National Republican., 1884-03-06
FORD'S OPERA HOUSE.
The Rise Of a First-Clas5 Theater Upon the
Reconstructed Ruins Of a Warehouse.
Sketch or Manager Ford ana His Long
Managerial Experience.

The old lovers Of theatrical amusements at
the national capital remember far back in the
past Ford's theater and Wallis opera house,
wherein many noted actors, who have since
"crossed over the river" played their parts
and we'll" Fords opera house of to-day
stands on tho site of the old Wall opera house,
which was destroyed by fro in 1879. The
structure, embracing stores in the first story,
was erected by the late Thomas Berry. Mr.
Thomas B. Entwisle was tho builder. The
ontire second story and the present entrance
way was leased by Mr.. John r. Ford, aud
fitted upby him for the purposes OF amusement
at Il cost approximating 100000 Mr.. Berry
furnished only the floor, the unceiled roof
and the inolosing walls, the house was
opened by Joe Jefferson on Saturday, Feb.
%. 1873. with the play Of Grip Van Winkle"
The receipts were about $1,000. On the
Tuesday following (tho night preceding Ash
Wednesday they, reached u ,7jO.. About this
time the National theater was destroyed by
fire, and tho opera house for brief period
was the only place OF dramatic amusement
in the city.
During the ten years that followed Clara
Morris, Wyndham, Jefferson Owens, Clarke,
Fanny Davenport, Janauschek, Lotta, Minnie
Palmer, Mrs. Bowers, and others appeared on
its stage in drama and comedy, with Gerster,
Campanini, and the Royal Italian opera COM
pany. Many other famous performances
havo been given within the house. Every
president during that period, with all the
illustrious mon Of tho capital, have attended
performance there.
"Pinaforo" was given at Ford's opera house
originally, under the auspices of the family
of Chief Justice Waite and others. In con-
struction, rent, and after improvements Mr..
Ford has during his lease expended fully
$40, 900 on the property. Mr.. Joseph s. Sess-
ford, who was Mr.. Ford's ticket seller twenty
seven years ago at tho old National, still
retains that position. endeared to manager
and public alike by unblemished probity aud
unvarying courtesy and capacity. Mr.. Ford
has been familiar to Washington amusements
for fully thirty-three years, and has estab-
lished an unenviablo reputation. Ho man
aged tho old National when tho lato William
III. Winder was its owner, and tho present
National for four years under lease
from w. w. Rapley. He built the
old Ford athenWum, on Tenth street.
near f, and when 1t was destroyed by fire he
erected Ford's thoater on the ruins. 1t was
in this building (now the medical museunl)
that President Lincoln was shot. During the
war Mr.. Ford built a frame theater in Alex
andria as we'll as two theaters in the city Of
Baltimore. This veteran is now in his 5ith
year. He commenced business here immedi-
ately upon reaching his majority. His man
agerial term of a third of a century makes
him tho oldest manager in America.
Two of his daughters have been successful
in dramatic literature-Annie and Lizzie.
The former wrote three successful plays,
including Tho Daughter of Rolsnd," as
acted by Miss Mary Anderson, and the latter
the bright musical extravaganza of Fun on
tho Pacific"