I was told that around the turn of the century, the building, later known as the Winter Garden, was a horse barn with horses for hire. They used the different levels (floors), above the current stage, to house the horses in stalls reached by ramps leading from each floor and that the current seating area was the dirt paddock area where they exercised the horses and prepared them for hire. I don’t know if they rented carriages also, but it makes sense that they would.
(My dad worked at the theater for many years)
I was told that around the turn of the century, the building, later known as the Winter Garden, was a horse barn with horses for hire. They used the different levels (floors), above the current stage, to house the horses in stalls reached by ramps leading from each floor and that the current seating area was the dirt paddock area where they exercised the horses and prepared them for hire. I don’t know if they rented carriages also, but it makes sense that they would.
(My dad worked at the theater for many years)