The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06

a nerusal of the earliest archives o
this city indicates that the drama ant
its disciples have always been well patron
lied by the people OF Washington ant
Georgetown. Thus. although the advent
OF that eminent engineer, Major LEnfant
to whom the city is indebted for its pres
ent beautiful plan. is described in a COPY
of the Georgetown Weekly Record OF
1894 as that of a distinguished astron-
omer there is no mistake made in an
other number Of the same journal for 1893
regarding the accomplishments Of com
pany Of strolling comedians. under the
management Of one Archibald Marlbor-
ough Hamilton Sterling.
Whether the manifold and brilliant
promises Of the advertisement were car
ried out in the actual performance there
are no direct means Of ascertainiug. In
view Of the fact, however. that the latter
was given necessarily by candle light.
and without the aid Of any OF the me
chanical effects at present in vogue, it
may be inferred that much was left to the
Imagination Of the audience.
Il is stated. by the way, in the adver-
tisement for this performance, that
the manager petitioned the town au-
thorities in behalf OF himself and
associates to remit the onerous tax that
was imposed upon theatrical representa-
lions, amounting to Sc per night and 1t
further transpires that the selectmen did
meet and graciously consent to suspend
the operation Of this tax law while the
comedians were in town.
Mr.. l.. Monkey Of this city. possesses
an old roster Of the date of November
Is. 1856 ten by twelve inches in size,
which announced the last two nights Of
the "Old American Company" the come
dies on the bill being the school for
Scandal" and Love a la Mode" 1t is
stated that this poster came from the
collection Of theatrical "reminiscences made
by the late Peter Force. who asserted
that the performances took place in a
theatre which was located on what is now
the south side Of Pennsylvania Avenue.
between Four and-a-Half and Sixth
Streets. the exact site being at present
occupied by a coach factory. II is other
wise stated. however. that the perform
ance must have taken place in some other
city. most probably Philadelphia. as
Washington at the date mentioned in the
poster was nothing but a wilderness.
II would appear that in and about the
year 1926 there was felt a longing by the
people CT The city for some public amuse-
ments. Of which there was. at that time. a
dearth chronicle for the year 1896 refers
20 this barrenness OF theatricals and pub
fishes from a London paper an announce
ment OF the fact that a new play had been
brought out at a Venetian theatre with
universal applause. entitled Two Genue-
men of Verona" Calteredfrcm Shakespeare
with Sfrnrr Duouauarra n no rn1a
OF First Gentleman and Signor Beauiisn in
that Of Second Gentleman" etc. with a
triumphant entry into Milan. in which an
archbishop danced a hoTnpipe. Ii was
stated to be the intention of the company
70 visit London. This was at the time
when the great Napoleon was spreading
terror throughout all Europe and it was
feared that his triumphant march would
Tot be checked before be should make an
assault upon the British Capital.
II is said that in all probability. the first
dramatic performance that took place in I
Washington was given in the year 1900, at
the Great Hotel" then the largest tav-
ern in the city which was kept by a man
named Blodgett. and was located on the
ground now occupied by the General Post 1
Office Building Whether this BlOdgett was
the originator OF the celebrated Blodgett
claim which created such stir in the Dis
trict a few years ago is not known. The
plays that were presented on that occasion. /
or the actors who participated. cannot be
ascertained, but there is authentic record
to show that the performance took place.
The first building devoted exclusively 10
dramatic amusemeuts was erected IN 1904.
IL was situated on the corner OF Eleventh
ard Streets. stock company built Dr.,
and they gave il no other name than TIE
Theatre It lasted fer several years, but
was at length burned down, and the site
sold to Mr.. rCarusi, who Is well remem-
bered by old residents of the city in 1922.
and who reconstructed IT, and named il
the City Assembly Rooms. Here C8rusi
held his dancing academy, and in this hall
were held many notable parties and balls.
In 1897 Csrusis saloon was remoleied into
a theatre. and excellent performances took
place there for a long series Of years, be-
fore ID became a variety hall. Il was called
the Washington Theatre. and among The
many notable engagements was ore OF two
weeks. which took place in March. 1865.
at the time Of President Liucolns second
Inauguration. by the Wallack and Daven- 7
port combination. which Introduced. be- I
sides these distinguished actors Miss Rose .
EJyrge Harry Placide and others The .
first week vas devoted 10 the new play OF .
How she Loves Him" with Wallack as
the suffering Tom Nacil; Davenport as .
Captain Gawley, Harry PIacide as Diog-
enes. and Rose EtyuEe as Atlanta Cruiser.
The second week was given TO English 4
comedy. and The School for Scandal"
Honeymoon and "Stil Waters Run
Deep were presented.
The next theatre built here was erected /
on Louisiana Avenue. Just east Of sixth
Street. and was called The Washington
Theatre" and afterward The American
Theatre 1t was in all likelihood. built
early IN the EOS, for there is a record OF .
its having been greatly enlarged aud i'm
proved in 1928. This theatre enjoyed great
popularity and success for number Of I
years. an IL we're held two Inauguration
balls and several balls and receptions By .
local military organizations. During tie .
war H. too, became a variety han. and was .
known as The Canterbury" After the I
houses mentioned had dourished and de- 4
clined there stood on the site described by +
the late Peter Force as that Of the 1856 /.
performance above referred to. a theatre
called The Adelphi" II was destroyed BY .
FIRE in lS60, only enjoying few years Of I
existence.
Ford's Tenth Street Theatre is still re- I
membered by many. fay0rahly. because OF 4
the enjoyable performances once rendered .
there. and on account OF the tragic occur- 4
RANGES Of which II has been the scene. TIE
original building WAS a Baptist Church. In
which the Rev. Obediah Brown used 10
preach. and was altered into a theatre in
1913. After an existence Of only about a
year. this place Of amuseent was desIoyed
by fire, and no few people said il was a
judgment against those who had turned a
III