Eighth Avenue Opera House

NOTE: This house has a change of programme every M and Th, although ads are few and far between.

“Jonny Thompson is the latest attraction at the Eighth Avenue Opera House. The establishment has become a permanent institution on the west side, as might be expected from the style of management adopted by the proprietors.”

“NOT RIGHT – Johnny Thompson, song and dance performer, has been the subject of considerable talk the past week among two of our music hall managers and the profession at large.  It appears that as long ago as Aug. 14; Josh Hart, of the Eighth Avenue Opera House, telegraphed to Mr. Thompson offering to engage him for $100 a week for three months or longer.  Mr. Thompson answered from Cleveland, accepting the terms and agreeing to play at the establishment.  Messrs. Hart and Kerns commenced to announce the early appearance of Thompson, underlining him on their programmes.  Since that engagement was made he also engaged to appear with Manager Butler, at 472, giving as an excuse for doing so that the Eighth avenue establishment had been represented to him in a false light.  Believing that he had secured Mr. Thompson, Mr. Butler went to considerable expense in advertising him to appear at his hall on the 18th inst., while Messrs. Hart and Kerns also advertised him to appear the same night at their establishment.  On the morning previous to the day in which he was to appear, he attended rehearsal at Butler’s, and went through all his business up to noon time, and then left; but during the afternoon, while only a negro was at the hall, he surreptitiously took his trunk away, and without giving Mr. Butler any notice went to the Eighth Avenue Opera House, where he appeared, thus not only causing Mr. Butler to deceive his patrons, but breaking his contract.  Such transactions should be put a stop to, and the only way to do it is for managers to refuse to employ those who do not fulfill their obligations.” 

.  “Jonny Thompson, song and dance man, met with a very hearty reception at the Eighth Avenue Opera House, and is drawing the biggest kind of houses.  We made an attempt to get in the Opera on Saturday night, but there wasn’t even standing room, the sale of tickets being stopped long before the performance commenced.”