Lingard’s

“Manager Lingard has determined to alter his style of entertainment at his theatre on Broadway, and accordingly commences this evening with a full dramatic company, with Fanny Herring as leading lady. The play announced is ‘Lysiah, the Abandoned.” It is just four weeks since Mr. Lingard opened this establishment with a variety company.  The first week business was good, since which time we doubt if the receipts have met the daily expenses.  In some instances Mr. Lingard’s company was good, in others below mediocrity.  The fact is he would not cater for that class of people that visit a variety place of amusement, but looked for a more refined class, and as his entertainment was not suitable for either, owing to its being about half and half, his patronage was limited.  The youth, who patronize these places in large numbers, found portions of the entertainment a little too refined to suit their taste, and those ladies and gentlemen who went to see a legitimate performance also found some of the acts not exactly what they wanted.  Mr. Lingard has had just enough experience in the business to see that it requires more real hard work, and that it is far more difficult to run successfully a variety place of amusement than a first class theatre.”