Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26

and variety program was to constitute
the attraction. Its career In this heid was
short. Dan Hertzog took lease of Lincoln
Hall, and gave 1t the name OF Hertzog
Museum. Seating capacity was increased
and gallery added, together with scenic
equipment for the stage. Two perform
ances were given daily The museum fea-
lures consisted "of giants, dwarfs and
pleasing living curiosites, introduced be-
tween the acts in lieu of an overture The
house opened with KimbalFs New Comic
Opera Company in THE Mascot" It's ca
reer as an important play house began
when the present structure was dedicated
in 1891. 1t has witnessed many notable first
night events, some ofsthe representative at
fractions of its day being included in its
program. Among the productions which
had their initiative at the Academy of Mu-
sic are: "TheojTwo' oGolonels," by William
Richard Goodall: .CoroQet and Coin" by
Messrs. Smith,, Fort and Mcleod; THE
Veil of Avoca,''' in which Charles H. Hop
per made his stellar debut "A Bit of Scan
dal," by Henry Guy Carleton; David La
Rouke," with Robert Downing as the star
and one of Clyde Fitch's early pieces, an
adaptation from the French, entitled Mrs.
Grundy Junior" II was here that Charles
3. Hanford made his appearance as a
Shakespeareap star in Julius Caesar"
Ford's Theater
Two theaters whose walls are still intact
have closed their doors to the public and
are now important only as monuments of
the past. One of them, Fords Theater, on
10th street, is a melancholy memento of
most tragic episode in the nations history.
In 1890 the site was occupied by the First
Baptist Church. In 1850 it passed into the
hands of John T. Ford Baltimore theatre
cal manager. The Carlotta Patti Opera
Troupe was the first attraction played.
George Christy's Ministries played a con-
tinuous engagement of almost two months,
during which the house was known as Geo
Christy's Opera House. This was in 1852
Mr.. Ford re0pened the theater as Ford's
Atheneum, and it was destroyed by fire
December 80 1862. The house was recon-
structed as F'ords New Theater and opened
August -, 1868, with the spectacle, The
Naiad Queen" J. Wilkes Booth, when he
made his first professional appearance there
November q 1868, as Richard Ill was billed
as 1.-The youngest star actor in the world"
The assassination of President Lincoln put
an end to the brilliant prestige the place
had enjoyed as a theater and the govern
ment has had possession of the property
since July s, 1865. 1t was purchased May
II, 1866, by the government from john I.
Ford for 100000 Its reputation for disas-
ter was completed when, on Friday June g.
1893, the floors of the building fell in with
fatal results to many people John E. Buck
ingham, who is still living in this city was
doorkeeper at that theater at the time of
Lincoln'S assassination.
The Empire Theater.
The Empire Theater's decline has been
marked by no distinguishing event It's
decline in popularity has been gradual but
sure, and it is now maintained in idleness
by it's lessees, Herman and Rife in order to
give Kernan's Lyceum a monopoly of the
burIesque business. The theater was
known as Wallis Opera House in 1868, and
n icfi inc NIL
there. John T. Ford became it's lessee and
H. Clay Ford its manager, it being then
known as Ford's Opera House The es-
TEEN in which the theater was held NAV
be inferred from the fact that in 1883 the
Wyndham Comedy Company attracted