davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20
LYCEUM THEATERS PASSING MARKS STAGE EPOCH


July Il 1919 A few days after this the
British forces, that had been laying for
some time in the lower waters Of the
Potomac. were rsported to be on their
way up the river TO destroy the city.
and hasty announcement was made
that there would be no further per-
formances This rumor proved to be
incorrect. however. and q few days later
on the departure Of the British the
house was reopened.
The season closed September Is. with
patriotic play called Bunker Hill; or
the Death Of Gen. Warren"
Worse days were to follow for lovers
of the stage in the Capital. although
strange to say. the theater itself came
through unscathed. The season OF 1914
opened June 16 and closed August -
An unlucky day for the closing, in
deed. for a few days later the British
forces captured Washington and the
damages that followed are too well
known to enumerate.
No harm came to the building itself
and the season progressed. On March
attended a benefit performance. at which
the plays. 1.-THE School Of Reform and
'Matrimony," were presented. This APP
pears to be the first time President of
the United States attended a theater in
Washington.
II was near the opening Of the fol-
lowing summer season that the crowning
blow fell on the, Washington theater.
On the morning of April 10. 1870. about
Z o'clock. flames were discovered rising
from the building. In a short time the
structure was mantled in fire. and If
teen minutes later the roof fell in. A
slight fall of snow luckily partially COW
cred the roofs of the surrounding build
ings and probably saved them from a
fate similar to that Of the theater. Rep
resentative John Culpeper of North
Carolina and a number Of other public
spirited citizens climbed to the top of
the adjoining building and. by stamping
out the embers as they fell. prevented
the spread of the blaze.
1t at first was thought that the fire
was Of incendiary origin. but II finally
came to be held that II was accidental
But IL is a curious fact that within the
same six months theaters In Washington.
Philadelphia. Montreal. and New Orleans
burned.
This destruction Of all but the outer
walls Of the building marked the end Of
active dramatics at what was then the
corner Of Eleventh and streets North
west.
Tbs walls had stood the strain. how
ever. and In June. ISL. the property was
purchased by Louis Carusi. II was re-
built by him. and November q, lSee, II
was opened as the Washington City As
sembly Rooms. Mr.. Carusi was a dancing
master. and the building was formally
opened with a grand ball.
From that time on. the new building
contained in the old walls YVES used for
a variety OF entertainments. In which
music was the predominant ting attraction,
and II was not until the National Theater
itself was burned on February 6. 1857.
that the Washington Theater came back
into its own as real playhouse.
Its brilliance was not to be dimmed
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20
Great Figures Of Csmlys Art Appeared Back # H. Eel.
EshseJe&zsen, Besth, and .
HIST Of Others

to be known as one Of the greatest %.
tresses Of this country. appeared. 1lAn-
ager Dion Boucicault himself took q pare
on the stage. and was most popular. h
and Miss Robertson were mAufs6-R
were said to have been married-but lG1er
Boucicault cast her on. Fanny Morant.
manager OF the National at the time Il
burned. was also one Of the members Of
the company, and gained q name. An.
other of the Washington players who
gained fame was John C. Bangs.
These people were seen on the stage of
the new Washington Theater during the
year 1855. and there in the same year
Edwin Booth, John Broughn. Charlotte
Cushman, Mr.. and Mrs Florence, Maxxio
Mitchell. Barry Sullivan. and Julia Dean
Haynes appeared.
"Rip Van Wrinkle" Produced.
II this string of celebrities were not
enough to bring distinction to the theater
In the eyes of those who know histrionicsl
surely the fact that II was on the boards
Of the Washington Theater that Joe JEFF
ferson first produced his RIP Van
Wrinkle" would crown IL with glory in
history. Jefferson practiced the role Of
the jolly drunkard all summer. and on
the night of November u, 1890, the frst
curtain went up on the first perform.
ancc. =.
More than fifty years before, Jeffer.
sons grandparents had frod the boards
OF the same stage, and what Is more his
grandfather had played Bop-Acres i'll
The Rivals" the same role that the
younger Joe was destined to make IA
nous.
This then Is the theater that il about
to be practically torn down to give place
to a larger and better building?
1t is small wonder that to the imagi-
native, the ghosts of stars passed and
gone. seem to cry out in the dust ladened
air of the fast changing building.
There are many places in the old
theater, as II stands today, that seem
to be particularly redolent of the flavor
OF ancient genius. Probably the most
notable Is the small dressing room just
behind the stage box on the left-hand
side Of the house. This room of late
years, has been turned over to the stage
carpenter and electrician for a work.
shop. and il is Uttered with scraps OF
pine and metal. and shavings. but there
seems to cling there the odor of grease
small dressing room- up a little flight
Of stairs on the other side very old. ana
equally productive Of dreams Of the old
days.
The house now is darkened.' Much Of
the front part Of the theater has al
ready given way before the hammers OF
the devastating carpenters, and the late
fall the management promises that there
will not be a vestage OF the old order
of things in sight.
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20
San Francisco Exposition Is
Planned on StupendouS Scale

