Evening star., 1911-08-20

all availa bic material. judge it must nave
been some time during the month. Inc
history now goes to Philadelphia. where
there We're two theaters in existence. one
of these, the New Theater. was under
the management OF Wignell and Relnasie
The season there ending May ~.
learned that they would open an elegant
little theater here. This. the United
States Thsater. l found had been fitted
up In the Blodgett Hotel, also known as
the Lottery, or Great Hotel 1t got
its name Lottery from the fact that
it was built by a man named Blodgett
with the money won at a lottery. ana
was situated on the south front OF the
square where the old Post Office Depart
ment now stands. on + street between
9TH and Sth streets.
AT this period in the history of the
National Capital went on Mr.. Mudn
the streets were unpaNed ana badls
lighted communication signed by a
member of Congress was printed as late
1885, complaining that the lamps Were
not lighted. and that people could no,
walk at night without falling INTO rlan
holes. 1t was also stated that II cost -"
for a hack to take a party to the theateT
which made the riding the most eNpen-
sive part of the evenings entertainments.
as the best seats cost but 81. AS a con
sequence. performances did not take place
sometimes on nights when the weather
was inclement.
''The performances began at dinerens
times. varying from 5:43. $50 to =. SO
that the entertainment could conclude by
10 o'clock. The theateTs at that tune
we're illuminated by candles and lamps
Mr.. Mudd here gives another interess-
ing hit of information concerning the lot
OF the play actors of those days, which
shows that their existence was not OF
the pleasantest.
a
now" he SAYS Instead of Pullman cars
or other comfortable coaches in which to
travel. they used stages. often had to be
contented with wagons without springs
and in some cases had to travel on loos:
On one occasion while the manager OF
the Washington Theater was on MS way
10 Washington from Philadelphia tne
stage coach in which he was travelling
was overturned near Wilmington. Dei..
and he was seriously injured, causing the
opening of the theater- to be postponed.
The season at the United States Thea
ter continued from June to some time IN
September In 1903 number OF prorni-
nent citizens OF Washington met and de-
tded to build a real playhouse here Al
a meeting held at Tunniclins Hotel
we're considered The site chosen was
that now occupied by the Lyceum. and 1t
is interesting to know that a portion OF
the side and rear walls are the same
which we're erected in 1874, the year thal
house was originally built.
AT that meeting. says Mr. Mudd. in
addition to the subscriptions of money.
a number of persons subscribed labor.
such as digging. carpentering. plastering
etc In May, 1893. the subse ribers were
called on TO pay the first of their sub
scriptions. and early in June ground was
broken But it was easier to call Tor
the money than to collect il. Reports
were circulated which we're calculated TO
injure the project. and it was only
through repeated meetings and great ef-
fort that the project was carried on. 1t
was not until November, 1904, that the
opening took place. the house being
called the Washington Theater. The ini-
tial performance consisted of grand
medley entertainment by the celebrated
Mr.. Maginnis from London. who has per
formed in most Of the capital cities or
Europe and Aplerica. Mr. Magnnis an
nounc ed that the exhibition had been
brought to perfection after twenty years
study, together with an expense of $1,000.
and that no person could form a full
idea of its merits without being a spe :
tator The entertainment consisted OF
songs. magic, dancing and acting automa-
tons, mechanical pictures and spectacular
effects.
when the end of the first sea son came.
December IL, the house remained dark
until the fall of 1865, when the regular