UNDOU MITCHELL'S OLYMPIC NDOUBTEDLY the most popular place of amusement ever known in New York was Mitchell's Olympic Theatre, situated at 442 Broadway, between Howard and Grand streets, which was originally built for Henry Willard and William Rufus Blake. The auditorium was small, the pit being wholly devoted to the male sex, and was entered by a subterranean passageway running beneath the boxes and furnished with distinct ticket-venders and doorkeepers. The first and second tiers of boxes, shut off from the lobby by a series of doors, were set aside for ladies and the gentlemen who accompanied them. A bar-room on the second tier was liberally supplied with liquors and other refreshments. The property was owned by Mr. Spofford, of the firm of Spofford, Tileston & Co. It was opened Sept. 13, 1837, by Willard & Blake, as the Olympic with "Perfection," "The Lady and the Devil," and "Married Life." One of the leading dramatic critics of the day characterized it as "a parlor of elegance and beauty." The stage appointments were excellent, and the scenery was considered to be marvellous. When the house opened the prices of admission were 75 cents to the boxes, and 371⁄2 cents to the pit. Oct. 20 they were reduced to 50 cents to the boxes, and 25 cents to the pit. The following is the programme for January 1st, 1838: To conclude with (for the first time) the Irish drama ERIN-GO-BRAGH, OR A TALE OF MUNSTER. Jones Adams Sheridan Sutton McDougal Mrs. Jones The curtain will rise at 7 o'clock. Doors open at half-past 6. The earliest successful plays were "The Lady and the Devil,” "The Barrack Room," "The Dumb Belle," "Three Weeks after Marriage," "The Handsome Husband," "Wool Gathering," and "Gretna Green." But the real hit of the first season was "A Dream of the Future," produced, for the first time in America, Oct. 7, 1837. Mrs. Clara Fisher Maeder and Mrs. Hughes were the features of the production. It held the stage to crowded audiences until Oct. 18, when "Paul Pry" was acted. "Kate Kearney," was brought out and took the city by storm, its Irish melodies being much liked. The elder Booth appeared here about this time as Richard, with Master Lewis Baker as the Duke of York. W. Sefton also played in "Woman's Wit," and Blake's management terminated in February, 1838. Very little of importance occurred during the season of 1838-39, the theatre's fortunes steadily declining, until Dec. 9, 1839, when William Mitchell first took charge and associated with him in the direction of affairs Wardle Corbyn. The rental of the house was twenty-five dollars per week. Mr. Blake had mounted the pieces produced too expensively for the size of the house, and, after he gave it up, it was occupied by all sorts of shows at all sorts of prices. It was under these unfavorable circumstances that Mr. Mitchell became manager. The burning of the National Theatre threw Mr. Mitchell out of an engagement, and an entertainment was given at this house for the benefit of the sufferers by the fire. Shortly after this Mr. Mitchell took full control of the house, when it was called "Mitchell's Olympic" for the first time. The first season's company contained the following names: William Mitchell, James Browne, Horncastle, Anderson, Powell, Everard, Wilmot, Russell, Baker, Pearson, Mesdames Bailey, Plumer, Jones, and Johnson, the Misses Singleton and Randolph. "His First Champagne," the burlesque of "No" and the farce of "High Life Below Stairs" was the initial programme. The opening was indeed inauspicious, for it occurred on a rainy evening, and there was a beggarly array of empty benches. The orchestra consisted of a piano, double bass, flute, and violin. The farce, "The First Night," was acted here for the first time in this country Dec. 11, with James Browne as Pearlbutton and Miss Randolph as Betty; on the 14th a drama entitled "347 Broadway was presented, with Browne as Thomas Tomkins and Horncastle as Charles Crazz. "The Irish Lion" was first seen here Dec. 26, with Mossop as Tom Moore, Horncastle as Capt. Dixon, Mrs. Sharpe as Miss Echo, and Mrs. Jones as Mrs. Cranny. "Yellow Kids" was played the same evening, with an opera-ballet burlesque on "La Somnambula," entitled "The Roof Scrambler," and the farce, "The Irish Tutor." "Robert Macaire" was acted for the first time at this theatre Dec. 30, with James Browne as Macaire, Mitchell as Strop, Anderson as Dumont, Everard as Germeiul, Russell as Charles, Miss Randolph as Clementine, and Mrs. Plumer as Marie. Jan. 6, 1840, James Browne took a benefit and presented "A Nabob for an Hour," a burlesque entitled "Chrononhotonthologos, the Most Tragical Tragedy that ever was Tragedized," "Don Giovanni," and the first act of "Robert Macaire. "The Savage and the Maiden," arranged from a scene in "Nicholas Nickleby," by Mr. Horncastle, was first produced Jan. 15 with this cast: Mitchell | Smike Horncastle Folair Baker Leuville Everard Old Man. La Petite Celeste Mrs. Crummles Miss Randolph Mrs. Plumer Mrs. Jones Mrs. Penson "The Olympic Revels, or Prometheus and Pandora," a