The American Museum

Up to the year 1824, the only marble building in the city was the City Hall; and so strong was the prejudice of workmen against the use of the stone for building purposes, that when John Scudder wished to erect the American Museum on the site of Hampden Hall at the corner of Ann Street and Broadway in the above year, not a workman could be persuaded to undertake the work, and, as a last resource, a convict was pardoned out of Greenwich prison on condition that he would do it. After the Revolution, Hampden Hall was the town residence of Andrew Hopper. In 1840 the museum came into the hands of Phineas T. Barnum, " The Great American Showman," who united with it the collection from Peale's New York Museum and continued to run what he called "a lecture room" in connection with the museum; and here were given what he was pleased to call moral plays, so that many people who would not go to the theatre (horrible, demoralizing place!) went to see Barnum's show without any twinges of conscience.

The Olympic Theatre

Between Howard and Grand streets, there was a building originally designed as a circus; but which, as appears from an advertisement of 1812, was the Olympic Theatre under the management of Dwyer and McKenzie. It was West's Circus before 1819, in which year it opened with The Spy. It had both a ring and a stage; and on the latter the Park Theatre Company appeared in 1822 as being at a safe distance from the city which, at that time, was scourged with yellow fever. In 1820 it was a circus under Victor Pepin's management, and it remained a circus as late as 1825, when it was owned by Pierre Lorillard; it occupied the lots 442 to 448 Broadway. In 1827, the circus was converted into a theatre called the Broadway; and at one time, it was known as the Marine Theatre. The Olympic Theatre was, in 1837, built at 444 and the rest of the site was occupied by Tattersall's, a famous horse and carriage mart until the fifties. The theatre was at first unsuccessful, as it was ahead of the times in prices and quality of plays.

William Mitchell leased the house and opened it, December 9, 1839, as a low-priced house for amusing performances; and it soon became the fashion and the most popular place in the city. Steady prosperity followed until 1850, when Mitchell gave it up. After Mitchell, Burton had it for a short time; and on November 6, 1850, it was opened as Fellow's Opera House and Hall of Lyrics with negro minstrels. It was used for some years for all kinds of entertainments that could pay the rent, and was called the American, and in 1853, Christy and Wood's Minstrel Hall. The "Old Circus," as it was sometimes called, was destroyed by fire, December 20, 1854; but was rebuilt and reopened. It became the Broadway Boudoir in January, 1860, and the American again in August, 1863. It was finally destroyed by fire on February 15, 1866, the City Assembly Rooms, which were overhead, suffering a like fate.

Niblo's Garden

In early years, a circus called the Stadium was established on the northeast corner of Prince Street. Shortly after the War of 1812, it was used as a place for drilling officers of the militia; later, two brick buildings were erected on the site, in one of which the novelist Cooper lived for some time. The place was known as the Columbia Gardens in 1823 when William Niblo leased it, opening it as a restaurant and garden. In the garden was the old circus building, which Niblo converted into a fully equipped theatre in fifteen days after the burning of the Broadway Theatre, opening it July 4, 1827. A larger and better theatre building was erected
and opened in 1829, which was known until its last performance on March 23, 1895, as Niblo's Garden. Niblo retired from the management in May, 1861, and the owner, A.T. STewart, greatly improved the house.

The Metropolitan Hotel

In 1852, the Metropolitan Hotel was erected between the theatre and Broadway, but the entrance to the theatre was always from Broadway. In the same building as the theatre was Niblo's Saloon, given over to concerts, spiritualistic meetings, etc., until May 9, 1865, when it was converted into the dining-room of the hotel. While many famous actors appeared at Niblo's, it is probably best remembered by the performances of "The Black Crook" under the management of Jarrett and Palmer, whose ballet and spectacular effects, not to mention the undressiness of the women performers, shocked the sense of propriety of the people of that era. The play had a great run, opening September 12, 1866, and closing January 4, 1868, after four hundred and seventy-five performances; it was revived two years later. The hotel and theatre were both demolished in 1895 to make way for a large office building.

