Instrumentation of the band. 

Program for opening night. 

Constitution of the band; difficulties to be overcome by wind instruments in executing the program.

Advantages of summer gardens.

Description of the new garden, previewed at a reception for guests of management.

Review of a reception for journalists and theatrical people on Friday, the evening prior to the grand opening; description of the garden and delicacies; no mention of music.

Includes program. 

“This new place of amusement was formally opened last evening with a concert by Mr. Gilmore’s band, now numbering 100 musicians. We cannot undertake to say how many spectators the house will contain, but while we are inclined to think that at least 5,000 persons were present, it was quite clear that it was crowded in every part. The work of transforming the unattractive Hippodrome into a lovely spot, where one can stand or sit amid green grass, fragrant shrubs, or thick foliage, has certainly been carried out with success. At one extremity of the building is a vast cavern, from the depths of which flows a cascade, sending its foaming waters to the promenaders’ feet. Here and there are large fountains; broad graveled walks wind about beds of flowers; platforms graduated to three or four rows of fauteuils situated above surround the parterre, and myriad many-colored lamps light up the scene. Mr. Marston’s taste and Mr. Shook’s liberality have, in brief, resulted in the creation of a resort of uncommon beauty. Yesterday the question as to the ventilation and acoustics of the establishment was solved. It will compare favorably with either Mabille or Cremorne Gardens in point of space and color, but while the atmosphere will always be pure and fresh, because of the numerous windows in the walls and roof, it can never vie in coolness with that of a garden proper. The acoustics of the place are excellent, and not a note is lost. Last night’s proceedings do not require a lengthened notice. The throng, as we have implied, was great, appreciative of the music, and decidedly good-humored. Mr. Gilmore, who has the largest and best-trained brass band in the United States, interpreted, from a platform erected in the centre of the garden, a programme divided into three parts. To talk of the precise and vigorous playing of Mr. Gilmore’s men in the same breath with the work of the chief organizations of Europe would be flattery, but the leader is amply entitled to the praise of having brought and kept together a powerful and well-disciplined force. Mr. Gilmore’s men render Meyerbeer’s gorgeous writings with particular brio, and a potpourri from that composer’s operas showed, in an exceptionally strong light, the merit of several of the soloists, and the real proficiency of the whole corps. Later on a concert theme and variations by Rivière, offered renewed proof of the skill of the soloists, while the remaining pieces were listened to with genuine pleasure. There seems to be no doubt that the transformed hippodrome will be much frequented. No pains have been spared, we should judge, to render it worthy of patronage. The restaurant is in charge of Messrs. Mitchell & Kinzler, of the Hotel Brunswick, so that this department could surely not fall in better hands; perfect order was preserved malgré the crush, last evening, and all the minor details appear to have been looked to with care. We have only then to add, that Mr. Gilmore’s garden can be visited every night, and on Saturday afternoons, when regular concerts will occur.” 

“Mr. P. S. Gilmore, whilom of Boston Jubilee fame, inaugurated last night a series of summer concerts at the building so long known to the public as Barnum’s Hippodrome. The director, the band and the place were alike attractions of the most unequivocal kind. The Hippodrome has undergone such a transformation that no one can recognize in the present garden of beauty, which deft hands and artistic capabilities have evoked out of the dusty arena of Roman charioteers and the caged lair of wild beasts the former resort. Entering from the Madison avenue side the eye is at once attracted by a kaleidoscopic combination of everything that nature and art can furnish toward beauty. A miniature forest, extending from the upper floor to the promenade, which takes the place of the old race track, greets the visitor. Then there are fountains, the spray of which is colored in the most varied manner; rustic arbors, which are suggestive of Central Park; cavernous nooks, where one can sit and enjoy the scene; flower beds, graveled walks, tall pines, clumps of evergreens, green sward, swinging baskets of flowers and climbing plants wreathed around pillars.