music. dancing. and acting: II is designed
for pageantry surprising the luxurious
Durbar. and will constitute the prorer
setting for Oriental or modern drama
rpon colossal scale. The architecture
of this great court will partake of tire
Oriental phase of the Spanish Moorish
architecture Ornamentations upon An
elaborate scale will be helped by bril-
liant lighting effects. Electric scintIiia-
tors will play upon fountains at nigh:
reflected colored lights will cast a spell
throughout the court. The walls of the
oloister will be decorated with mural
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20
Local Playhouse |. Oldest n America and Its Destruction
Recalls an Interesting Period Diiculies
Encountered BY Organizers

The LySeum. In spite Of its age, ves
not the flint theater in the National CAP
ital In $500. when the seat of the gov.
eminent was moved to Washington from
Philadelphia. a move was made to give
this city the entertainment facilities thai
the old capital had had,
The first playhouse was known as the
United States Theater. and was estab.
lished in the Great Hotel. right across
the site of the City Postoffice. This house
did not enjoy a long season of success,
however. for its usefulness Vas largely
ended by severe storm that flooded the
town. killed large number of horses and
cattle. and destroyed the scenery of the
theater before 1t was even opened to the
public
This was a sad setback to theater-lovins
washington. and early in 1903 a number
OF prominent people got together to make
plans for another playhouse.
Dimcult to Get Funds.
1t was big undertaking. and there
were not enough interested in the project
to finance 1t. SO subscriptions not only
for money and land. but even for labor,
had to be asked. number of SUBJ
scribers finally were rounded up, how
ever. and a meeting was held at Tunni-
cliffs Hotel on the night of April 20, 1903.
when the present site of the building was
selected.
The Hon. Robert Brent, Mayor of
Washington City. was one of the prime
movers in this effort to build a new
theater. The work was taken up i'm
mediately, and although its oriKinators
strained every effort, there were stormy
times ahead of the little playhouse be-
fore 1t was able to throw open its
doors to the lovers of the mask and
wig
The board of directors contained such
influential names as Mayor John p. Van
Ness, Samuel Harrison Smith, Robert
Brent. William Brent, and Thomas Law,
but in spite of this the subscribers were
slow in putting up the money, and the
records show that numerous meetings OF
the stockholders had to be called.
Finally after more than a year of hard
struggle the house, was opened Novem-
Der l6, 1904. under the name of The
Theater.
1t is characteristic of the difficulty
under which dramatics labored in those
parlous times that although the opening
of the theater had been scheduled to
take place on Wednesday. the fourteenth
Of the month, it had to be postponed
two days because of the inclemency
Of the weather" 1t is needless to say
that there were no street cars. much
less limousines. running in the Capital,
and when 1t was rainy or sleety the
mana cement of the theaters knew milady
would wait for her entertainment. and
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20

