New Idea
Event Information
Venue(s):
New Idea, The
Proprietor / Lessee:
East 14th St at the corner of Irving Place Academy of Music
Manager / Director:
J. C. Curran
Robert Fox
Conductor(s):
David Braham
Ballet Director / Choreographer:
Mons. Fouche
Price: $.25 all parts of the house; .50 reserved orchestra; $4 & $5 boxes; .75 single seats in boxes
Event Type:
Minstrel, Orchestral, Variety / Vaudeville
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
24 September 2013
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
16 Mar 1863, 7:45 PM17 Mar 1863, 7:45 PM
18 Mar 1863, 7:45 PM
19 Mar 1863, 7:45 PM
20 Mar 1863, 7:45 PM
21 Mar 1863, 7:45 PM
Program Details
Monday evening March 16 was opening night. The advertisements state that the front seats "will invariably be reserved for ladies."
Donizetti: Fille du régiment overture
“New Idea Minstrels” (Campbell, Berger, Bishop, Wray, Stewart and 2 or 3 others)
Unidentified “terpsichorean affair” (Helene, Calla, Nixon, Theodore, corps de ballet)
Banjo exercises, with imitations (Wray)
“Ham fat” (Campbell)
“McGregor’s gathering” song (Allinson) Encored
“medley dance” (Theodore)
Unidentified minstrel piece
“Highland fling” (Theodore)
“Highland fling burlesque” (Wray)
“Nigger on the fence” (with banjo solo by Herman and Campbell)
“Protean sheet of paper, The” (Wray)
“La maja de Seville” (ballet and pantomime)
“When this cruel war is over” patriotic song (Allinson)
“High daddy” (plantation festival)
“Home sweet home” (Allison)
Donizetti: Fille du régiment overture
“New Idea Minstrels” (Campbell, Berger, Bishop, Wray, Stewart and 2 or 3 others)
Unidentified “terpsichorean affair” (Helene, Calla, Nixon, Theodore, corps de ballet)
Banjo exercises, with imitations (Wray)
“Ham fat” (Campbell)
“McGregor’s gathering” song (Allinson) Encored
“medley dance” (Theodore)
Unidentified minstrel piece
“Highland fling” (Theodore)
“Highland fling burlesque” (Wray)
“Nigger on the fence” (with banjo solo by Herman and Campbell)
“Protean sheet of paper, The” (Wray)
“La maja de Seville” (ballet and pantomime)
“When this cruel war is over” patriotic song (Allinson)
“High daddy” (plantation festival)
“Home sweet home” (Allison)
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
Participants: Orchestra, unidentified; William A. Wray; Mlle. [dancer] Creed; Paul Berger [Minstrel bass/bar.]; S. Billater; J. F. [tenor] Dunny; Ida DeVere; J. Stewart; Frances Nixon; Thomas Brigham Bishop; Mlle. Lacretta; Robert Douglas [minstrel]; Mlle. Theodora; Emma Gardener; F. Simpson [minstrel]; F. or J. [minstrel] Reynolds; Mlle. Hernandez; Mlle. Murray; W. [minstrel-banjo] Herman; P. [minstrel] Moncrief; Mlle. Wells; Mlle. Concord; Harry [New Idea] Wilson; S. [minstrel] George; Mlle. Dutois; Mlle. Crossman; Mlle.[dancer] Helene; T. or F. or J. [minstrel] Herman; Henry Percy; Mary [New Idea] Francis; Charles Victor; S. [minstrel] Taibor; Mons. Fouche; Ida Branch; Adele Calla; T. Allies; Miss Allinson; Mlle. Stacy; S. [minstrel] Douglas; Frank [minstrel] Moran; Julia Gillot; J. K. Campbell [minstrel]; M. [minstrel] Rogers
2)
aka Daughter of the Regiment, The ;
Figlia del reggimento, La;
Child of the Regiment, The;
Regimentstochter, Die;
La fille du regiment
Composer(s): Donizetti
3)
aka Extravaganza dance
Participants: New Idea Corps de Ballet; Mlle.[dancer] Helene; Adele Calla; Frances Nixon; Mlle. Theodora
11)
aka Nigger on the fence, The;
Nigger on the fence;
De nigger on de fence
Participants: W. [minstrel-banjo] Herman; J. K. Campbell [minstrel]
14)
aka Weeping, sad and lonely;
When the cruel war is over;
This cruel war
Composer(s): Tucker [comp.-cond.-voc.]
Participants: Miss Allinson
Citations
1)
“THE NEW IDEA… Will open on or about the 9th of March next… the principal features of which will be a first class MINSTREL BAND; The largest and best appointed BALLET TROUPE… together with VOCALIZATION by the most eminent artists in the country. The whole assisted by a POWERFUL ORCHESTRA.”
4)
“Henry Percy, late of Wood’s and Bryants’ Minstrels. Frank Moran, now of Carncross and [illeg.] Minstrels, Philadelphia. G.W. Wray, late of Campbell’s Minstrels (Original) . . . Mlle. Helene, late of Niblo’s Garden . . . The Management have great pleasure in announcing an engagement with the celebrated and popular Balladist, Gustavus Geary.” See AD: NYH 03/04/63, p.7.
