The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-15
They came In parties, sat togeher. ana
seldom failed TO make their presence
soNr NprApLE EVENTS.

audience. In 1870 Edwin Forrest played
a weeks engagement, with William har-
ris as his leading man. Harris Is now
playing with Saiyini Their greatest sue
cess was the production OF Damon and
Pythias," soon after tho knights Oh
Pythias became craze IN this city.
Nearly every Knight in Richmond was
present, and Forrest was given an ova-
ton. "virginius." la the hands Of the
great, but ll-empered tragedian, came
| in for general praise.
Chanfrau appeared In XXI, the Arkan-
sas Traveller" early in 1871. He played to
| crowded houses every night for three
weeks, and scored big hit.
Eugene Eb>rle and Billy Gilbert sup
| ported him as Judge" and Major.
| Frank Noys. as "Davs Crockett" also
! proved drawing card. He was the
leading support in one OF tho first stock
companies organized to play at the Thea
| tire. Elizt Wren; her sister. Ella Wren;
| Zoe T. Fannin, Nellie Johnson. Alice
| Oates. who married a Richmond man,
| and w. II. Crane, who has since devel-
| oped into brilliant star, were all WELL
known supports to celebrated actors.
Tho elder salvini. who played there
| in 1876. the Chapman sisters, who. in
| 1862, played a three weeks engagement
with c. T.. Bishop and made a great
hit In 'Txion;" II. a. Sothern, in LORD
| Dundreary." and Sam" Lolita. In Zip.
and "Old Curiosity Shop" Jauaschek. in
MARY Stuart" and "Medea," who played
n week in a $1,000 engagement; Edwin
| Adams. In Hamlet" and 'Enoch Ar
dem" Laura Keane. In "Our American
| Cousin" Booth and Barrett, IN Julius
Caesar" and Fanny Davenport. In THE
American Girl" and "Pique," were some
Of the most notable dramatic events up
| to ten years ago.
memorable event was Booths en-
gagement Of one week In 1876. Despite
the high prices, standing room was at
q premium.
Sarah Bernhard proved a great at
traction for two nights. She had at that
time less notoriety and fewer trunks,
though. perhaps, more beauty and bet
| ter morals. She was enthusiastically re-
| ceived.
! OF more recent years some Of the
| celebrities which have delighted large
! audiences at the old playhouse were:
Sol. Smith Russell. Stewart Robson and
| William H. Crane Richard Mansfield
Robert Manten Nat Goodwin, l.. IL.
| Sothern. John T. Raymond. Kate Clax-
ton. Modieska, W. ]. Florence, Lillian
! Lewis. Adelaide Nelson. and Christina
| Nilsson.
The greatest weeks engagement ever
| played In the theatre was that OF jan
| auschek and the most successful nights
| performance that OF Booth and Barrett
and Bernhsrdt, which was, perhaps, the
! strongest combination ever seen in this
| city.
OPERA COMPANIES.
During the old damatic school In Rich
mond opera was perhaps less popular
than at present. Real merit and less
| a.. Inn mo Influence
over tho audience. The FIRST grand opera
company to make its appearance in Rich
mond after the war was In 1868. Caro-
line Richings was a prima donna. DO
hemian Girl" Martha" and other popu-
lar bills were produced before large au-
diences. They played a weeks engage
ment. Miss Richings afterwards taught
school in Richmond. She died Ia this
city, and her remains were inferred in
| Hollywood.
During tho seventies the greatest opera
success was scored by the Clara Louise
Kellogg Opera Company They played
grand opera, with a change OF bill eacf
night. Large audiences greeted them
About ninety people appeared on the
stage.
THE WORK OF DEMOLITION.
The work OF tearing down the old The
atre will be begun next Friday, ana the
clothing store which viii take its place
will be begun at once ana hnished ny
store were drawn by Mr.. Carl Ruelr-
mund, the architect, and, upon compie-
ton IL VIII be leased and occupied ~
Mossrs. Arnold & Co. Of Chicago.
The store will be one OF the most COM
mOdi0us and handsome in the city, en-
70 bracng many new and distinct features
not the least interesting OF when VII
be seven OF the largest flights OF pIate
glass ever brought TO this city. These
windows Will measure 13sXl3s inches, anc
will be surmounted by decorated tahsoius
The building win be four stories high
1t will have frontage on Broad street
OF 50 feet and on Seventh street OF IL,
feet. 1t viii be built after the modern
style Of architecture, OF Powhatan REQ
pessed brick, with terra-cotta trimmings
and Naturalization cornices. The
straight lines Will be relieved by pedimen'
! breaks in the centre OF each 'front.'
The brick work above the first floor vii
be carried on girders and supported OF
Ouite an unique feature Of the exterior
al least as far as Richmond is concerned
will be the entrance at the corner o.
Broad and Seventh streets, with hand
some SWIM doors on both SIDES. TX WI
he the only corner entrance in the city.
The Seventh-street front VIII he re-
turn Of the Broad-street front, win SIM
lar features on the lower south-side cor
'''' THE INTERIM.
The walls viii be twenty-five inches II
thickness Underneath the main fOor VII
be a commodious cellar for storage ant
other purposes. This compartment Wi
=. I've excavated and fioored with cement. J
will extend under the entire length OF th'
building
The main floor has an inside measure
ment OF 12sx5l feet
No arrangements have yet been MADE
for furnishing the interior, but Messrs
Arnold & CO. are authority for the state
-nent that no expense will be spared !,
this particular, and every modern aDph
ance WI be found in the store.
At the rear end Of the store viii be sit
mated the elevators and dressing-rooms
and huge shoW-wndows Will be erected
behind the large plate glass on the Broa'
and Seventh-street sides. There VIII b
no partitions at all on this moor, IN
Ceiling being supported by rjrders an,
columns. The ceiling will be paneied o
oak. and the pitch Of this department WI
he eiohtecn feet The side walls VIII b
ulastsrel with Victor cement
The pitch OF the second floor VIII ID
fourteen feet. and OF the third foo
! twelve feet Both floors Will be simia
I Ia the first. extending the whole lengtl
of the building, and fitted with complete
elevator service and dressing-rooms.
The fourth floor will be divided int
. | separate compartments, and be used 10
the storage OF sample stock.
ARaIny Weather onnet.
love 10 hear the murmurtng or the win
from eastern sky.