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

house OF worship into a playhouse. 1t was
l rebuilt. however. and had prosperous ca
! reer during the war. which was dssster-
! ously closed by the assassination Of Presi-
! dent Lincoln.
Then there was the Oxford. which was
erected on the site on which Ford's Opera
/ House afterward stood, the property hay-
I ing been previosuly purchased by William
/ l.Wall. under whose management many no
! table performances were given Laura
keene, }. W. Wallack jr.. ana Edwin For
rest gave their last representations in THE
city in Wallis Opera House, as it was then
called. This theatre was also burned, and
on being rebuilt. was rechristeued Ford S,
taking the name Of its lessee.
This city has seen a large number Of
public halls. which have. in their time,
run a close competition with the theatres
for patronage. The Iron Hall, one
OF the earliest OF these, was
over what is now Drops music
store, on Pennsylvania Avenue. and
is at present used as a photograph IS alb
lishment In ante-bellum days many eX-
cellent performances took place here, and
70 was CT the boards Of this hall that
Stuart Robson made his first ambit Gus
attempts which are said to have been la
mortable failures. The hall was afterward
altered and became a favorite resort for
Parepa sang for the first time in Washing
ton in MctzerCtt Hall. as did also Mrs
Seguin. or Zelda Harrison. as she then was
known. Heller. the elder Hermann, and
other professors Of the black art drew
large crowds in this hall During the DAYS
the Territorial Government il was occupied
by the Legislative Assembly. and after
the experience Of these feather dCster
statesmen, the old hall was turned over TO
f.sr. .r4H hos =fra fnG htr
various photographers.
Forrest Hall in Georgetown is one Of the
landmarks Of that once important city. The
date of its birth is said to be lost in the
obscurity Of the dim past and it is by no
means certain that the strolling players OF
the last century did not make this their
stopping place.
There were two odd Fellows Halls. one
on Seventh Street, between d and E
Streets, and the other on Eighth Street
southeast. This latter hall was for many
years visited by dramatic and musical or
carnations which were gladly welcomed
by the people of Capitol Hill. who, in the
days before even the horse car lightened
the journey. felt it quite a trip into the
city.
The hall on Seventh Street was for a long
time the principal place for the holding of
concerts. school exhibitions. light dra-
uauc entertainments. etc It was the
home Of the negro minstrel. and many a
distinguished knight OF the burnt cork
made his first bow to a Washington audi
cnce behind the footights Of Odd Fellows
Hall
Wizards Hall on Street. now demol-
ished. has been the scene Of some notable I
entertainments. II was the favorite place
for lectures in 1854. During that one sea
son +. p Whipple. P T. Barnum. George /
Nandonhof the elder. and others well 4
known on the platform. appeared. The I
pianist. Gottschalk. gave his last concert /
IN this city az Wizards Hall. being assist [
cd by Nine. Varnin. Ed Hoffman. and Carlo 4
Patti the violinist, a brother Of the great
A1alina.
Carroll. Lincoln. Seaton. and Metropoli-
tan Halls are things Of the past. In the
first named Of these Charles Dickens read
from his own works during his last visit to
this city. on which occasion the -distin-
guished novelist had the large windows of
the hall carefully padded in order that
3 one Of the sound should be lost. At Lin
coin Hall the beautiful Christine Nilsson
made her first appearance in the National
Capital. The Masonic Temple and Congre-
gauOnal Church still remain devoted at
least in a measure. to their old usages. but
the day is probably not far distant when
hey, too shall tis5ppear.