep and the theatre was located on the first floor.
The Fulton Opera House in Lancaster is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. It was at the time under the management of B. and C.A. Yecker. The seating capacity is listed as 1,393. (I don’t know how accurate that figure is — it may include standees.) Ticket prices were 25 cents to $1. The proscenium opening was 28 feet wide x 26 feet high. The stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre had the “Edison system” of electricity. The theatre was on the ground floor, and there was an orchestra with 6 to 10 members. Local hotels included the Steven House, American, Hotel Schiller, and Miester House.
There is a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Chatham Theatre on Main St. It has an exterior photo taken in May, 1941. There was a center entrance with 3 pairs of double doors with poster cases on each side and a canopy with the theatre name on it above. The Report states that the Chatham was been a MGM customer for over 10 years; that it was over 15 years old; that it was in Fair condition, and had 564 seats, all on one floor. The Report indicates that there were no competing theatres in Chatham; the 1940 population of Chatham was 2,100.
The Bowdoin Square Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The seating capacity is listed as 1,600. Admission prices range from 25 cents to $1. The theatre had both electric and gas lighting. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide x 34 feet high. The stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 10 places in the orchestra pit.
The Boston Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The seating capacity is given as 3,172. Admission prices range from 25 cents to $1.50. Eugene Tompkins was the manager. The proscenium opening was 50 feet wide x 40 feet high, and the stage was 90 feet deep. The orchestra had 14 members.
As the Tremont Theatre, the Astor is included in the 1897-98 Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide, a reference for roadshow producers and stage managers. The seating capacity: Orchestra and Orch. Circle: 631; Balcony: 417; Gallery: 357; total: 1,405 seats, plus boxes. There was space for 400 standees (The Guide refers to them as “admissions”). The proscenium opening was 33 feet wide x 33 feet high. The stage was 45 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 12 in the orchestra. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents for “admissions” up to $1.50.
The Thornton Opera House in Warwick (postoffice, River Point) is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Officil Theatrical Guide. The manager was J.H. Thornton and the press agent was O.B. Thornton. Seating capacity wass 1,500. The proscenium opening was 30 feet wide X 17 feet high. The stage was 24 feet deep. The theatre was on the 2nd floor of the building. There were 5 in the orchestra. Admission prices ranged from 25 cents to 75 cents. Local hotels were the Clyde, Warwick and Briggs. Printed posters read “Thornton’s Opera House, River Point.”
The Bliven Opera House in Westerly is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The manager is C.B. Bliven. The seating capacity is 1,136. The theatre is on the ground floor and there are 4 in the orchestra. The house has both electric and gas lighting. The proscenium is 28 feet wide by 20 feet high. The stage was 30 feet deep. The population of Westerly was 10,000; Hotels are the Dixon and the Foster.
The Providence Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide, a reference book for roadshow producers and stage managers. The admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.30. The seating was: Orchestra: 529, Balcony: 328, Gallery: 500, total: 1,357 plus box seats. There was room for 400 standees (what they call “admissions” in the Guide). The theatre was on the first floor, and had 10 places in the orchestra pit. The orchestra leader at the time was Felix Wendelschaefer. The Manager was Robert Morrow. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide X 39 feet high; the stage was 45 feet deep. The Providence Opera House was later managed by the Shubert organization for many years.
Re- the name change issue. Local TV news on Nov. 30th showed the front of the theatre. The upper marquee still read “Wang Theatre”, but the name on the large, lower, marquee had been changed to “Citi Wang”.
The Harlem Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. B. Lichtenstein is listed as the “sole prop.” Admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The seating was : Orchestra: 553, Balcony: 402, Gallery: 600; total: 1,555 seats. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide x 36 feet high; the stage was 39 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor, had both electric and gas illumination, and had 10 members in the house orchestra.
The 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide says of the Grand Opera House: “…we find on the northwest corner (of Eighth Ave and 23rd St) the Grand Opera House, erected by Samuel Pike, and afterward purchased by Jay Gould, and managed by the redoubtable Col. Jim Fisk. This theatre has been recently remodeled, and is now one of the city’s most popular playhouses for combinations. It is still owned by the Gould estate and is managed by Augustus Pitou”. The admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. There were 2,149 seats and 500 standing room places. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide x 32 feet high, and the stage was 63 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 11 members of the house orchestra.
