Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-27
III CURTAIN DROPS

03As9 2ssse ess1NeW
Upon the Career Of Fidelius Eiester Is
theatrical Manager.
HAS CONDUCTED THE OPERA
HOUSE FOR TWENTY YEARS
VERY SUCCESSFULLY AT
TACHES WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN
LONG IN THE HARNESS IAN
EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
BY SOL SMITH RUSSELL WAS
THE CLOSING BILL.
The curtain was rung down on Mr..
Fidelius Reister's career as manager
of the Opera House last night, although
the lease of Mr.. Charles A Feinler
does not go into effect until next
Monday. Mr.. Reister has catered to
the amusement loving public for a
score of years, and under his efficient
management most of the stars of the
theatrical armament have played here,
as well as the brightest lights in the
muxic world. His management was
not always actuated by selfish interest,
as many strong attractions have been
booked within recent years, when the
requisite guarantee was SO heavy as
to preclude any notion Of profit. New
ertheless, the house has been conduct
ed very successfully, and the knowl-
edge that it is to pass into capable
and experienced hands, is very graft
flying to lovers of the drama.
Among the attaches OF the theatre
are a number who have been asso-
ciated with Mr.. Reister during almost
his entire career as manager. Col.
Goehring has served the house IN
various capacities, and Mr.. Christ.
Viewig has been in the box Office for
nearly every performance in eighteen
years. Mr.. Richardson has had charge
OF the stage during practically all OF
that period. Ed. Vaas has been the
door keeper for eight years. Other
attaches have been connected with the
front and rear of the theatre for many
years, and some of them will probably
continue in their positions.
The present opera house was erect
ed about 1870, and opened by James
Hamilton, who conducted it until 1878.
The opening performance was The
Tempest" and as it was in the days of
stock companies, it was a stock COM
pany which presented tse drama.
Milton Mobiles, who has since become
famous as an author and actor, was
the leading man. The German Fire
Insurance Company secured a mort
gage on the property, and when Mr..
Hamilton failed it passed sinto possess
sion Of the insurance company.
About that time Mr.. c. w. Franzheim
became the manager for a short period,
and in 1878 Mr.. Reister took charge OF
it for the insurance company.
Col Reister has been the manager
almost continuously since that time.
From 1884 to 1889 it was conducted
by Mr.. w. S. Foose, and Mr.. Al.
Rheinstrom managed it for part OF
one season in the early sos.
The closing performance under the
old management was given by Sol
Smith Russell and capable company,
who presented "Hon John Grigsby, ;"
an Illinois comedy drama. Mr.. Rus
sell has mounted to the top rung on the
ladder of dramatic fame since his last
appearance in Wheeling, and he was
greeted by fashionable and apprecia-
tive audience last night. Every seat
was sold before the doors were thrown
open.
The comedy is very cleverly con-
structed, and it is said that the play
wright presents very accurate por-
traiture of the conditions which OBJ
tanned in Illinois a few years prior to
the war. In the town in which the
scenes are laid, men and women were
prosecuted for pro-slavery tendencies,
and there was clearly defined division
of public sentiment. Meg Ronolds was
young school teacher, who was sub
jected to prosecutions by the anti
slavery faction, and arrested for vio-
lating an old blue law Grigsby was
lawyer, man of probity and gener-
Gus heart When appealed to he de-
tends the young woman, and ends by
falling in love with her. There are two
other love stories, both very interest
ing, and considerable plotting. The
theme is new and the author is not
bound by convention in his treatment
of it. The comedy is clean and there
is an abundance of it. There is not a
suggestive line or situation.
Nothing can be said in criticism of
the production. There was that subtle
something about it which denotes true
art 1t is the careful attention to de-
tails which would strike the ordinary
personals TRIES; no straining for
effect, but rather a holding of "the
mirror up to nature" The stage set