The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-01-13
OF so YEARS.
Mr. John W. ReilIy's Collection Dates Rack
TO 1918.
RARE TREASURES OF HlSIRIOSlC LORI
The shaicspcnrcun Table Around
Which Have Gathered Americas
Leading Actors and Statesmen.
Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore Sun.
Mr. John w Reilly has at his place of
business, 400 East Fayette street. one Of
the most interesting collections of thea
ter programmes ever gotten together.
the lover of histrionic lore may ana here
almost comp etc serial story of the
stage during the century just closed,
Mir. Reilly has been an enthusiastic
lover OF the stage all his life. He in
herited the sentiment. as lis father, the
late John Reilly, had the same feeling to-
ward actors and acting. Between them
the Messrs Reilly have been collecting
theatrical programmes tor seventy
years, and The collection Is not only m
terestng from the artistic standpoint
but has great local value In It's relS-
tion to b lt!more theatrical life during
the first half Of the last century. Tho
latest programme In the collection bears
the dale OF 1874. and the majority OIL the
valuable framed sips Of paper deal with
events prior to the civil war.
The Elder Reilly.
The elder Reilly, who WIS one OF the
best klowa and most popular men in
Baltimore. for many yesrs kept a rcstau-
rant IN South street, about where IN,
Sale DEPOSIT and Trust eompanys build
Ing now stands. 1t was OF MIN that 4
story was recently published in the odd
Taies-of- the Town column Of the sun
lie went to Ph.lade ph.4 on certain busl-
ness at one time when it VS. customary
for travellers t. adj to their signatures
upon hotel r4gis,ers letters lndlcaun
their title. Mr. Reilly saw numerous
y. DIS, LL. D.'s etc. and added TO b
name the letters T.. +, 5. That Afternoon
he was ca, ed upon by committee Of
solemn looking gentlemen who requested
that nc lecture before some sclen in
BODY. Tley thought he was a Fellow o.
me Royal Society, but Mr.. Reilly su1se
quenQy explained that the letters lite
his name meant "Fried, Raw and Stewod >
and 4" he gaid, II keep the finest oyster!
in Baltimore
\ Historic Table.
The elder Reillys place was a flvorio,
resort for men whose names have beer
carefully preserved by history, and lev
actors OF the older school now leave bal
tlmore without calling upon the son. A
the lztter's place Is a pain bat su1stan
tial mahogany table tAat has much mort
than passing historic interest. IL WA
built for tie Elder Reilly's restauran
ami It's history is told BY the following
NaAA lao kNlEA W bAt haAl dOOAt IL.
Vide! The old Snakesperean table II
use since 1871.
AROUND this venerable and convivia
10 I'd the great ACTORS, Boota, pere et h!s
torres,, A4cready, etc. and The states
men, Webster Clay, Ca hOun, etc. hay
often assemaled and made tie good or
table re-ecno their joylal wit and m.rtn
BequieScat in Pace. Reilly. "Aul
Lang Syne.'
a 49, - H..
have often gathered Cor merry hours be
10 drink hot brandy teddy and mull thei
ale. Some Of the old pewter pots use
10y celebrities of three quarters OF
century ago are NOW hanging battere
and dlscolored, on the wall above ID
table.
Actors, even the stars OF the stag,
were not wealthy men In those days
Terrapip and champagne suppers. Tx
those of the present. were practicall
unknown, although terrapiD was the
cheap enough for almost any table +
afford Muled ale, made by lnsertin
Ied-not pokers In pots Of the foamin
beverages, and hot brandy toddies wer
th1 actors delight. After joyial ses
sion CT several hours about the oil
Shapespearean table at keilly's the part
would usually adjourn to David Pierce
place, al Gay and Frederick streets, Il
nightcap. This consisted q glass {
whisky each, the price paid being l eei
a glass Mr. John w. Reilly Is anthori,
for the statement that this whisky We
Z as fine as a man ever tasted II sold Il
l6M cents a gallon and could be gottt
az a number Of places in baltimore. NJ
Reilly says Il was quite amusing offs
Ia see party OF well known actoi
STANDING on tho street fishing in the
, pockets to make up pool Of cents
! order TO get six drinks o. whisky to
: to sleep on.
: The Oldest BilI.
The oldest bill, or programme, posses
: by Mr.. Reily is oae Of The old Adelph
theater. also known as the Baltimo
theater. but better remembered as u
< 'Mud" theater The building stood
. the corner Of what IS now North al
Saratoga streets. The approaches we
unpayed and the mud was often en-
lbarrassing. Patrons were frequent
: compelled 10 wade ankle deep 20 rea
a the entrance and pianks we're often US
! as bridges. Several times during q
existence Of the old playhouse, ait