5)
“A CARD – MR. GUSTAVUS GEARY BEGS TO STATE that he is not connected with the new establishment about opening in Wallack’s old theatre, Broadway.” See AD: NYH 03/03/63, p.7.
6)
“H. Chamberlain & Co., Lessees.” Also another ad by Geary, same as his AD: NYH 03/04/63, p.7.
8)
“All the gentlemen engaged for the Minstrel Band will meet the stage manager this day at 2 o’clock.”
9)
Long list of minstrels and other performers. After ballet troupe is listed: “with 12 or 14 other ladies and gentlemen.”
11)
“Ballet Troupe will be on the stage for rehearsal precisely at ten o’clock this day. Minstrel Band will be on the stage for rehearsal precisely at one o’clock this day.”
12)
“Ballet Troupe will rehearse today at ten o’clock. Minstrel Band will rehearse today at one o’clock.”
13)
“Ballet Troupe will rehearse today at ten o’clock. Minstrel Band will rehearse today at one o’clock.”
14)
“FRONT SEATS INVARIABLY RESERVED FOR LADIES. . . . Grand Rehearsal Monday at 10 o’clock.”
15)
“Fox & Curran’s ‘New Idea’ opens to-night at 485 Broadway. The new idea is an entertainment for families, in which the minstrel troupe, the ballet troupe and the pantomime troupe are combined. How this idea will succeed depends upon circumstances and the management. The prospect is a fair one.”
16)
Full list of prices. “SIXTEEN GENTLEMEN REPRESENTING ETHIOPIA, With half a dozen assistants. THIRTY MALE AND FEMALE DANCERS . . . TWENTY MUSICIANS IN THE ORCHESTRA. FIRST CLASS VOCALISTS . . . INIMITABLE PANTOMINISTS.”
17)
“Miscellaneous Entertainment for FAMILIES, Consisting of a first-class MINSTREL BAND, BALLET TROUPE, PANTOMINISTS, VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.”
18)
“EVERYTHING IS QUICK AND SPARKLING, Passing from DARKIES TO FAIRIES. . . . A grand rehearsal will take place this morning, commencing with the ballet, precisely at 10 o’clock.”
19)
Mentions “Home sweet home.” “A grand rehearsal will take place this morning, commencing with the ballet, precisely at 10 o’clock.”
21)
“A grand rehearsal will take place this morning, commencing with the ballet, precisely at 10 o’clock.”
24)
“'The New Idea.' This is the singular title, as out readers have been previously informed, bestowed upon Wallack’s old theatre on Broadway, which was re-opened to the public on the 16th inst., by Chamberlin & Co., with Messrs. Fox and Curran as business managers, with the ‘new idea’ of ‘giving the public three times the value of their money’ in ‘legitimate entertainments.’ ‘That’s the idea,’ to suit the masses who favor light, varied, and cheap amusements, as every evening since the opening, the place has been crowded, ladies being largely represented. We were not present at the opening, but visited the house a few evenings since, and witnessed the inaugural performance which has been given every night. To afford an idea of the genteel order of entertainments offered at 'The New Idea,' we give a condensed report of the same, hoping that seekers of amusement in the city will favor the idea of supporting this new enterprise. First came an overture (Child of the Regt.), orchestra, some twenty pieces, including a piano, David Braham wielding the baton. Music splendid. The followed the ‘New Idea Minstrels,’ consisting of some seven or eight performers, among them J. K. Campbell, P. Berger, T. B. Bishop, W. A. Wray, and J. Stewart. At another time we may possibly speak of these gentlemen as their merits deserve. In part second, we had a terpsichorean affair, in which M'lle Helene, Adele Calla, Frances Nixon, Millie Theodore, danseuses, and a splendid corps de ballet. Banjo exercises, with imitations, by W. A. Wray, followed, with ‘Ham Fat’ by J. K. Campbell, sandwiched with the song of ‘McGregor’s Gathering,’ by Miss Allinson, who was encored. Then came a medley dance by Miss Nixon, and more nigger, followed with a Highland fling by M’lle Theodore, which was burlesqued by W. A. Wray. ‘Nigger on the Fence,’ with banjo solo by W. Herman and Campbell, was executed very nicely. The Protean sheet of paper, by W. A. Wray, elicited considerable applause and wonder. The ballet and pantomime of ‘La Maja De Seville’ was next in order, after which Miss Allinson appeared and warbled the patriotic song, ‘When this Cruel War is Over.” To hear this beautiful songstress in the ballad named, is alone worth a visit. The Plantation Festival, ‘High Daddy,’ terminated the performances, the audience finding themselves on the sidewalk at ten o'clock, 'homeward bound.' Much amusement in a short space of time, seems to be the actuating idea of the management, and we think it is a good one, providing always, that the programme offered is ably sustained. So far, except in some minor particulars, consequent, no doubt, upon the fact that ‘der masheen’ is not yet in good running order, it has been so, and the audiences have been pleased, and with proper care and energy, ‘The New Idea’ will prove a good idea.”