The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-15
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A BRIEF HISTORY
Of the Eighth Street Playhouse. !
! BY BRUCE CHESTERMAN. !
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One Of tho most interesting chapters II,
tho history of the stage III TINS clly 10
K that in relation to the fall anu lisc ~
X fla Eighth. street Theatre, once Barton
& ruinrn House, and now the BiJou. re-
member the old house very well IN ns
early days, and always welcomed ea'u.
x dav not only as n day which freeu me
T,n,,, school. hut as one which brought
with It a matinee performance at thls
\ onera house. where for the small sum OF
4 -, cents one could sit In the balcony ana
witness the kind of plays that please inc
masses. and especially delight the neart
Of a boy. Jack Shepherd, saved IRON
4 the Storm after Dark, "A Checkereu
I Tife,n "IIonest Hearts and Wiling
Hands" and dramas of that type were
p then the offerings at that playhouse. the
house belonged to that class known us
n ..family theatre" and popular PRICES
nrevailed, The house was Ut ny gus,
int the day had passed when stage
hnnd came out before the curtain with
a blazing torch and lit the tootiights'
I'hc smell Of escaping gas toiu tne ~ !,
dtence that It was time TO hght up,
and In n few moments all the llghts III
4 tla house would flare up. The gas was
Fl f1rgtN turned on, and then modern april
8'an,es were used to ignite It, the electrlc
current producing spark at each jet. ;,
IA +, audience then was anything but wen
behaved. The gallery would manifest Us
in1patlence by q stamping on tne nool ;
each foot beating time to all tho others.
when the footlights went up there Was
usually cheer the goos IN .n,s ,,'a" tpe
expressing their relief. Throughout inc
NAV the audience gave ample evidence
gof their feelings In regard to the play.
81 all seemed very real to Them and ~hen
inc stage of the drama was reached when
virtue received It's reward and Vllalny
was tramped Under foot they expressed
their satisfaction In the most noisy man
ner. :.
the house when 1t degenerated It be-
a came n theatre for men only, and during
3 fine performance glasses clicked and the
4 atmosphere was thick with the smoke OF
tobacco. The female Ministries occupied
tho stage night after night and sang their
songs. in cracked voices. They were no'
always vulgar songs. More often rhey
we're songs of home and songs OF love
popular ballads of the day-with now and
Il then some old song that had almost pee11
z forgotten, the strains of which awakened
memories that caused the smile to die
l1pon the lips of many man IN the au-
dience The faces Of the women upon
tie stage told sorrowful tale. Inc
freshness of youth had faded from their
4 ccrntenances, and the rouge upon thell
5ls cheeks only nclB nleIlcu liz SAASSS ~ IA'S
lines which dissipation had marked upor
them. They were pitful objects. these
women who had flung their lives away
and their laughter seemed hollow mock
cry.
The days of adversely fast closed In
u.on the house, and its fall Vas at last
e complete. Then 1t became trunk store
and settled down to the eminently re.
spectable business Of a tradesman. The
gallery and stage were still there, mute
reminders Of what had been, but 1t diff
fered from many a playhouse, in that
empty trunks were In the orchestra, in
y stead OF empty seats.
The house In Its new calling no doubt
enjoyed days Of prosperity, but 1t was
destined to again be used for purpose:
oe amusement. The story of Its resurrec
ton is familiar to nearly every one II
r Richmond. Jake Wells thought he saw
All opening for popular price" thous'
4 here. and so the trunks were moved ant
carpenters were put to work upon TIL
building to restore 1t to Its former con
q dition. The house had an unsavory rep
utation as playhouse which It had no
& lived down. and there were many VIII
said that an attempt to mako 1t a respect