New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-19
"A FAMOUS MANAGER.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JOHN T. FORD.


The appearance of this highly esteemed
manager IN a. conspicuous position IN the
field of theatrical management in New-York may
be viewed ss an important event. Mr..
Ford is the oldest manager in the United
States. lie has lived for many years in the full
glare of publicity. and he has risen TO high and
laudable distinction. For quarter Of
century theentre line OF theatres on the Southern
circuit, from Baltimore to New-Orieans, has been
largely subject his administration Of affairs, and
simultaneously his influence has been felt in almost
every theatre of the North and West. lie has
welded a greater power than was possessed by
either Caldwell or De Bar. He is the last Of the
former generation Of theatrical dTectOrs,-the
Hodgknsons. Italians. Warrens, Woods and
Barrys of long ago. In efiectng his entrance here.
he has gained OF the brightest successes that the
press has ever had to Notwithstanding his name
with the first production IN America of the
true Pmafore, and with the introduction of
d" The Pirates of PeDzance." The incident is memo
rable and 1t warrants brief glance at Mr. Ford's
career III the American theatre.
John +. Ford was born in Baltimore, Nd, April
16 1929, and his youth was trained III the public
schools of that city. 1t is remembered that he was
a pupil at Grammar School No. g. in Ross-st-
now Druid Hil-ave.-and that William r..
Creery was his teacher. a gentleman and a scholar,
now dead who afterward became Superintendent OF
the Baltimore Public Schools, and, to the last, en-
joyed honor III that community. Successful
men much TO their good teachers. and the name
of such teacher should not be forcoten While
YET in his teens Il e youthful Ford was employed 10y
his uncle William Greanor, n prosperous tobacco
merchant of Richmond. Va; but the boy did not
like this business and he reinQuished it and went
into the book trade That, too. was presently aban-
dOned, aud IN 1851, having returned 10 Baltimore
he became the agent Tor the Nightingale Serenaders
a minstrel troupe organized Icy George kunkel.
With this he travelled during several seasons
visiting all the cities between the Atlantic and the
Mississippi the It. Lawrence River and the Gulf of
Mexico AT this time also he wrote as correspond
ent of The Baltimore Clipper. In 1S5455 Mr.. Ford
became manager of the Holiday Street Theatre.
BAltimore,-a house " tn which. fifty years before
his maternal grandmother had been associated,
when Warren aud Wood first managed ii,-aud that
field of labor he continued 10 cultivate for more
than twenty years Louisa Pyne, Adeliua Patti
Edwin Forrest, Charles kean, and many other lead
ing artists were there presented, under his manage
ment Rachel was engaged 10y him to act there, but
" men the time arrived was too i'll TO appear. JET
f.rson Edwin Adams, John Mccullough. and many
Other actors, now held in high esteem. won
early successes in the old Holiday Street Theatre
I
Spencer, Clifton W. Tayleure. Annie Ford, ana
Others dIstiuctively Southern authors.-wcre Orig-
nally produced there. In 1871 Mr. Ford built the
Grand Opera House, Baltimore, which bears his
uame-a spacious. wcil-app0lnted theatre contain
Ing selts for about 1000 pcrsons.-and there his
attention and labor have ever since been centred,
though not TO the neglect of many and lmportant
OUTLYING enterprises Baltimore, however. has al
ways been Mr.. Forol's home and hoadquaIioT-, and
in that city he has filed many offices of trust and
honor. He has been Acting Mayor Of Baltimore,
Member and President Of the City Council, Pres-
dent of the Union Railroad Company, Foreman Of
the Grand Jury-many tmes-ln both the state and
County Courts. President Of a Land Association,
Director of the Maryland Penitentiary, aud PTes-
dent of the Socety-an excellent institution for
Providing Free SUNNI 7 Excursions, aud Food. for
the Poor. Every year he has given a perform
race in aid of the latter association, and the pro-
ceeds in each case have exceeded $1,000. This Is
practical goodness. aud Mr. Ford has always had
the esteem and affection of his neighbors as just
generous and philosophical man. 10 Is rcmen-
bered TO his honor that he acted with wisdom and
kindness. as Commissioner OF the McDoDOuch Be-
quest and that, trying occasion, when called
TO arhitrate between his neghDofs ana q railroad
company. as to a question OF damage 10 property.
each party submitted absolutely to ms judgment, ~
case involving many thousands Of dollars. and ac-
cepted his award unanimously and without COM
plant Such facts are significant testimonials to
mud. character, principle, and pfohiy.
! Mr. Fords first theatrical venture in Washington
was undertaken III 1886, and from that time to this,
with but little intermission. he has conducted dTa-
matte enterprises in that city. He has built three
| theatres in WashingtOn-two in Tenth-st., and the
ouepow managed By him, at the corner Of Ninth-st.
| and Louisiana-ave. This named FOrds Opera
House. His first theatre in Tenth-st. was consumed
bv fire and Oh the site of that structure be built the
house known rs Ford's Theatre and associated with
one of the most terrible and affecting tragedies OF
modern times. AT the time Of the murder OF Lin
coin MI Ford and his brother Henry were for thirty
nine DAVIS incarceraicd in the Capitol Prison; bat
having been fully exonerated, they were released
The theatre was seized by the United States Gov
eminent and an order was issued prohibiting FOR
| ever its use AS a place Of amusement. AT later
nerod MFR. Ford received from the National Treas
| ury 800 900 in payment for the building After
his wenty years Of theatrical management III Wash
jnQton The Ereniag SARA leading journal Of the
Capltol-described Mr. Ford's business proceedings
there as having been marked by " rare integrity,
! ipdomitable will, and great sagacty."
Previous TO the establishment of his theatre in
! Washington Mr. Ford had often visited the city as
an itinerant manager, and at a very early time in
his theatrical career he had broken ground for those
enterprises along the Southern circutwhch to this
day. in one form another he has sustained. As
long ago as 1857 he was associated IN the manage
ment Of the theatre in Richmond, Va, and had
Joseph Jefei son for his stage-nanager and Edwin
| Adams for his leading man. John Wilkes Booth
! was \ member of his theatrical company at that
theatre in 1858. During the last twenty years Mr.
Ford has furnished the Southern people with almost
| slI the theatrical exhibitions and pleasures they
have witnessed and enjoyed. Edwin Booth. JOSEPH
| Jefferson, Charlotte Cushman. Nine Janauschek
Nine. Modjeska Mary Anderson. and many Other
| celelebrated actors have travelled through the
| -..;an.nn In 1873 he nesnrne1