American Theatre

Event Information

Venue(s):
Butler's American Theatre [444 Bdway--before 3/66]

Proprietor / Lessee:
Robert W. [manager] Butler

Manager / Director:
Robert W. [manager] Butler

Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
23 September 2012

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

12 Feb 1866, 7:30 PM
13 Feb 1866, 7:30 PM
14 Feb 1866, 7:30 PM

Program Details

The American Theatre was destroyed by fire on Thursday morning, February 15, 1866.

Performers and/or Works Performed

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 12 February 1866.
2)
Article: New York Post, 15 February 1866, 3.

     “A very destructive fire took place at eleven o’clock in the morning in the large and valuable building of the City Assembly Rooms, the American Theatre and several stores, involving a loss on the building and contents of at least $200,000.

     The building was five stories high, and occupied a front of about one hundred feet on Broadway. A part of the premises extended to Crosby street. . . .

     This building, it will be remembered, was burned down in 1854, and was rebuilt in the following year. The new structure was large, of fine proportions, and beautifully built. The dancing-hall was one of the largest and most popular in this city. The dancing-hall was one of the largest and most popular in this city. [list of tenants] . . .

THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.

     The fire broke out in the theatre, and was first seen by some women who were engaged in cleaning the ball room. They endeavored to extinguish the fire with some pails of water, and at one time were nearly successful; but the flames having once gotten beyond their control, rapidly extended, and the entire interior of the edifice on the third and fourth floors, was soon in flames.

     The firemen were soon on the ground, but the space covered by the fire was so great that for a long time it was impossible to stay its progress.

     The smoke in the upper floors was dense and blinding, and many of the firemen had to lie down on the floor in order to remain in the rooms where the fire was and throw water upon the flames.

     The flames did not extend rapidly on the first story of the building, owing to the fact that there were brick partitions between the stores.

THE STORES

     All of the occupants of the stores removed nearly all of their goods to the street; their loss will consequently be comparatively small. . . . [section on efforts of the firemen, the falling walls, a narrow escape and a list of losses for the landlord.] . . .  The Seventy-ninth regiment (Highlanders) were to give a ball at the City Assembly Rooms to-night. Other organizations will also be affected by the conflagration.

THE LATE THEATRE.

     The American Theatre, as a place of entertainment, has undergone various mutations of fortune. It has been a minstrel hall, a lager bier saloon and a theatre. Quantity rather than quality was the leading feature of the entertainments offered, and certainly a visitor to that establishment received more for his money than anywhere else.

     The entertainment was also more highly spiced than would agree with palates accustomed to moderate decency. The comic songs were plentifully sprinkled with vulgar jokes. The ballet girls had their dresses a shade shorter than elsewhere. The dances were of the ‘loud,’ blue fire and thunder school; and the programme, including dramas, farces, songs, dances, gymnastic feats, often extended from half-past seven o’clock till near midnight.

     The place was well patronized, and the proprietor found it a profitable concern. Indeed, to a certain class of citizens ‘444’ was as favorite a haunt as the opera house is to another class. Country gentlemen who were ‘seeing the elephant’ in town often included ‘444’ in their visits.

     Whatever was the style of the performance, we have heard of no instance in which the American theatre was the scene of any trouble or ‘row.’ The audience, though familiar with each other and quite free in remarks to and about the performers, were really quite as orderly as in theatres further up town. The police were on hand to remove any obstreperous auditor, and generally everything at 444 went as happy as a marriage-bell—a bell perhaps of a broad, vulgar clang, but evidently suiting the tastes of a large number of persons.

The Assembly Rooms.

     The large room, known by a courteous use of the plural, as the City Assembly Rooms, was really one of the finest in the city, and had it been further up-town would have been one of the most fashionable.

      It was very large, with a high ceiling, and commodious rather than elegant. At balls, one part of it was partitioned off for a supper room; but at concerts, its entire extent was put into use.

     Our German societies have given some very good concerts there, and some years ago Mr. Bergmann gave there a series of Sunday concerts.

     Before the Arion and Liederkranz societies became daring and ambitious, and would look at nothing less than the Academy of Music, their balls used to be held at the City Assembly Rooms.

     During anniversary week the rooms have usually been used day and evening for meetings.”

3)
Article: New York Herald, 16 February 1866, 5.

