The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-01

piping-which would have turned the head of a
less ingenious and thorough workman than Mr..
P. L. Guillemin, who has had entire charge OF the
gas laying and of the gas fixtures.
VENTILATION AMI, ENTRANCES.
The theatre is well ventilated throughout, and
can be emptied in less than five minutes The
entrance to the orchestra chairs, orchestra circle
and drcss circle is on King-street; the entrances
to the family circle and gallery are quite distinct
from each other, and arc beth on Market street.
WHO DID THE WORK.
To Mr.. John Chadwick the credit OF the build
inr is first due, for II was lie who, in spite OF
croaking and Encouragement, las planned and
completed an edifce which is an ornament to our
city. At the same. time it must be said that the
architect, Mr.. John II. DevereuX, is the master
workman, for his Skill enabled him to plan model
theatre, while his wonderful energy secured the
completion Of the whole vast undertaking in less
| than three months. There was working night and
day, but DevereuX never tires The masonry
work was superintendent by MrN.F.DevcreuX, the
carpentering by Mr.. d. A. ]. Sullivan and the pas
| ternC by Mr. James H. DevcreuX; and they dld
their duty well. The painting was done 10y I. A.
Beamish Il Co., the gliding by McGeary and Doty,
the upholstering and carpeting by Z. u. Carr &
Co.. the iron work by G. r. Jackson and Bur
nett 4 Co., the ornamental iron work by Mr. c..
Werner All the gas fitting was done by P. L..
Guillemin, and the plumbing by Adams Damon
| & Co. A. F. ChevreuX and r. Lewis were the
carvers, T. Walker and Herbert the stage carpen-
tcrs, and Walack, Tirre and Cramer the scene
painters The stage and stage machinery-all
admrable-are the work OF the ingenious W. W.
Demilt.
| An INSPECTION OF THE ACADEMY.
Last evening quite large number OF ladies and
| gentlemen, who had received special Invitations
from Manager Ford to visit and inspect the inte-
rior Of the Academy, gathered within It's cosy pre-
cincts. The drop curtain had been lowered, and
was the theme OF general admiration. Later it
was raised, revealing in succession several hand-
| some drawing-room scenes, the fine orchestra
meanwhile dscoursing excellent music. The
| company present roamed at will and without
ceremony through all portions OF the house, not
excepting the penehdlia OF the stage and green
room and all united in the verdict that though
there were mapy more capacious theatres In the
United States, there was not one which, In the
elements OF elegance, comfort and adornment
was superior TO ours.
REcoLLEcrIoNs OF THE DRAMA IN CHARLESTON
review Of the history of the drama in Charles
ton carries Us back to the close OF the last CEN
tury. About the year 1893 Hiding, known as the
Charleston Theatre, was erected on spot called
Savage's Green now the junction OF Broad and
New streets. 1t was an edifce OF noble pro-
portions and was owned, we believe, by COM
pany OF gentlemen, who subscribed Tor their
shares at the rate Of f7O sterling per share. The
ownership Of these shares entitled them to "pro-
pretors' tickets which admitted them to every
| performance during the season with the eXcep-
tion Of benefit nights. The whole number Of
shareholders was about one hundred. The thea
| tire was opened In 1874 by o company OF come
dlans from England, under the management Oh
West h Blgnall, who maintained the establish
ment with considerable success for about three
years. The company, at the time, was rated an
excellent one. Besides Bignall, who ranked as
frst-rate comedian it included tragedian OF
considerable repute OF the name OF Edgar, the
two West brothers. and several actresses OF great
merit The Sullys father and son and three
daughters, were among them. One OF these last
married into one of the first families in the State,
and lived to the beginning OF our late disastrous
war. And the son, Mat. Sully, lived In Charles
ton for many years and raised large family
here. In later days he Joined the other compa-
nies, and always stipulated with the managers
that he should have his benefit on Easter Monday
night invariably on those occasions obtaining
crowded houses. There was also in the company
a very talented and well educated gentleman who
married here, and afterwards opened seminary
for the education of young ladies'; he afterwards
became the first teacher Of the German Friendly
society,s school, under the direction Of the Rev.
Mr.. Faber, in 1904 His widow survived him,
and, with the assistance OF her daughters, estao-
lished very respectable young ladies' seminary.
Only one of the daughters now remains alive.
There was second company composed ofFrench
actors who came here about the year 1895 OFT, and
commenced performing in an old lot In Church
street. near st. Mlchaels alley. The lot was owned
at the time by Frenchman named Sollee, who In
herited it by marriage into the Neylc family. The
company came from st. Domingo and were
refugees from the French Revolution. Mr.. Sollee
afterwards built them theatre called the French
Theatre, out Of the old building which had once
been sugar refinery. Indeed, there Is tradi-
ton that 1t was once before the site OF theatre
previous to the American Revolution, ana which
is said to have been destroyed by fire in very
singular manner. During performance, as the
story runs, q piece was exhibited representing
the Internal regions. When the combustibles
were fired, n number OF demons suddenly ap-
peared dancing in the names-a scene which was
not in the programme. This so alarmed the
audience that they all fed In dsmay. The trick
was afterward populary attributed to 4 Lodge OF
Masons, who occasionally met there or close by.
After year or two this building was occupied
BY an English company under the management
of Jones & Williamson who brought out re-
markably fine dramatic corps Chalmers, the
leading actor In tragedies, was the first who per-
formed the part of "Rolla" In Charleston, Mrs.
Marshall performed Cora" and Mr. Marshall
"Alonzo.n In this company came the celebrated
Mrs. Righton and two daughters. One of them
afterwards married Mr.. Placde, who became
eminent as manager in the Charleston Theatre
about 1901. This was the father OF Henry Pa
eide, who was destined to win so many laurels IN
the Northern theatres. Here was also engaged
the celebrated Mr.. and Mrs. WhitlOck, the latter
| sister to Mrs. Siddons, whose acting, In con-
| junction with that OF Chalmers, drew crowded
houses. This so encouraged the managers that
they engaged the Charleston Theatre, which, after
having been Shut up for three or four years. had
meantime been used by the Rev. Messrs. Buist
| and Purcell as q classical academy for young
|