mythological and allegorical burletta, was first seen Jan. 20, thus cast: The farce "Christening" was first acted here Jan. 24. The burlesque "Billy Taylor, the Gay Young Fellow," was first done "Revolt of the Poor House" was a burlesque ballet opera, done Feb. 3; "A Husband at Sight" was seen Feb. 5; the burletta > "Midas" Feb. 10, and the musical and comical burlesque, "Hamlet Travesty" Feb. 13, thus cast: 'Manfred," a travesty of Lord Byron's play, was given for the first time Feb. 24, and the cast was: This had a longer run than any piece up to that time in America. It was written by G. A' Beckett. Jane Reynolds, who had appeared successfully at the National Theatre, opened here March 9, as Mad Galochard in "The King's Gardener, or Nipped in the Bud," and as Victoria in "Irresistible Cadets. The burletta of "Blue Jackets, or The Naval Service" was acted March 16, and "The Man with the Carpet Bag," March 20. The operetta "The Waterman" March 23, with Edwin as Tom Tug and Miss Reynolds as Wilhelmina. "Asmodeus in New York, or the Devil's Diary," was done April 13. was done April 13. The new comic burlesque ballet, "La Musquitoe," was first seen May 21. The appearance at the Park Theatre of Fanny Elssler furnished Mitchell food for a capital burlesque. He appeared in female attire and danced "La Crack-a-Vien," a burlesque on her "La Cracovienne." It was billed as follows: "First time in this or any other country, a new comic burlesque, entitled, 'La Musquitoe,' in which Monsieur Mitchell will make his first appearance as une Premier Danseuse, and show his agility in a variety of terpsichorean efforts of all sorts in the genuine Bolerocachucacacavonienne style. The ballet is founded on the well-known properties of the musquito, whose bite renders the patient exceedingly impatient, and throws him into a fit of slapping and scratching, and swearing delirium, commonly termed the 'Cacoëthes Scratchendi,' causing the unfortunate being to cut capers for a considerable number of legs of mutton." Mitchell took a benefit June 18, when "La Musquitoe," "The Young Widow," and "The Savage and the Maiden" were acted. On June 20 Edwin took a benefit, when "Sea Service on Shore,' "The Young Widow," "The Festival of Apollo," and "The Savage and the Maiden" were given. "The Spirit of the Rhine," by Geo. Loder, was first seen here June 22. Mons. Klishnig appeared June 29, in "Gig Gig, or the Frog, the Tiger, and the Sapajon. For Mrs. Plumer's benefit, July 1, W. H. Williams acted Strap in "The Pleasant Neighbor." Mr. Mossop sang two songs. Mrs. Mossop (formerly Mrs. Knight) appeared for the first time at this theatre as Kate O'Brien in "Perfection." "Jocko, the Brazilian Ape," was also presented, with Mons. Klishnig as Jocko. The next season began Sept. 7, with "The Son of the Sun, or the Fate of the Phaeton," with this cast: Jupiter Pan Cunningham | Eurus. Smith Clymene Baker Williams Miss Singleton Mrs. Watts . Mrs. Baldock This burletta was founded on the old classical legend of Phaeton and his chariot. This was the first appearance here of Messrs. Cunningham and Graham. The burlesque, "Sparring with Specie, or the War of the Shinplasters," was also given, for the first time on any stage. "Mr. and Mrs. Peter White" was also acted the same night. On the 9th Mr. Mossop of the Bowery Theatre and Mrs. Russell of the National Theatre, made their first appearance here as O'Callaghan and Mrs. Montague, in "His Last Legs." "Nine Tailors Make a Man" was done Sept. 10; the new drama "The Vagabond was first acted Sept. 14, and C. R. Howard made his first appearance here as Frank Poppleton in "Too Late for Dinner." For Mossop's benefit, Sept. 17, Lambert made his first appearance here as Griffinhoof in "Shocking Events." "Nicholas Nickleby" had its first representation here (first act only) Sept. 21, which was also the first presentation here of "Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady." The first act of "Robert Macaire" and "A Roland for an Oliver," were acted for the benefit of Mr. Howard, when James Browne and W. H. Williams played Robert Macaire and Jacques Strop in the first piece, and Mr. Chippendale, from Niblo's Garden, was the Sir Mark Chase in the latter play, and Howard the Highflyer; Sept. 25 the ballet interlude "The Savage and the Maiden, or Crummles and His Daughter," was revived. The first act of the drama founded on "Nicholas Nickleby" followed, with Mrs. Russell as Mrs. Squeers, Mrs. Montgomery as the Servant, and Mitchell as Squeers. On Sept. 26 the "Hamlet Travesty" was revived; and on Sept. 28, the "comical tragedy" of "The Bipeds," with Mitchell as Abrahamides. The new National Opera House not being ready for opening, Mr. Horncastle was secured for a few nights, and appeared Sept. 30 as Swelvino in the burlesque ballet of "The Roof Scrambler," and as Seguin the Spirit in a revival of the musical burletta, "Man-Fred." Oct. 1, 2, 3, Horncastle acted Steady in the comic opera "The Quaker. On the 5th "The Female Brigands" was given for the first time, with Horn |