     “The City Assembly Rooms and the American theatre were yesterday destroyed by fire. . . . The fire resulted in the complete destruction of the premises.  The loss is estimated at about two hundred thousand dollars.  The fire broke out about half past eleven A. M., and was extinguished in about three hours.

ORIGIN OF THE FIRE

     The flames, it is supposed, broke out in the saloon of the theatre, and were first discovered by some women who had been engaged to cleanse the floor of the dancing hall, in preparation for the ball of the Highland regiment, which was to have taken place there last evening. . . .

     The American theatre was situated almost underneath the ballroom of the City Assembly Rooms. . . .

     The American theatre, but more commonly known as No. 444, was owned by R. W. Butler.  The loss is variously estimated at from $10,000 and $20,000; and to be insured. . . .

     Most of the persons employed in the American theatre are heavy losers.  Billy Holmes loses about $300, Charley White $1,500, James Wambold $1,200, and Thompson and Kearns $1,500.  There were thirteen ballet girls, who lose about $300 each.  None of this property is insured.”

4)
Article: New-York Times, 16 February 1866, 5.

     “About 11 o’clock yesterday morning flames were discovered in rear of the stage belonging to the American Theatre in Broadway, better known as ‘444.’  Owing to the combustible nature of the materials in the immediate vicinity of the stage, the flames spread with great rapidity through that portion of the building occupied by the theatre, and in a few minutes the heat and volume of the fire became so great that it spread to the staircase leading into the City Assembly Rooms, situated directly over the theatre.  From some unknown cause considerable delay occurred before the alarm was given to the firemen, and when the engines did arrive on the ground the entire rear building was enveloped in flames. . . . The chilliness of the air caused the labors of the firemen to be very severe, as the hose soon became stiff with frost.  The high wind which prevailed at the time also contributed to the rapid progress of the flames. . . .

     Various statements were made regarding the actual cause of the fire, but it is understood that the flames were discovered in the green-room of the theatre, and it is presumed that they were caused by the stove-pipe becoming detached, thereby dropping some sparks.  A number of ballet girls in the green-room, going through a rehearsal, saw the light made by the flames and called upon Mr. Holmes, one of the company attached to the establishment, who as soon as he learned the fact, ran up stairs to the property-room, and found a bureau near the stove or fire.  He endeavored to extinguish the flames without success, and was assisted by other members of the company.  They then tried to attach a length of hose to the hydrant placed in front of the stage, but found that it would not fit, and the attempt to save the theatre was abandoned.  The performers then rushed to the dressing-rooms, with the intention of rescuing their wardrobes, but the smoke was so dense and the heat so overpowering that they were compelled to beat a hasty retreat. . . 

     The building was owned by Edward Matthews, who purchased from the executors of the Miller estate.  His loss is estimated at $75,000; insured for $70,000 on the building, and $10,000 on the rents. . . .

     The American Theatre was leased by Robert F. [sic] Butler, whose loss will not fall short of $20,000.  Insured for $10,000 in different companies of the city.  Among the members of the company in the employ of Mr. Butler considerable loss was sustained by their wardrobes being burned. Charley White lost wardrobe worth $1,000 and the manuscript of his History of Negro Minstrelsy, which he was preparing for the Press.  James Wambold lost a $1,200 wardrobe and some musical instruments; Thompson & Kerr [sic], $1,500; Billy Holmes $200; while thirteen ballet-girls lost wearing apparel amounting to about $500.  There were thirty persons regularly attached to the theatre, who are now thrown out of employment.  Mr. Butler, however, intends resumes business as soon as he can find a suitable locality.”

5)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 17 February 1866, 358.
6)
Review: New York Clipper, 24 February 1866, 366.

     Article on the destruction by fire of American Theater.  “Charley White lost one of the best wardrobes, for his business, in the country; also his manuscript of a ‘History of Negro Minstrelsy.’ This Charley will deeply regret, more than ten times the value of his wardrobe, for he has spent a great many years in compiling this History, and it was the only complete one in the country.”

     The fire spread upstairs to the City Assembly Rooms, whose “ball room was certainly the finest one in the city. In addition to its dimensions, which were very large, the floor was the best for dancing in the country. It was capable of affording dancing facilities to three thousand persons, and even then there was no overcrowding.”