Tripler's Hall

Tripler's Hall was opened at 677 Broadway near Bond Street in 1850. Jenny Lind was to have opened the house, but it was not ready upon her arrival early in September of that year and so she appeared under the management of Barnum at Castle Garden; she sang at Tripler's in October. On the twenty-seventh of September, the hall, which was known both as Tripler's and as the Metropolitan, was opened by Henrietta Sontag in concert, repeating here her European successes. On the twenty-fourth of February, 1852, a memorial service, presided over by Daniel Webster and addressed by Washington Irving and William Cullen Bryant, was held in honor of the novelist Cooper, who had died in the preceding September. On September 22, 1853, Adelina Patti, then a child ten years old, appeared in concert, and gave promise of the wonderful voice which was later to enthrall the world. On January 8, 1854, Metropolitan Hall and the adjoining La Farge House were destroyed by fire; but the hall was rebuilt and opened in the following September, under the name of the New York Theatre and Metropolitan Opera House. The great French actress Rachel appeared here in 1855 and during her engagement contracted a severe cold which resulted in her death.

Towards the close of the same year the house was remodeled and called Laura Keene's Varieties; and in the following year, it became Burton's Theatre. In 1859 it became the Winter Garden and Conservatory of the Arts, the first part of the title being that by which it is best known and which it retained until its total destruction by fire, March 23, 1867.

The La Farge House

The La Farge House was destroyed at the same time, but was rebuilt with a mansard roof and called the Grand Central Hotel. As the Winter Garden, the theatre was the scene of many notable performances; among others, those of Edwin Booth. When the fire occurred in the La Farge House, G.P.Putnam was located at 661, adjoining the Winter Garden Theatre. The fire threatened 661, and the books and stationery of Putnam were carried across the way into Charles Scribner's store. The present firm of Charles Scribner's Sons is the direct descendant of Baker & Scribner, established in 1846. The publishers and booksellers could afford to locate on Broadway. With the exception of Cooper, who was a rich man and independent of literature, I can find no other literary man who had a house on Broadway, as given elsewhere, there were several who boarded or lodged on the street. Probably in those days, as in these, the charge was made that it was the publisher who became rich.

The Thirteenth Street Theatre

The Thirteenth Street theatre was continued by his more famous son Lester; and Wallack's Theatre and its stock company became synonymous with all that is best in dramatic art, in acting, in scenery, in stage management and presentation, and in the play itself. The fact that an actor had been a member of Wallack's company was sufficient recommendation as to ability and training to secure him admission into almost any theatre company in the land; although Thomas Allston Brown says that Wallack never made a good actor, but only engaged those who already had reputations. Some of the many plays at Wallack's were "The Clandestine Marriage", "The School for Scandal" with John Gilbert, John Brougham, Charles Coghlan, Charles Rockwell, E.M. Holland, and Harry Becket, Madam Ponisi, Effie Germon, Stella Boniface, and Rose Coghlan. In 1881, Wallack's was about the only theatre on Broadway below Twenty-third Street, as the theatre-going public had deserted lower Broadway; so a new theatre was built at Thirtieth Street which Wallack managed almost up to the time of his death.

After Lester Wallack retired from the management of the Thirteenth Street House, it became for a time the German Theatre, passing later into the management of Henry E. Abbey, who presented grand opera. Wallack resumed possession January 10, 1883, and the house was reopened as the Star, March twenty-sixth. Then followed such a galaxy of actors as Modjeska, Lawrence Barrett, Booth, McCullough, Wilson Barrett, Boucicault, Florence, Irving, Hermann, Robson, and Crane. But its days were numbered, and toward the last, it was given over to melodrama. The last performance, "The Man-o-war's Man," was given in April, 1901. It was a very rainy night, otherwise there would probably have been more people in the theatre to say good-bye to the old house. At the end of the performance there was a demonstration on the part of the audience, led by the photographer Rockwood; and those present united in singing Auld Lang Syne before dispersing to their homes. The building was demolished shortly afterward to make room for a great business structure. What recollections of great acting and fine casts the very name of Wallack's brings to many .

