Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-16
ENCISE these few pearly tears.
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Mr.. Hammerstein is not going 10 build
theatcr in Washington Hope ran
high Washington filed past the Be-
lasco Theat.r 10 leave its tributes 10 art
in the shape of real money. All that
could he done was done. far as pubic
spirit concerned. More than 100000
will pass into alr. Hammerstein's art
fund-enough. surely. To content even
the voracious pay roll Of grand opera
company Fashion donned its choicest
raiment. expert musical knowledge lent
its most respectful ear. The name Ham
merstcin became household word-now
il goes 10 the attic. The impresarO.
after the season was under way. modified
his rapturous enthusiasm over the idea
OF having opera house of his own
III the capital OF the worlds greatest ma
tioa 10 an expression If Willingness to
accept responsible employment with such
an opera house. in case some one else
fit 10 build il. II is. indeed. an
excuse for weeping. However. ii is at
least permitted To report that enc of the
new theater projects this city has nur-
tured will reach a successful conclusion
The management of the Casino Theater
located ri eth and F. announces that
il will bc ready for its opening before
pictures and vaudeville calculated 10 APP
peal 10 the most fastidious
II i difficult to see what more WASH
inSton could do to convince the New York
manager that the city is entirely sincere
in its appreciation Of grand opera. I'M
less some of the capitalists who reside
here had mohbed him and thrust thou
sand-dolar bills into his protesting peck
cts Even this method of providing him
with funds for a permanent edlfice would
have been dangerous, fo- history relates
instances Of efforts to mob Mr.. Hammer
stein whose results We're satisfactory 10
no one except the imprcsaHos press
agent
Seriously speaking. the Manhattan Opera
Companys success i'll Washington may be
considered assured sc/long as i, can pre-
sent an array of ARTISTS and a rcpertory
OF comprehensive Interest such as called
crowds 10 the thyater last week a higher
mark of approval could not have been
attained. sincy the audiences who well
coined. applafided and babe regretful fare
we'll were composed to a great extent of
the people, whose opportunities for en-
joyins thE best that the world affords
arc practically unlimited. Their presence
in the auditorium represented compli-
ment no Tess than each performance rep
reseD'e3 a privilege.
ThT arrangeme mt of the weeks roper
tory was exceedingly felicitous. 1t would
bS(impossble to crafty the general taste
more thoroughly or present more com
Prehensive study of opera. except by in
Producing the especial equipment that
would be needed for German opera. The
old Italian melodist was placed side by
side with the modern composer who
subordinateS his powers to the dramatic
interest of the plot and sometimes even
to the vocal limitations of performer.
Assurance has already been given that
the Manhattan Opera Company will
make its visit an annual event. Early
in the season il was stated that Wash
ington would have no operate season
this year Such opera as has previously
been given has been Srudgingly offered,
usually at a time when social activities
were suspended. The weeks experience
proves that "A season of music can find
patronage under the same conditions re-
uuired elsewhere. and opera will no
of winter life at the American capital.
Both of the great operate organizations
of New York will probably be in evil
dence and the worlds greatest artists
will have the satisfaction of appearing
before the countrys most representative
audiences PHLANDER JOHNSON.
THE STAGE AFRICAN OF TODAY
AND YE-STERDAY.-Acco to Frank
Doane the birthplace of negro minstrelsy
in humble dwelling at 81 Catherine
street. New York city. in the early part
Of the nineteenth century. closely fol-
lowed by Dave Reed in 1914 Not until
49, was the first minstrel troupe organ
lied. although. according to some records.
the first olackface comedian. one Herbert,
mad" his appearance as a burnt-cork
man far back in 49, In Albany In the
olden days The nac comedian lacked
the more refined elements 81 his art
found in his brothers Of the present day.
lie depended for his laughs on coarse
brand OF humnr and his makeup was
eccentric in the extreme.
At the present time 4 man portrayins
tue character IT a negro can he Il straight
comedian Witness Willis T. Sweatnam :
work iii Il recent play and the artistic
performance Of another well known actor
ia "nc % the current plays now running
in chicago
Il found III my character of Chickorce
IN The Beauty Spot. says Mr. Doane,
THAT ! have secured more laughs and
reai aPplaIse from my audiences with
Out re$ortin2 to the groteSque and ex-
agSerated than / could possibly gain by
yielding TO the temptat ton to crude fun. >
Nm INTERESTING SLJM SCENE
Appie blossom court the locale Of the
Sum in Tine Dawn OF a Tomor-
row though not an actual spot in Lon
don. j. readily recogniZab Die as a part
OF the Whitechapel district. The build
ines adjoining the so-Calied court have
been constructed from actual houses with
remarka BILE fidelity. The dwelling place
OF Glad the part assumed by Miss Rob-
SON. y said TO be an exact replica of the
building in which Nell Gwrn died
Though not in WhitechapeI originally
ii is characteristic of The neighborhood.
TIE narrow streets. the long windows
the quaint old lanterns. the pub and
the coffee stand aid in giving the play
tie much-prized element of '.atmos-
phere
\ RELATED P-tYMEET.-When The
Beauty Spot was playing in Philadel-
ctived contribution of conscience money
due him sine. he boy. In his
youth Mr.. DE Angels decided to quit The
stage and really work. for living
lie came 10 Philadelphia. where his aunt
resided. and went Ia work for one of the
we'll known firms pf SilyerSynffhS 81