e Grand Opera House is next to Booth's in beauty. It is much larger
than that theatre. But for its unfortunate location, nearly a mile from
Broadway, it would be one of the most successful establishments in the
city. The theatre is divided into two buildings, one fronting on the
Eighth avenue and Twenty-third street, and containing the offices and
entrances, and the theatre proper, which is in the rear of the former.
The former building is a magnificent structure of white marble, in the
Italian style of architecture. It fronts 113 feet on Eighth avenue, and
98 feet on Twenty-third street. It is adorned with statuary and
carvings, and is far too handsome for the part of the city in which it is
located. The greater portion of this building is taken up with the
offices of the Erie Railway Company.

The theatre proper is connected with the front building by means of a
superb vestibule, into which open the doors of the auditorium. It is one
of the most beautiful halls in America, and one of the pleasantest
lounging places. The auditorium is finished in light blue, white, and
gold, and when lighted up is magnificent. Every appointment and
decoration is tasteful and beautiful, and there are many persons who
consider it the finest interior in America. The stage is large and
convenient, and the scenery good. The performances are passable.

The house was built by Mr. Samuel N. Pike for an Opera House. It was not
successful, and was sold by him to the late Colonel James Fisk, Jr., for
$1,000,000, a slight advance upon its cost.

Wallack's Theatre, at the northeast corner of Broadway and Thirteenth
street, is, _par eminence_, _the theatre_ of New York. Its audiences are
more exclusively composed of citizens than those of any other house. New
Yorkers are proud of it, and on Thursday evenings, or the first night of
some new play, the audience will consist almost entirely of city people.
The theatre itself is very plain, and there are many things about it that
might be bettered. In other respects it is unqualifiedly the best
theatre in which the English language is spoken. It is devoted almost
entirely to comedy, and the plays presented on its stage are always of a
high character. The Star system is not adopted here, but the company
consists of the best and most carefully trained actors and actresses to
be found here or in England. It is emphatically a company of gentlemen
and ladies. At present it includes Lester