The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-08

The Booths and other Celebrated Ac-
tors Appeared There.


The Park Theater was one of the best
known institutions in Indiana. The old in
habitants remember il as the Metropolitan
Theater Austin II. Brown, of this city
now deputy surveyor of customs, was prac-
tically the first manager and treasurer of
the house and has its history thoroughly
in mind. He is full of "reminiscences of the
place and last night gave them to Jour
nal reporter
The Metropolitan was the first theater
built in indianapolis. 1t completed in
the fall of 1857. and occupied by Valentine
Butsch. F. T. Sherlock who was then con-
nected with a Detroit theater. leased the
place and ran it one season with consider
able financial loss. Mr.. Butsch then took
the theater off Sherlock's hands and
opened it as a regular theatrical house
with stock company. Up to this time
it had been run as place of general
amusement. being rented to opera compa-
nies, minstrels, and concert companies in
discriminatory. Mr.. Brown was associated
with MIR. Butsch as acting manager and
treasurer. In 1860 John Elser, the father
of Effie Elsler, took the place and kept it
for two years. Felix a. Vincent was the
next lessee ard he followed after
short time by William II. Riley> Mr.. Riley
was succeeded by Leak & Dickson. James
s. Dickson. of the firm, was the brother
of George Dickson, of Dickson q Talbot.
Under their management the place was
used as variety theater. Dickson x Tai
bott, the present lessees, did not assume
control until about 1886
During the early days of the theater un-
til as late as 1870. William III. Riley's stock
company occupied the boards and some of
the best actors in the country appeared
as stars. Fred Hight was the first stage
manager of the company, but he was soon
succeeded by William II. Riley. Associated
with Mr.. Riley were Mrs. Van Dering. as
leading lady: John Hill, F. S. White. Mr.
and Mrs Ranford. A Fisher. +. @. White
Nav McWilliams Mr.. and Mrs. j. G.. Ash,
mer and Mr.. and Mrs. Hodges.
ELDER BOOTH APPEARED THERE.
Both Junius Brutus and ]. Wilkes Booth
have played many times from the Metro
politan stage, and Edwin Forrest. the elder
John Drew, w. j. Florence and Dan
Bryant were among the regularly billed
attractions c. w. Couldock now with the
Wilton Lackaye Company, often appeared
there, and Maggie Mitchell was popular
favorite. Among the other noted actors
with whom the patrons of the Metropolitan
were familiar were Peter Ritchings and his
daughter Caroline. Mr.. and Mrs. Conway,
F. L. Davenport j. w. Wallick, Eliza
Logan. Sally st. Clair Susan Denim.
Matilda Heron Edwin Adams j. H.
the well-known Lotta-
MIR. Brown recalled the time when. just
after the firing upon Fort Sumter. Peter
and Caroline Ritchings were playing at
the Metropolitan. There a special ses-
sion of the Legislature at the Statehouse
and the utmost excitement prevailed. By
special request of the Legislature Caroline
Ritchings sang The Star-spangled Ban
ncr'' at the evening performance. Mr..
Brown said that never had he heard song
rendered with such telling effect as on
that night. The audience was afire with pa
triotism which famed higher at the sound
of the national air, and Miss Ritchings was
given an ovation such as actress be-
fore or since has received upon that stage
Mr.. Brown said last night that except
for the changes in the entrance and a
slight enlargement of the stage. the Park
Theater of yesterday was exactly as con-
structed I'm 1857. 1t was the first theater
built in Indiana for purely theatrical pur-
poses Mr. Brown said that. in his opinion.
the Park was the most satisfactory in the
city.
THE seating ARRANGEMENTS were per-
feet" said he "and the acoustic properties
were excelled by no other auditorium in
the city with the exception perhaps. OF
Tonlinson Hall. 1t is remarkable fact
that though this theater was forty years
old this is the first fire which IL has ever
suffered Never that / remember. has there
been an audience driven from the building
by fire or even an alarm OF fire.
In speaking of the old Metropolitan Thea
ter last night George Dickson said it was