Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-28
rbo R,chmond T,aeatre.


in use as place Of amusement.
With o few not very costly improve
ments the Theatre could be made
to serve the public for many years to come.
1t was built during the war upon theruins
OF the "Old Marshall" and Is therefore
TO some extent an old fashioned structure;
but there arc few houses 30 solidly built;
few where the acoustics are better; few
with larger stages few where fashiona-
BILE audience sees or is seen to so much ad-
vantage. Hundreds of our people do not
feel ut home in any other place OF
amusement here.
Richmonds first regularly-equipped
Theatre was destroyed by FIRE with great
loss of life on tho night of December 20,
1911. 1.-THE Marshall (named after Chief
Justice Marshall, who was one OF the
great patrons of the enterprise was like
wise destroyed January 2. 1852. but with
out loss of life.
This loss was also public calamity.
The Theatre was the chief place OF
amusement in the city at period
when amusement was absolutely ne
cessary TO relieve the mental strain conse-
quent upon the alarm and distress winch
most men and women suffered. II was
doubly q loss because there was not within
the confines of the Confederacy the mate
rial with which TO replace 1t. Brick and
lumber we had. of course, but our stores
of upholsterers' goods, hardware, &C.. &c.
had long been exhausted.
Whilst workmen under the direction
of Mr. JOSEPH HALL were engaged III re-
building the Theatre the owner Of the pro-
perty sent TO England for supplies not OBJ
tainable in the South. These had to come
in at Wilmington, N. c.. port which was
biockaded by the enemy's ships OF war.
What was more. in those times OF BLOCK
AIDED ports and relentless consumption.
there was a great scarcity of actors. and
for the most part we had to depend on
home talent drilled by Il. D'ORsAY OGDEN.
an Englshman who had been living
farther south and who appeared in Rich
mond during the war and became the Ma
poLEoN of our theatricals. Considering the
difficulties under which he labored, he
really accomplished wonders. From time
to time he would put patriotic pieces upon
the stage and then the enthusiasm Of the
soldiers would know no bounds. They
would pack the house as it was never
packed before or since.
Early IN 1868 MIR. JOHN +. REGNAULT, who
had been associated with Mr.. HALL as one
OF the contractors in rebuilding the The
atre, was sent TO England by the proprie-
nf Ha
slipped through ono of our blockaded
ports to Havana and sailed thence TO VIgo,
in Portugal, and thence to Marseilles. in
France, aud thence proceeded by regular
routes to Paris and London. lie secured
a good company in London, but it had
even more difficulty in getting here than
he had in getting there. If We remember
Alright, it landed at Norfolk. hoping to
come through the lines under u flag of
truce, but was refused that permission by
the Federal authorities. However, OGDEN's
homo company always filed the house.
Sometimes from an upper gallery one
might look down upon the parquette floor
and see every seat filed and soldiers stand
ing in the aisles seemingly as thick AS
stalks in wheat-feld. The temptation 10
exchange the tedium of the camp for the
glitter and excitement of the Theatre was
80 great that when LES army was very
near Richmond his men would often "rua
the blockade nj. G., absent themselves
without leave between evening and MORN
ing roll-cals.
This finally got to be a great owl and
LEE resolved to put stop to 1t. So one
night he ordered troop TO surround the
Theatre (then in temporary occupancy of
the old church on Franklin street Just be-
low the Exchange HoteD and arrest oil
who were absent without leave. This was
done to the great Consideration of the
absentees. and rather oddly led to Gene
raj LEES being hauled up" by subordi-
nate. General WISDER was the military
commandant at Richmond. He was q
West Pointer, master OF military eti-
quette. and a valiant stickler for his rights.
besides being good, all-around soldier.
He caused the officers commanding tho
troop to be detained by his men, and the
troop bad to 90 back to camp under COM
maud Of a sergeant. In other words, he
refused to recognize the validity of the
proceeding because the order had not
come through him. In the treatment OF
this case. as in many other such cases,
LEE showed himself the great and good
man that he was. He saw that WGNDER's
point was we'll taken: he frankly said SO,
and at once pacified WEDER. What would
CROMWELL, NAPOLEON, or WELLINGTON
have done under similar circumstances
The new Theatre was ready for oocu-
pancy in December. 1862. and was opened
with great ceremony. "Byron's Dream"
had been painted on a drop-curtain by
somewhat celebrated artist. A prize
poem. by HENRY TfARoD, was read by
WALTER KrEBLE; addresses were delivered
by distinguished men. and then Miss
MARY PARTISGToS executed pas se1H and
the Theatre was ushered upon its new ex-
istence. Since then it has been the Sic
lent witness of many of Richmond's joys
and sorrows. 1t Is landmark that we
should hardly care to see removed, even to
give place 10 a Shower house.
Long may it continue in use; and when
at last it totters to its fall with age, or in
obedience to public opinion is pushed
aside for a newer favorite, we shall look
upon its dust and debris as upon the ashes
of an old friend.