Robertson's Broadway Theatre

     “Mrs. Robertson has leased the French theatre in Broadway, and is having it remodeled with a view to making it an elegant and comfortable establishment.  The alterations will be all finished by the 3^rd of September, when the new establishment will open under the auspices of Mrs. Robertson, who, it is said, has succeeded in gathering up a talented little company.”

     Venue note: “We are again to have a Broadway Theatre.  It is the same building which was once known as the French Theatre, and has been enlarged, decorated, and much-better adapted for dramatic performances than formerly.  It will now seat one thousand people comfortably – six hundred in the parquet, and 400 in the gallery.  It is to be opened on September 3, under management of Emma Robertson.”

     “This elegant establishment will open for the season on the 3^rd of September as a FIRST CLASS VAUDEVILLE, LIGHT COMEDY AND BURLESQUE THEATRE.”

     “The season commences Monday, Sept. 7.”

     “Robertson is having that cozy little place opposite the Metropolitan Hotel fitted up as a dramatic temple. . . . The opening will take place in September, the exact date of which we have not been informed.”

     Time. Full cast lists. “COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW SEASON.”

     Theatre has been “enlarged, redecorated, repainted, and upholstered.”

“Mrs. Robertson opened her new theatre, opposite the Metropolitan Hotel, last evening. We are sorry to say that the house was not crowded. It is a pretty little theatre, very neat and clean and very nicely decorated. The company, however, is not what it should be.”

“The ‘Broadway Theatre’ is the new title of the resuscitated French Theatre, in Broadway, opposite Niblo’s, which was reopened to the public on Monday, 7th inst., under the management of Mrs. Emma Robertson, formerly of Laura Keene’s Theatre. This lady, to quote her own words, ‘not being able to secure even a bench to work on elsewhere,’ concluded to open a shop of her own, and, so determining, lease the place above named. Her idea in regard to the management of the theatre was good, judging from her remarks on the subject, made on the opening night; but the company she presented on Monday was far from being up to the mark she aims at. Gallantry would lead us to say that the talented and popular Mrs. Robertson, ‘from the principal theatres of the United States, Australia, and Great Britain,’ opened her bijou establishment on Broadway on Monday last, and achieved quite a brilliant success, aided by the noted and excellent artists she has engaged to assist her in her enterprise, &c., &c. But truth is mighty and will prevail, and having taken a draught from her well known spring, we per force are obliged to state the facts as we found them and so stating we have to say that Mrs. Robertson—no great shining light herself—has collected around her a cluster of stars of the very smallest magnitude, for the purpose of endeavoring to outshine the brilliant ones that now illumine the theatrical hemisphere. The opening play was Lacy’s little domestic drama of ‘Doing for the Best,’ which was performed throughout as well as the company were capable of performing it. Sufficient has been done in improving the appearance of the theatre, since it was last opened, to render the words ‘re-decorated, re-painted, and re-upholstered,’ which are so prominently set forth on the bills, somewhat more truthful than is ordinarily the case, but nevertheless a little more work in this way, both in front and on the stage, would not have been thrown away. A casual glance gives an attractive view of quite a pretty little place of amusement, and we have no doubt that if Mrs. Robertson could carry out the ideas she expressed in the remarks she made when called out on Monday, she would not only succeed, but what is more, merit her success. The attendance on the occasion was on a par with the quality of the company. Each artist, however, was well received by their respective friends present. A second performance was given on the following night, with no better success, and the theatre has not been opened since. It is advertised in our columns for rent. With a proper company, the place might be made to pay.”