The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1914-03-17

tonlan and now living in Indianapolis,
has written the following entertain
ing letter of "reminiscences of the Ly-
ceum:-
A Lyceum "Reminiscences.
Indianapolis, Indiana,
March II, 1914.
Editor of the Chronicle:
Dear Sir:-In a recent number of
your paper describing the burning of
the Library and Lyceum building, |
note statement by my old friend,
MIR. Hayward G. Emmell, that the
first show which opened the Lyceum
was Uncle Toms Cabin" If | am
not mistaken, the report is incorrect.
Before explaining that, as an old Nor
ristonian, | might recall some of the
early history of the building
1t occurs to me that for several
years the Lyceum remained partially
built. A number of people having
no place of public amusement outside
of old Washington hall (where the
First National bank now stands) were
anxious for theatre, SO arrangements
were made to give series of enter
tainments towards the furnishing of
the new hall.
There existed at that time strong
Puritanical element desirous that the
hall should be a lecture platform,
rather than given over in any way to
theatricals The feeding even went
SO far that when consent was given
to have it on the theatrical side
there was a discussion that ladies',
either behind or before the foot
lights, should not appear in decollete
costume. However, as the women had
taken upon themselves to provide
means towards the seatin of the
house, the "unwritten law was void.
II ! remember correctly, the first
of the entertainments were given in
the Miller building, which was then
quite a modern structure, and the
scenery was done chiefly in crayon
by the late Thomas Mast, who took
a great interest in the plays pres
ented, as we'll as in the success of
the entertainments. The Miller store
being rented, the performances were
then given in old Washington hall
and | recall with great pleasure see
ing John B. Wood, Miss Nina Howland
Mrs. George B. Raymond, Miss Anna
Shaw, Miss Maria DeCamp. Mrs.
James Wayne Cuyler, Miss May Wood,
Miss Margaret Garrard, Dick Stev-
enson, Bob Webb, Col. J. Farley
Cox, Col w. B. Bend, Walter B..
Wood, Paul Revere, Sam Winship'
and others, present a line of old
stirling comedies like "A Scrap or
Paper" and London Assurance" A
number of those mentioned. | regret,
have passed away from earth.
Some very substantial sums we're
realized and the Lyceum was formally
opened by Emma Abbott, either in
concert or English opera in which
she was assisted by Zelda Seguin
Wallace, the famous contralto, who
came from this city and recently
died here.
If | am not mistaken, then Series
of really good professional entertain
ments were inaugurated by Marcus b
Fell, who at that time kept a
clothing store next to where the First
National Bank now stands, but they
were very poorly patronized and Mr..
Fell lost money. The chief reason
for this was that our people could
not realize that good entertainments
could be provided at home, as they
could go into New York and see the
same, so as a climax Mr. Fell re-
marked to me that if they did not
like the class of entertainment he
gave he would bring something they
would patronize and that was ''Unole
Toms Cabin The house was packed
and | do not think a Morristown audi
ence could have been more shocked
than it was by the Vulgarity of the
performance. The house was more
than half-empty when the show ended.
! It might be mentioned also that
another enterprising townsman OPEN
ed his troupe" as "Sol Sans Modern
Mintrels." composed to some extent
of local talent, in the Lyeeum.
l simply give these "reminiscences
of the first days of the building and
if am wrong l hope some one will
correct me.
Yours very truly,
HARRY K MERRITT.