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(1816 To 1860) By Chas. H. Haswell Originally published 1896 |
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BUT one theatre was open in the city, the Park, built in 1798, standing at 23 Park Row, and running back to Theatre Alley, which extends from Ann to Beekman Street. There was one smaller in Anthony Street, near Broadway, which had been opened in 1814, but now was unoccupied, and later was the site of Christ Church. Concerning further means of amusement, it may be noted here that at this date bull- and bear-baiting was practised as neither unlawful nor improper. The first theatre in New York was opened in 1750 in Kip (Nassau) Street, between John Street and Maiden Lane. In 1761 a theatre was built on the lower side of Beekman Street, near Nassau, in which during that year Hamlet" was presented for the first time in America. This house was wrecked during a riot over the Stamp Act in 1765. n 1767 the John Street Theatre, on the north side near Broadway, was opened; in 1776 the Montague Garden on Broadway, between Chambers and Barclay streets; and in 1785 two new theatres were opened, one in William Street and one in lower Greenwich Street ; doors open at 5.15, and curtain raised at 6 P. M.
At the Park the hour of opening was half-past six, the performance beginning at half-past seven. It was universally the custom to give two pieces of performance, generally a tragedy and a comedy; and sometimes three pieces were given, and between the pieces a comic song, a pas seul or pas de deux by danseuses. The pit, now termed parquet, was provided with board benches
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