the performances waited on the weather
It II noticeable in scanning the records
Of the old theaters that the summer
months were the height Of the theatrical
season, and that ,instead OF packing
themselves OF to the mountain and
coast resorts during the hot days. as Ii
the case nowadays, the actors worked.
One Of the bills that heralded a concert
IN the old Washington Theater In 1871
even went 80 Ear as to advertise heat as
an added inducement to theatergoers.
This was at the time that the Misses
l. and E. Dillingham; and Mr.. Paden
were to sing in concert. The date was
January 10. 1927. and the bill stated that
"Mr. Paden respectfully shows that the
ladies will have the room thoroughly
warmed. be the cost when 1t may"
Hand Bills Described II.
The initial performance at the Wash
ingtor Theater consisted of a grand
medley entertainment by the celebrated
Mr.. Maginnis from London, who had
performed I'm most Of the capital cities
of Europe and America 1t was a COM
bination of songs magic dancing, and
acting automatons. mechanical pictures.
and spectacular effects. according to :hc
hand bills.
The price of admission in those times
was slightly more to the liking Of thu
man Of moderate means. Box scat.
could be had for 81. and the seats In 'the
pit'-the part Of the house occupied by
the class that now would be known as
the gallery gods'-were only 75 cents.
1t was, indeed. a lovely time for the
lover Of the theater, that is, IL the
weather happened to be such that the
actors could 60 on the stage.
Tho Jefferson family of actors that be-
came landmarks in dramatics. was init
mately connected with this Oldest OF the
aters. the Lyceum. In 1908. on September
Z. Mr.. Joseph Jefferson and his wife. the
Of the famous Joe" Of Rip
Van Wrinkle fame, appeared in the Phila-
delphia and Baltimore company in THE
Rivals: or a Trip to Bath" The cast in
cludeo a number Of other names tina.
later became famous.
Even after the theater had been COM
pleted and the regular seasons had
started. the troubles Of the playhouse
were not over. The project did not pay
and during the year 1910 the house re-
manned closed. Finally, 1t was adver-
tised for sale at Dover's Hotel. on the
first Monday in June, 1911. II was ar
gued that the purchase would be a wise
one. as the house had been erected at
a cost Of $4,000. and that with tie
ground around the building It could be
enlarged easily.
This bait failed to draw the fish. how
ever. and the sale was not accomplished.
The Philadelphia and Baltimore CON-
pany again opened the upper season of
ISL. on June IS. and the project went
along with only moderate success.
1t ran up to the time of the start of
the war OF 1872 with England. During
that conflict performances were often
held to celebrate the victories on land
and sea, and 1t is noticeable that the
players never failed to celebrate the
passing Of Independence Day.
The theater again was offered for sale
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20
BY ROY BAKER.

Progress is no respecter Of either per
sons or ghosts. and now they De tearing
down the house over the heads OF romt
of the most famous ghosts this country
ever has seen.
The tinsel and blare of burlesque Is to
give way to vaudeville at the Lycesm
Theater, which can be said to be the OIL
est playhouse In this country, and there
by hangs this story of ghosts For IA;
that old playhouse. according to those
who place faith in sprites and such
things. there abided for years a notahie
company of ghosts about whom the'
has been the aroma Of grease paint ard
cold cream 1t is said at night the
spooks of the famous comedians and ira
gedians who have played there IN GAYS
agone. can be heard wandering about
amid the chaos that the hammers end
crowbars OF the carpenters have made
and bewailing the mutation OF their OLD
haunt now going on.
But to the more incredulous who 20
not take stock in the theory Of ghos.ly
doings there is contained in the Cd
building, at least. a story OF unusual lit
terest. Its history is the history Of the
fight of dramatics for a recognized place.
and II was only after a long. hard strug-
gle that the theater was placed OF a
solid and paying basis.
Space Will BE Increased.
This struggle was, of course, fought
out long age, and has nothing to do with
the changes that are nov going on. OF
the present plans it may be said that
the space in which the old players once
amused their audiences in the days Of
reconstruction after the civil war WI
be greatly increased and the whole plan
CT the house will be much changed The
entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue. which
has admitted the theatergoers since war
times, will be widened and furnished II
the most approved decorative schemes
On the inside there will be more than
fifteen feet on each side of the stage
added to the seating area Of the housa.
The claim to the distinction of being
the oldest theater in the United States
belongs to the Lyceum because of the
two side walls, which are about to be
replaced to make room for the encroach-
ments of progress. These walls have
been standing since the year 1904. Phila-
alter tuilding in the country. the Walnut
Street Theater remaining practically as
it WAS constructed in 1877 OF thereabout.
hut Washington has n playhouse whose
foundations at least antedate that py
fully seventeen years.
AS has been said, the old Lyceum The
ter, or the Washington Theater. the
assembly rooms. Carusi's sa-
loon, the Theater Comique, and Ker-
mans, as it has been variously known.
is a living exemplificat ton of the strug
sla of dramatics for a recognized place.
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20


