Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-19
s rrrD ANOTHER THEATRE

long stood. We cannot DO iafe"oH "
theatre without sigh OF regret. especiaiv
az Il 10 not clear that We shall soon oe
able to supply tho community WIN a"-
other such house as this was.
Yet. surely, the public spirit OF h'cn-
mind is not less than II was seventy
1--WE years ago. when our people na'i"s
felt the want OF a place Of amusement
fs,nce the loss by fire Of the tneatre
which stood upon the site where inc
Monumental church now is, formed =
.,ock company. and built "the Marshaii
Theatre"
John Marshall, fourth Chief Justice OF
the United States was the most Important
c,t,zen that Richmond then had. and'
being a popular man. as well as q srea'
and good man, and evincing much IN
terest in the enterprise, the Theatre was
named after him.
From that time until January ,, lsoz'
"the Marshall Theatre supplied most OF
the amusement attractions OF the city
But there were two other large pubic
halls here in which entertainments were
given. These were the Metropolitan Hall
and the hall of the Mechanics Institute
The former had been the Presbyterian
church. but, having been abandoned oy
its congregation for better mouse Oh
worship. was used as a public hail. ana
so continued to be used until 1t was torn
down. to make room for the Randolph
box-factory.
The Mechanics Institute stood on the
west side Of Ninth street. near where
Bank street begins, and had fine nall
In which exhibitions of various sorts were
given. ana where the Virginia Secession
Convention sat for some months. Later on
the building was remodelled (as to the
INTERIOR to be used as the Confederate
War Department.
This commodious structure was destroy
ed I'm the fire Of Evacuation-Day. Not a
vestige of 1t remains. Indeed. so far as
we know, there. is not even picture
Of 1t in existence. Where 1t stood several
business houses were long ago built, and
continue unto this day.
So, Il will be seen that at the begin
ming Of the war Richmond was better on
than it is to-day In the matter Of places
of amusement. However. the war had not
been in progress year when the Mar
shall Theatre was destroyed by fire. while
II was doing an ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
business. All the materials with which TO
reproduce and refurnish 1t were not to be
found within the bounds Of the Confede-
racy. Brick, stone, and iron, we had OF
course. and the work Of rebuilding the
walls of the house was promptly begun;
but for hardware. stage-furnishings, and
upholstery, Mrs. McGill. afterwards Mrs.
Powell, had to send abroad. The late be-
loved John +. Regnault. as the agent oil
the owner of the Theatre, undertook to
run the blockade and bring hither. not
only the materials needed, but a COM
pany Of English actors. In due season.
Mr.. Regnault returned with the goods
he had purchased. but the company OF
actors never reached Richmond.
In February. 1863, the new Richmond
Theatre was opened to the public. II
had a wonderfully prosperous career, run
ming winter and summer, excepting al
intervals. when the proximity of the enc.
my to Richmond made 1t improper thai
| exhibitions should be given.
In those days, bright. cheerful pieces
were liked best, and songs and dance.
were given between the acts. The great
mass Of the houses patrons were Con
federate soldiers, most Of whom had hac
! few opportunities at their homes to enjoy
theatricals, and who were not difficult e
| please, and were easily moved to tears
More than one play was taken from The
| boards because ii carried the men.
| minds back too strongly to their home:
and TO dear ones whom they had left
Military plays, however. were very sue
cessful, and 1.-The Virginia Cavalier.
which dealt with features Of the war
and gave the victory TO our side. wa
immensely popular.
But the Theatre of which we are speak
ing Is entitled to be remembered, no
| merely because. first and last, 1t had fur
nished entertainment to three fourth
Of Lees army. but because of the politi
also, because OF the great balls and fairs
and other society functions" which from
time to time made 1t respondent will
youth and beauty. And, now, 1t Ia dis
appearing before our very eyes. and sool
the time will come when II will be re
membered but vaguely-remembered no
better than the Mechanics Institute is re
membered. 1t Is bad enough to part witt
1t at all, though it had become old-fash
Toned and ill-suited to the wants of IN
modern stage. But, to lose 1t withou
the hope of having another to take II
place would be too badi We must hav
another theatre The Mozart Lcadem,
of Music will serve US until we can pro
vide successor to the Theatre, and 1
will always be a useful hall, but Rich
mond's ambition may well rise littl
higher than that.
We should have a larger building thai
the Mozart; larger with respect to tn
auditorium and with respect to the stage
In short we need a modern house. Hov
can we secure this? We know OF but on
way, and that Is by our peoples puttin
their hands into their pockets. We shoul
think that the plan upon which the Cham
Der OF Commerce building was bull
would be a good one wherewith to fur
nish ourselves with a new theatre. Sub
scriptions might be taken, payable In tw
years, so as to make them easy OF pay
ment. and. with suitable site bough
and paid for, we might mortgage tn
whole property for the money needed {
put up the building. Certainly. the under
taking ia not beyond our resources.