The seating over the main entrance at the west end has been transformed into a raised platform, which is carpeted and furnished with easy chairs and round tables. Several small fountains play in handsomely designed basins, and from this elevated position a perspective view of the gardens below the glittering cascade at the opposite extremity is wonderfully entertaining. There are eight diagonally crossed arches of gas jets. On each arch there are 100 jets enclosed in globes made of all the colors of the rainbow. From the upright beams that support the immense roof to those which rise from the enclosing railing spring other arches of gas jets, eight on a side. Each of these latter arches contain thirty-two jets and globes. From the centre of each of the central arches are suspended chandeliers of variously colored globes, so made as to resemble somewhat huge pendant bunches of grapes. From the cross beams depend swinging baskets filled with earth and overrunning with flowers. All of the upright beams are hidden with vines.

In the east end of the building immense rocks have been used. Here rise on each side of a space about sixty feet wide jagged, irregular cliffs. Between these a bed of grass is constructed half an inch thick. The aggregate weight of these plates is eight tons. They shelve over each other irregularly, and form a cascade with a romantic succession of falls in among the rockwork. One thousand gallons of water fall over every hour, and the arrangement is such that the volume appears to be much greater. The water seems to issue from caves near the roof hung with stalactites, and, after falling along down over the moss-covered rocks and beneath overhanging ferns, spreads out into a wide pool, which is filled with gold fishes and surrounded with aquatic plants. Overhanging the whole are several large palm trees skillfully constructed, with branches that will sway to and fro in the wind. This arcade has been designed and perfected by Mr. Marston. Nothing in Europe or America of an enclosed character can match this garden. From the returns at the door and from a careful estimate there could have been no less than 15,000 people present last night. The best families in the city were represented on the occasion, and some of the ladies’ toilets were of the most dazzling description.

Mr. Gilmore contributed for this grand occasion the best military band that has been heard in America since the last Boston Jubilee. There were over 100 members in this band, and every evidence was given of thorough efficienty and homogeneity of feeling with the composer and the conductor in every selection. The following programme was given [see above]. 

The two overtures, which certainly represent the highest order of classical music, as far as effectiveness is concerned, were given with a grandeur of spirit and nicety of expression that one would scarcely look for from a military band. The selections from Meyerbeer were well chosen and admirably played. Mr. Arbuckle surpassed all his previous efforts in the magnificent manner in which he rendered the violin fantasia of Paganini on the cornet. He was recalled twice, giving, amid a storm of applause, ‘Old Folks at Home’ and ‘Robin Adair.’ Mr. Gilmore made very judicious selections in the above programme. We do not believe in presenting severe classical works exclusively during the summer at concerts which are supposed to be of a popular character. The band which Mr. Gilmore introduced to the public last night and the programme which they rendered in such a superb style meet exactly the demands of our people during the dog days. A more auspicious inauguration of a concert season and a more delightful summer resort it has never been our fortune to witness.”

“The opening of the Hippodrome as a Summer Concert Garden promises to be one of the most successful speculations of the season. The place has been attractively arranged, and the scene on Saturday night, when it was thronged with people and glittering with light, was highly interesting. The multitude of refreshment tables were all occupied, the resturanteurs did a thriving business, and the scores of barkeepers in the long corridors under the banks of seats, were as busy as bees. So many people were in the transformed arena that movement was somewhat slow and difficult, but we saw no disorder or impropriety of any kind. Mr. Gilmore’s band, in full uniform, occupied a high platform in the center. In the confusion of so many thousands of persons, nearly all talking at once, it was of course impossible to listen to the music with the care which good criticism presupposes; but we do not believe the frequenters of the Hippodrome will judge either the selections or the performance by a very high standard. It is enough that a hundred well disciplined players filled the pauses of conversation with stirring strains, and that visitors while they sipped their teas in evergreen bowers, or chatted over cigars and beer, were well entertained with popular melodies and marches, and the bright tones of Mr. Arubckle’s cornet. Some other night, when the audience has settled down to a quieter enjoyment of Mr. Gilmore’s programmes, we may find an opportunity to discuss the merits of his band.”