The Chinese Rooms

The Chinese Rooms at 539 and 541, above Spring Street, were opened September 1, 1851, with the Bloomer Company, all ladies, who dressed in the bloomer costume and gave fine concerts. In February, 1852, it became the Broadway Casino and in 1853, Buckley's Minstrel Hall. As the Melodeon Concert Hall (1858-61) it became notorious and one of the sights of New York, as in that neighborhood was the "Tenderloin" of the day, with many gambling saloons and worse places.

After the fire of July, 1865, which burned out his Ann Street place, Barnum rebuilt the Melodeon Hall and opened it September 6, 1865, as Barnum's New Museum. Fire broke out in the part of the building occupied by Van Amburgh's Menagerie on March 3, 1868, and the place was destroyed. It was very cold weather, and the front of the house and the fire ladders were encased in ice, while the firemen looked like walking icicles.

The Apollo Ball-room

A second Broadway Theatre was opened in August, 1837, on the east side of Broadway near Walker Street in a building formerly known as Euterpean Hall and the Apollo Saloon; but the enterprise was soon abandoned. Across the street, at Number 412, was the Apollo Ball-Room, a very popular resort for politicians opposed to Tammany Hall. In May, 1844, the Congo Minstrels, later called the Negro Minstrels, appeared at Apollo Hall. During the time of Fernando Wood, the building became the headquarters of the Apollo Hall, or Wood, democracy.

During the vogue of the Apollo Ball-Room, it was the resort of many of the younger set, who here found a freedom of action and dancing which they were denied in the sedate affairs of society. In fact, patronizing the Apollo became a mild kind of dissipation among the society youths.

The Old Broadway Theatre

The Old Broadway Theatre was located on the east side of the street, between Pearl and Worth Streets, and was opened, on September 27, 1847, with "The School for Scandal" and "Used Up", in the latter of which Mr. John Lester (Wallack) made his first appearance on the American stage. The house had been projected by "Tom" Hamblin; but he was not able to carry the enterprise through, so that the first manager was Alvah Mann, who later took Ethelbert A. Marshall into partnership. The firm lasted until October 25, 1848, when Marshall became sole manager and remained so until May 1, 1858. By this time, the theatre had become too far down-town, the houses were declining, and Marshall was losing money. Many famous actors appeared upon the boards of the Broadway; and it was here that Forrest and Macready earned their greatest laurels. The theatre closed on April 2, 1859, and shortly afterward, it was torn down.

Buckley's Hall

Buckley's Hall at 585, opposite the Metropolitan Hotel, was opened with Buckley's Minstrels, August 25, 1856. Ill luck seemed to be the fate of the house; for until May 8, 1865, it changed its name a dozen times at least and was under numerous managers. On this latter date its luck changed, for the San Francisco Minstrels took possession and remained until 1870. During the next five years, the theatre changed its name three times, the last time becoming the Metropolitan under Tony Pastor, until April 1, 1881. Many actors and actresses, as Lillian Russell and the Irwin Sisters, who later became famous, began their careers in this house under Tony Pastor.

Wood's Minstrel Hall

Wood's Minstrel Hall at 514, below Spring Street, was opened July 7, 1862. It became Wood's Theatre on June 15, 1866, with performances of the legitimate drama; but changed its character in September of the same year when it became the German Thalia Theatre Comique. Harrigan and Hart appeared here December 2, 1872; and after it had been in the hands of other managers with variety performances, they obtained possession again on August 7, 1876, and kept it until April 30, 1881, when the building was torn down and converted into stores. It was during this time that they produced "The Mulligan Guard" series. A visitor remarks: "I remember dropping into the theatre one afternoon in 1877 and seeing the play of 'Old Lavender'. The audience was small, the house was dirty and dingy, and the curtain did not reach the stage when lowered; yet I felt like a discoverer as I remarked to my companion about the excellence of the acting in such inharmonious surroundings and prophesied a career for the protagonist of the play."