The times., 1899-04-09

TO mind the criticism, however, as he inn
mediately erected a larger and handsomer
building which was turned over to Mr..
Ford and was operated as a threatre by
him until that historic night in April 1860,
when Lincoln fell by the hand of the as
sassin Booth. The theatre then became
The property of the United States Govern
ment and remained standing until 1898
when il collapsed killing a number of men
and injuring many others. II was then re-
built and is still used by the Government
as a portion of the War Department.
The Oxford Theatre.
Late in the fifties the Oxford theatre
was built at the corner where the Bijou
now stands. 1t was used for many years
as a first-class house 'and many noted
stars appeared there. When Ford left his
theatre on Tenth Street after the Lincoln
tragedy he purchased the Oxford and
turned ii into an opera house. 1t was con-
Quoted as such until about ten years ago,
when it was leased by Harris, Britton &
Dean and was run in conjunction with two
Baltimore theatres under the control OF
this firm as a house for the production of
melodrama at popular prices. Two years
ago it was rented by its present managers
and has been operated as vaudeville
house ever since. In the latter part OF the
seventies Lincoln Hall was built at the
corner of Ninth and d Streets. After a
short career as a music hall it was rented
to Hertzog and operated as popular
priced theatre until ii burned down in 1887.
1t was then rebuilt and renamed the Lin
coin Music Hall. In 1892 Manager Rapley,
of the National Theatre. secured control of
the house and turned it into a regular the
atre, calling it the Academy OF Music by
which name it is still known.
Early in the fifties a music hall was
opened on Pennsylvania Avenue. between
Eleventh and Twelfth Streets northwest.
This theatre was the scene of many no.
table performances of the variety class.
1t had long and varied career and was
not done away with until the ground was
broken for the new city postoffice a few
years ago. II was at one time or another
the most popular family theatre in the
city, but deteriorated toward the latter
part of its existence and becarie &c home
of the widest and most suggestive variety
companies on the road.
The theatres of more recent construc-
tion are the Grand Opera House, which
was erected in 1884, the Metzerott Music
Hall or the Columbia Theatre, as it is bet
ter known. which was erected in 1892. and
the Lafayette Square Theatre, which was
built in 1895.
OF all the theatres in the city. however,
the one which is the best known and
which has become most endeared to the
hearts of the theatregoing public is the
National. This was one of the first legi-
innate houses to be built in the city and
was erected by the citizens in 1885 1t has
had long and varied career, having been
burned to the ground four times only to
rise again in renewed splendor to take its
place among the foremost theatres in the
country.
The National Theatre of Old.
The National Theatre has always stood
on the same spot and has ever been known
as the National. Few people know that
the site was selected by the well-known
philarthropist and scholar the late w.
W. Corcoran, and the theatre was built
largely with means furnished by him.
Before the erection of the National there
was really no theatre in the city where
first-class performances were regularly
given. The citizens of the District de-
manded that such a building be erected,
and at a mass meeting Messrs. Henry Ran
dali. Richard Smith, Pornelious Mclean,
jr George Gibson, and William Brent
were appointed a committee to prepare
plans and select a site for the proposed
theatre. Some little time was spent in
the selection of the site of the place, and
on October 10. 1884, the present lot was
purchased from John Mason. The deed.
which is on record at the Office Of the Re-
corder of Deeds of the District of Column
bia shows that the lot was purchased for
the erection thereon Of building which
was TO be devoted to public amusement.
After the purchase of the lot it seems that
there was some little difficulty in secur-
ing funds for the purpose of building the
theatre, and in 1885 w. w. Corcoran took
the matter out OF the hands of the COM
mittee by purchasing the property and
erecting the building. which was recon-
veyed to the stockholders in the original
enterprise and which has ever since been
known as the National Theatre. The build
ing was leased to Messrs. Rowbotham and
Pratt, who also managed the Chestnut
Street Theatre in Philadelphia.
The first bill to be presented at the
house was double one and included Tho
Man of the World" and Turned Out.
The cast included Mr.. and Mrs. Jefferson,
the father and mother of Joe Jefferson
Mrs. Burke, who was associated with the
Jeffersons for a long time. and number
of others of lesser note. The house was
packed at the first performance and the
audience was said to have bean very en-
thusiastic one. The prices charged were
much lower than those of later days, the
best seat in the house being only 81, whi,e 6
seats in the second tier of boxes cou-d b
! had for so cents. The play comm al
I o'clock and was interspersed with
number of musical numbers. The first stai
to appear at the new theatre was Miss
Emma Wheatley, a local actress of merit
and was said TO have scored an in.taGta-
neous success. Following the Opening
there were number OF great events in tie
theatrical history of the city. Junius
Brutus Booth appeared there several times
| in repertoire. Joseph Jefferson made his
debut in the theatrical world at this house
and appeared there several times each seq
son. "A number of plays were given tneii
first production here. During the 1rst ter
years of its existence Edwin Forrest, j
| w. Wallack, the elder Booth, Edmund
Kean. Madame Celeste, Ellen Tree, Farni;
4 Elssler and 4 number of other well know
theatrical stars OF days gone by appearct
at the house.
In Is45 the house was destroyed by fir
for the first time. Nothing but the wall
were left standing and seven or eigh
dwellings that had stood in the vicinit
were also burned 10 the ground.
Jenny Lind's Appearance.
In 1850 the fame of Jenny Lind had trav
eled to this country and arrangement
were made for her American tour 1t wa
considered absolutely necessary that sh
should give at least one concert in thi
city. and as the National Theatre ha
burned to the ground there was no plac
where the concert could be held. Messrs
Willard and Reside, two publc-spirite
citizens. solved the difficulty and relieve
the minds of the citizens of the District b
the erection OF a building on the site of tn
old National Theatre, which was know
as the National Hall. and was built espe
cially for the Jenny Lind concert. Her
John Howard Payne heard the great singe