The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-02
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
Manuscripts Of an Old Bachelor.-No 8.
REM NIscENCE3 OF ALEXANDRIA.
Iliu a fait Vine.
There was once d Theatre.
Epro Vp ,rraN

| presume, but do not know, that the
Theatre building in Alexandria, was erected
somewhere about 1900, or a little before.
My earliest recollection of it was when it
was in its "palmy days" It was consider
ed then, not only one Of the neatest, but one
Of the best proportional and best arranged
Theatres in the United S es,, both for a..
tors and audience-and at much later pc
riod. than the one Irefer to, heard the cele-
brated Forrest himself say, that it far
surpassed in adaptation for hearing, seeing,
and for the voices of the performers the
Theatres usually constructed. Alexandria
was thriving town, and a number of stran-
gers was constantly "within her gates"-
and it was thought advantageous to the bust
ness interests of the place as we'll as agreea-
BILE to the citizens fond of rational amusc-
ment that Theatre should be built-it was
done; and, for long time the enterprise
was eminently successful. The managers of
the companies engaged were gentlemen
the actors for the most part agreeable and
well acquainted with their busness-the
best theatrical talent in the country was en-
ployed, and no pains nor expense was spared
to furnish such exhibitions of the Drama as
would please a refined taste, and cultivated
intellect. There was then no attraction in
Washington which could draw the public
there, from their own homes-but on the
contrary, whenever celebrated performers
were announced, or distinguished actors
were to appear, long line Of carriages and
hacks. from Washington, crowded the streets
in front of the Theatre in Alexandria.
In Woods Personal Recollections of the
Stage, Ga very agreeable volume, by the bye,)
find a reference to dramatic matters in AL
exandria, a few years after the Theatre was
erected. He says: "The manager accepted
an invitation to visit Alexandria, where
very large and convenient theatre had been
erected some years before, for the accommo-
dation of the Virginia company, which pro-
perly included Alexandria within it's circuit.
The citizens generally were very DESTROYS of
Offering their building to the Philadelphia
company, but it was soon discovered that the
public authorities, from disgust at the con-
duct of former tenants, were unwilling to
allow the openingof the house. This deter.
mination SO wholly unexpected to the mana
gers, by no means expressed the wishes of
the citizens; who, after great but unavailing
efforts to remove the prohibition, encouraged
the managers to put up temporary theatre
without the limits of the city or its enact.
ments. The building was speedily erected
at the distance of more than half mile
from the city; yet the public pledge of sup
port was most honorably and amply redeem
ed, and a season of pleasure and profit we'll
repaid the previous modification. Large
nightly audiences of beauty, fashion, and
judgment convinced the Philadelphia party
that the i'll management Of their predeces-
sors could have no effect towards lessening
their reception, in public or private, or to-
wards checking the good feelings Of the
audience who had invited them tbither.-
Every favor that hospitality or respect could
offer was lavished on the strangers, who
evinced their gratitude by several successive
seasons of earnest and we'll requited exer-
ton. The performers in after years always
looked back to these times with peculiar sat-
isfaction. Our friends numbered amongst
them many excellent and generous sports
men, who took pleasure in afording every
facility and information necessary to our full
enjoyment"
The temporary theatre here referred to,
was the one at Spring Garden. Not YES
tige of it now remains. But it was fes-
tive place, and the moonlight walk. of
summers night, to and from town, not the
least of the agreeable adjuncts connected
with visit to the Alexandria Sans ,Souci
On the boards of the Alexandria Theatre
have appeared all the celebrated actors who
have ever played in this country, down to
about the year 1885 or '36. Among the
tragedians have been Cooper, "a great favo
rite) Hutton, Booth, Forrest-among the
Warren, Francis, Jefferson In
earlier days the list was richer and more ex-
+ans;vo Spapoar TT Cnpn cuhceouont1v n N