“On Saturday night the enclosure, not long ago known as the Hippodrome, now called Gilmore’s Concert Garden, was opened to the public, which was not slow to enter what had been represented as little short of enchanted ground. Certainly the scene was such as, by common consent, is called fairly-like. Shrubbery climbing up the walls and nestling in nooks and corners, rustic arbors vine-enlaced, festooned beams and pillars, arches of many-colored-lights, fountains dancing in the rays of calcium burners, pieces of statuary that looked as if they wanted to be teased into telling what it all meant, cascades sparkling down the vitreous rocks, which made the broad stair-like background of a wide grotto that reached from promenade to cornice, vases and baskets of swaying vines and bending flowers, all discreetly placed and tastefully arranged with reference to vistas, did indeed suggest the work of a magician’s wand. All that was embraced within the boundaries of the area is now a promenade, with its winding gravel walks, its fresh grass plots, its flowers and shrubs and trees. In the centre of this portion of the enclosure is the platform on which the band plays. A tier of boxes runs round this promenade, built just an agreeable distance above it. Behind this narrow terraces, each wide enough to hold a series of small tables, rise one above another toward the cornice, nearer to which are a few tiers of seats, such as accommodated spectators in the Hippodrome. This is the plan of construction on the two sides. The eastern end is occupied by the grotto and the cascade; the western end over the main entrance has a level floor, furnished with tables and chairs, and ornamented with vines and flowers. From this raised floor the view of the whole interior is very striking and beautiful. Below it, on either side of the entrance, two or three steps above the promenade, are rustic arbors half buried in foliage. The arcs of gaslight are so arranged that, in perspective, they present cathedral-like nave and aisles, and the whole effect is charming. All available space was occupied by a veritable crowd. Mr. Gilmore and his band of one hundred performers were promptly in their places, and played a selection of popular music with the correctness, taste, and spirit that have already made the nucleus of this organization famous. The acoustic qualities of the enclosure were well tested, and appeared to be excellent. A more critical notice of these concerts must be deferred for want of present space. Certainly the management may well anticipate a very large measure of success in this undertaking, which they have begun with so much liberality and taste.” 

“The transformation which has been effected in the interior of the great Roman Hippodrome is little short of wonderful. Externally the building never had any pretensions to beauty, while its interior was hideous, although excellently adapted to the purpose for which it was originally designed. When Barnum withdrew his forces the question of the future use of the Hippodrome was a problem not easy of solution. It has, however, been solved by Messrs. Palmer, Shook and Gilmore, who on Saturday night began their reign under the most flattering auspices. The spot once sacred to chariot races, the evolutions of the trapezist, or the heroes and heroines of the lofty wire, has been changed, as if by the wand of an enchanter, into a beautiful garden, with lawns and flower-beds, fountains, waterfalls and shrubberies. Visitors to the new concert garden on Saturday night were amazed at the scene before them, and exclamations of delight and surprise were heard on all sides. In the centre of the building is built a large circular platform for Mr. Gilmore and his musicians. The remaining space is chiefly devoted to a series of pleasant walks, which wind in graceful curves amid green grassplots and flower beds of quaint design. Two fountains, whose waters glow with all the hues of the rainbow, are pleasing alike to the ear and eye. Rustic arbors and all manner of shady retreats abound, while numerous baskets filled with choice creepers are suspended in the air and complete the beauty of the picture. The whole is illuminated by thousands of many-colored lamps, which not only shed a soft and grateful light upon the gardens beneath, but effectually conceal the ugliness of the roof.

This charming retreat was on Saturday night crowded to its utmost capacity by a remarkably well-dressed and well-behaved assemblage. Mr. Gilmore was warmly greeted on his first appearance, and a hearty burst of applause followed ‘The Star Spangled Banner,’ which was most effectively rendered. The musical program was selected with excellent taste and judgment, and was well calculated to display the fine training of the band. The cornet solos of Mr. Arbuckle met with especial favor. Towards the end of the evening the garden became very warm, but the ventilation appeared to be as nearly perfect as possible. All present appeared to be heartily pleased witht the evening’s entertainment, and there is every reason to believe that the Concert Garden has supplied a great popular want and will prove a successful enterprise.”