In the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide, the Irving Place Theatre is described as “…the most prominent German theatre that the city boasts of, where the best German company in the United States can be seen.” The admission prices ranged from 35 cents to $1.50, with boxes selling for $10 and $15. The capacity was 1,528 (1,128 seats plus 400 standing spaces, or “admissions” as the Guide calls them.) The breakdown was: Orchestra: 540, Balcony: 251, Gallery: 279, Boxes: 58. The proscenium opening was 42 feet wide x 29 feet high. The stage was 36 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 14 to 28 members in the house orchestra.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Fitchburg Theatre on Main St. has a facade photo taken in May 1941. The theatre’s entrance was in the middle of a 2-story business block with a rather nice facade. The attraction posted on the marquee in white letters on a dark background is Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr in a movie with a title that looks something like “G-WhitComrade X”. The Report states that the Fitchburg has been playing MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old; that it’s in Good condition; and has 1066 orchestra seats and 685 balcony seats; total: 1,751 seats. The 1940 population of Fitchburg was 41,800.
Koster & Bial’s is mentioned in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It says “This is one of the newest and most beautiful places of amusement in the city, and was erected by Oscar Hammerstein, who intended it for English grand opera, only to be, however, converted to its present use, as a thoroughly first-class music hall, after failing in its original intent.” The manager is listed as Albert Bial. The seating capacity is given as 3,748. (But that figure may include standees). Ticket prices were 25 cents to $1.50. The proscenium opening was 42 feet wide x 42 feet high; and the stage was 46 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor.
The old Murray Hill Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The manager was Frank Murtha, and ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1. It had 1,319 seats. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide x 32 feet high, and the stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre auditorium was on the first floor. There is a note that the theatre is new and presents “combination shows at popular prices.”
Thank you, Warren! I would have had a tough time trying to find the old Murray Hill Th. here in CT. And yes, prior to 1970, there were many long-distance trains running out of GCT to points in New England, Montreal, upstate NY, and the Midwest (Chicago, St. Louis, etc.).
The old American Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide, an annual reference for roadshow managers. The seating capacity is: Orchestra: 671, Balcony: 593, Gallery: 800, Total: 2,064 seats. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide x 39 feet high. The stage was 58 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both electric and gas illumination. There were 15 members of the house orchestra.
The old Broadway Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The seating capacity is given as: Orchestra: 626, Balcony: 436, Gallery: 538, Total: 1,600 seats, plus boxes. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide x 36 feet high. The stage was 48 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both electric and gas illumination. The house orchestra had 24 members.
A Murray Hill Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. According to an article in the front of the Guide, the Murray Hill had just been built, had 1319 seats and was located on Lexington Ave. between 41st and 42nd streets. It was offering “combination shows at popular prices”. Did this theatre eventually become a cinema and under what name?
As the Boston Music Hall, the Orpheum is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide, an annual for roadshow producers and stage managers. The manager was L.H. Mudgett. The seating capacity was 2,397 but that figure is slightly different from the breakdown— Orchestra: 1257, Balcony: 680, Gallery: 466, total: 2,403. There is a note that a proscenium arch can be erected if needed and that scenary can be used once the portable proscenium is in place. (I wonder how long it took to put it up.)The comment is also made that the auditorium is on the ground floor, which it was on the Hamilton Place side (it was one flight up from the Winter St. entrance, and later, from the Washington St. entrance.) The Guide also says that the Music Hall had electric illumination.
Keith’s New Theatre in Boston is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The managers are B.F. Keith and E.F. Albee. The seating capacity is given as 3,000, but that could not possibly be correct. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to 75 cents. The proscenium opening was 34 feet, 4 inches square. The stage was 41 feet deep. The theatre was on the first floor. It’s possible that the seating capacity figure includes several hundred standing spaces.
As the Park Theatre, the State was listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The manage was Eugene Tompkins who also ran the Boston Theatre to the north. The seating capacity was given as 844, but that seems to be close to the figure for only the orchestra and the first balcony. The breakdown given is Orchestra: 591, Balcony: 249, Gallery: 600, total: 1,440, but the Gallery figure may include standees. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide x 32 feet high. The stage was 37 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 11 members of the orchestra.
