A   HISTORY   OF   THE
N EW   YO R K   STAG E

PIKE'S  MUSIC  HALL

I LARGE hall in Pike's Opera House building,
entrance to which was on Twenty-third Street, a
few doors west of Eighth Avenue, was known as
' Pike's Music Hall," The first entertainment
given here was by McAvoy's " Hibernicon," Sept.
7, 1868. When the Erie Railroad company pur¬
chased this building, they used this hall as their
ofBces. November, 1884, it was again used for
entertainments. It was reopened Nov. 15, as the "Grand Opera
House Hall," and various kinds of performances were given.

APOLLO  HALL

SITUATED at the north side of Twenty-eighth Street, a few
doors west of Broadway, was " Apollo Hall," erected by Mr.
Peter Gilsey. It was two stories in height, the upper part being
used for lectures, readings, balls, and political meetings. The lower
floor was devoted to public amusements, and was first opened Oct.
16, 1868, with a concert by Jerome Hopkins, the proceeds of which
were given to the Orphan Free School Fund. Mme. de Lussan,
Sig. D. Paolicchi, D. D. Griswold, C. H. Dibble, and J. W. Pierson
appeared. James Taylor, the London comic singer, and a company
consisting of Charles E. Collins, Mme. Stutafords, Mr. and Mrs.^
R. A. Brennan, and Mr. Kilner (pianist), appeared Oct. 19. Alf.
Burnett, the humorist, Prof. Sharpley, and Helen Nash joined this
company Nov. 2, which closed Nov. 21. On Dec. 22 the Hibernian
minstrels began a short season. The hall then underwent a com¬
plete overhauling; was reopened April 17, 1871 as "Newcomb's
Hall." W. W. Newcomb was the new manager of the place,
which he called " Newcomb's Hall " and for his first attraction