IN entertainments was produced In an ex-
hibition of pictures by H. DaSuerre. the
Frenchman who invented the process of
the pictures shown were "A Midnight
I Mass'' and "view Of Venice on a Fes-
t,val Night" but what the nature of the
exhibition was does not appear. the man.
agement OF the theater contenting itself
with the statement on the hand bills
that 1t was display of magical pic
lures" Rather broad statement for the
enlightened nineteenth century.
II was reserved for Carusis saloon IN
have the distinction of giving Its patrons
the frst chance to hear John Anderson.
My Joe. John" song that was whistled
as much then as the airs of any Viennese
opera are now. 1t was introduced In this
city by Its author. Mr.. Dempster. who
appeared In concert In 1sis and sang a
number Of his famous songs. They are
still hummed and whistled by the old
timers.
Probably the browning glory OF the
Washington City Assembly Rooms or
Carusfs salon came on the night OF
November 2. 1ss5. when the world-famous
Patti made her initial Washington per-
formance there She vas merely child
OF ten years old, but she took the audi
ence by storm. although she had not
reached the stage OF singing from note.
She appeared In concert with sole Bull
and Maurice Strakosch. landmarks In
the vioiinists' world.
Thus things ran along until 1851.
Carusfs salon had been popular and
mad sheltered big crowds. Well II might
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20

xia.. FIankinr The rrea, rec,aneIe IN
m. VEST will he the Palace NJ Fine Art.
a classic and beautiful structure embody.
ine the spirit of Italian renaissance and
facing upon a erea, DOC, from which its
outlines will be reflected,
OF the three main groups the one on
the east will be comprised of the con-
cessions or amusement center, which
will occupy sixty-fiye acres, and will be
the first Of ALI parts of the exposition
TO be reached by those who come from
the downtown portion of San Fran
cisco. MS entrance win be by way
OF a grea. plaza, at which the con-
ca.sions district will omen out upou
van Ness Avenue Through the con-
cession, area will run a broad boule-
y.rd more than 0oo feet long The
dora.s N the buiIdinxs will be illumi-
uo,.d ~ ,igb, and startIjn1 electrical
ansct. u,iII con,r,hute 10 the night life
- az. .x.os,,ton a., tho amusement
state and National Buildings.
Ill, ,,,rs. ,h.
~ ra,,,;o,. 80 ,ha
area oecupu ~ hn;IS,na. ~
~ a..,n. 90 C,,,-
tns SUES upon 49,. ~.
mon"calhs. anu w ane
Chi'eu S.ses so
IONS OF inc iol
from tne Day VIII fe IN
they ADVANCE upon the sope
OF the fresioio reservaioh Nea -.
hand ard closer TO the water viii pc
the buildings OF inc various
Each structure IN rnis part % .ne
position GROUNDS viii De sulrounaeo ~
vast lawns ana IN It's 'ne
western wing Will present upon q mag
mined scale the enect Oh . superb fes
dence district.
stu further 10 the west OF .he area oi
the states ana foreish ois.,lct win oe
great dr1h srouhds, eapap,e OF accom-
modating at one time io,voo ueops ~
drill; Foreien na.iohs VIII sena . .neI
crack ca.aHS anu liay
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20

however. and during it, existence ~ {
house Of music IL sheltered some Of the
lyric stars OF the day.
There was still to be Q Washington
Theater, however. and about August I.
1921, a playhouse Of that name was COM
pleted on Louisiana Avenue. between
Sixth and Four-and-a-half Streets. II
was more elaborate and commodious than
the old theater. and had a seating capac-
ity of about 700. Liquor was excluded
from the box Hobbies, and smoking wes
forbidden In all parts Of the house.
This theater was popular. and there
were seen many off the brilliant stars
Of those times. Things rolled along un-
It'll August. 1894. when movement for
still another theater was started that
resulted in the construction Of the Ma
tIonal Theater in the fall of the fol-
lowing year. With the opening of this
house a new order Of things was es-
tablished. The gallery gods were rel
esated to the loft. and "the pit" which
In the earlier days had been the abiding
place OF the rousher element, was pa
tronized by the more refined members
Of the theater going throng.
But to return to the Washington City
Assembly Rooms that had risen out of
the ruins of the old Washington Theater.
sn,t. =, 81. oh.no. a. a.. rim. "a :.
Wa. the .cens n, many q br,lIian, .ath.
erinp NJ the mu,icaI class Of the Ma.
tiona, Canita,
The program, as far as they have been
handed down. show that Neutrality-suspicious.
eenahoeu their en.eI'a,hinen. IN a. suI-
oeht voice as they 90 IN tnese oAys'
ana IN the washington Assembly Rooms,
which In the course OF a Few years had
come to be known almost altogether as
Carusi's Saloon, a wide variety of d.
vertisement was offered.
From February "a to &c, 1873, Mr.. Mic
hols. a celebrated yentrtloouist. who had
The Washington herald., 1913-07-20