The Columbia Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The seating capacity is given as 1,800. Ticket prices were 15 cents to $1. The house had both electric and gas illumination. The auditorium was on the ground floor. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide x 38 feet high. The stage was 40 feet deep. The house orchestra had 10 members.
Yes, in theatres circa-1900 the seats were smaller (because patron’s butts were smaller) and closer together. Also, in the top balcony they often installed benches instead of individual seats. And they thought nothing of admitting standees in large numbers. So when these old theatres were re-seated in, say, the 1940s, the total capacity went down. At the Astor, however, they removed the second balcony but enlarged the first balcony; they removed the stage and shoved the main floor seating into the stage space, so when they got through, the seating capacity was not changed that much.
The RKO Grand, as the Grand Opera House, is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The managers are F.R.Hamlin and H.L. Hamlin. The seating capacity is given as 1,700 (but that figure may have included standees). The proscenium opening was 35 feet wide x 33 feet high. The stage was 42 feet deep and the theatre was located on the first floor.
The Fulton Opera House in Lancaster is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. It was at the time under the management of B. and C.A. Yecker. The seating capacity is listed as 1,393. (I don’t know how accurate that figure is — it may include standees.) Ticket prices were 25 cents to $1. The proscenium opening was 28 feet wide x 26 feet high. The stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre had the “Edison system” of electricity. The theatre was on the ground floor, and there was an orchestra with 6 to 10 members. Local hotels included the Steven House, American, Hotel Schiller, and Miester House.
There is a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Chatham Theatre on Main St. It has an exterior photo taken in May, 1941. There was a center entrance with 3 pairs of double doors with poster cases on each side and a canopy with the theatre name on it above. The Report states that the Chatham was been a MGM customer for over 10 years; that it was over 15 years old; that it was in Fair condition, and had 564 seats, all on one floor. The Report indicates that there were no competing theatres in Chatham; the 1940 population of Chatham was 2,100.
The Bowdoin Square Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The seating capacity is listed as 1,600. Admission prices range from 25 cents to $1. The theatre had both electric and gas lighting. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide x 34 feet high. The stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 10 places in the orchestra pit.
The Boston Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. The seating capacity is given as 3,172. Admission prices range from 25 cents to $1.50. Eugene Tompkins was the manager. The proscenium opening was 50 feet wide x 40 feet high, and the stage was 90 feet deep. The orchestra had 14 members.
As the Tremont Theatre, the Astor is included in the 1897-98 Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide, a reference for roadshow producers and stage managers. The seating capacity: Orchestra and Orch. Circle: 631; Balcony: 417; Gallery: 357; total: 1,405 seats, plus boxes. There was space for 400 standees (The Guide refers to them as “admissions”). The proscenium opening was 33 feet wide x 33 feet high. The stage was 45 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 12 in the orchestra. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents for “admissions” up to $1.50.
The Thornton Opera House in Warwick (postoffice, River Point) is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Officil Theatrical Guide. The manager was J.H. Thornton and the press agent was O.B. Thornton. Seating capacity wass 1,500. The proscenium opening was 30 feet wide X 17 feet high. The stage was 24 feet deep. The theatre was on the 2nd floor of the building. There were 5 in the orchestra. Admission prices ranged from 25 cents to 75 cents. Local hotels were the Clyde, Warwick and Briggs. Printed posters read “Thornton’s Opera House, River Point.”
The Bliven Opera House in Westerly is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The manager is C.B. Bliven. The seating capacity is 1,136. The theatre is on the ground floor and there are 4 in the orchestra. The house has both electric and gas lighting. The proscenium is 28 feet wide by 20 feet high. The stage was 30 feet deep. The population of Westerly was 10,000; Hotels are the Dixon and the Foster.
The Providence Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide, a reference book for roadshow producers and stage managers. The admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.30. The seating was: Orchestra: 529, Balcony: 328, Gallery: 500, total: 1,357 plus box seats. There was room for 400 standees (what they call “admissions” in the Guide). The theatre was on the first floor, and had 10 places in the orchestra pit. The orchestra leader at the time was Felix Wendelschaefer. The Manager was Robert Morrow. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide X 39 feet high; the stage was 45 feet deep. The Providence Opera House was later managed by the Shubert organization for many years.