paintings: exotic flowers. trees and vines.
orange trees in fruit and In blossom. win
contrast with the statuary and the huge
colonnades and staircases
Advance of World shown.
From the Court of Sun and Stars the
visitor. in passing to the West. will come
to the superb Court Of Four Seasons. of
which Henry Bacon, creator OF the Lin
coin Memorial. Is the architect In its
theme this court will typify the con-
quest of nature by mankind. In each of
the four corners of the court will be cut
Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-12-17
A NASTY ROW

Early this morning Jack Shields
and P. w. FolIin had a ruction in
the redlight district in which Fol-
lin drew knife on Shields. Shields
routed Justice Castle ont of bed at
l o'clock and swore to a complaint
against Follin, charging him with
drawing and exhibiting a deadly
weapon in a rude, angry and
threatening manner and using it in
quarrel. Follin was arrested. He
is said to be a married man. We
hope he will be cinched good and
plenty if found guilty of the
charge.
Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-12-17
PAT and MIKE

Two of the striking miners at
the Calumet and Hecla mines in
tn Lake Superior region were dis
cussing the situation and the out
look.
"Lave us give up and go be-
yant to Panama where they are
building the big ditch" said Pat.
rick. "I-hcar they're paying four
dollars the day for laborers.
"But it's hot weather they dc
be havin' down there" responded
Mike. "Shure they do be tellin
me 'tis 1875 in the shade"
"What Of that Mike? You dom
have to work in the shade all TIT
time. "-.Exchange
Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-12-17
power OF THE PRESS

Give me but the liberty Of the
press and l will give to the minister
venal house of peers. / will give
him corrupt and servile house Of
commons. will give nim the full
sway of the patronage of Office. 1
will give him the whole house Of
ministerial influence. l will give
him all the power that place can
confer upon him to purchase up
submission and overawe resistance.
And yet armed with liberty of
the press 1 will 60 forth to meet
him undismayed. I will attack the
mighty fabric he has reared with
the mightier engine. / will shake
down from its height corruption
and bury it amid the ruins of the
abuses it was meant to shelter
Sheridan.
Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-12-17
HARD WHEAT FOR FARMERS

Turkey red whest, the kind which
is imported from Kansas to make
the finest quality of -four, is being
grown in territory tributary to
Reno through the efforts Of the
Riverside mill company.
Early this fall Manager Van Ma
gel Of the Riverside mill sent to
Kansas for 10000 pounds of Tur-
key red wheat for seed and dispos-
ed Of it to farmers in eastern Cali
fornia, southern Oregon and north
ern Nevada. This was grown as
winter wheat and reports are to
the effect that it promises well for
the next season. Enough wheat
was distributed to seed 5000 acres.
Traffic Manager Mcnamara Of the
N. C. o. railway says practically
all the land on which this wheat
is to be grown is dry farmed. This,
according to Mr.. Van Nagel, makes
the ideal condition for securing
hard wheat, suitable for the finest
-four.
1t is likely that new seed wheat
must be imported each year as the
variety is said to run out in two OF
three seasons when grown in the
same locality. Should there be any
sub-formatien of the decomposet
limestone in the ground where il
is planted, however, the wheat
NIGH keep its qualities year after
year. This is the condition that il
said to obtain in Kansas.-Rent
Gazette.
Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-12-17

Nowhere else in the United
States can be found 4 more bust
ness-like, energetic and successful
set OF farmers, than those Of Car
son Valley. They are prosperous
because they know how to get re-
turns from the soil. They own
banks, creameries, -four mills,
telephone lines and power plants,
and their ability as men of affai s
can be judged by the fact that every
one cf their enterprises are sue
cessful. They are not letting their
hay rot and they know far better
how many beeves they can raise
than those who sit back and criti-
CHE their methods.
Record. ..