The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-24

The picture Is published today Just
to remind Washington that this u
Dr. Smiths birthday. May he have
many mora
ton Of automatic phones, an innova-'
ton the company officials previ-
ously insisted was out OF the ques-
ton on account Of cost And the
seems to have forgotten
entirely their demands for an IN
creased compensation
Under Government ownership the
service would not only be much i'm
proved but would be cheap enough
for anyone to use it.
As an illustration, just compare
the parcel post rates with the ex-
press rates before the establishment
Of the parcel post.
Congressman BORLAND IN the
House stated that the employees Of
the Government Printing Office re-
ceive time and q half for overtime.
Mr.. Borland Is sadly mistaken, as
no one in the G. P. o. receives over
time pay. In fact, should one who
works at night be required to stay
after 8 g. m, he would get reduced
pay.
The local coal administrator
coal application allows q
who uses six tons Of coal
q season to get the full six tons, but
anyone using more than six tons can
get only two-thirds Of their supply.
Under this arrangement, II you
need six tons you get It; II you need
eight tons You get five tons.
Isn't that fascinating?
ALOYSIUS I. MUDD, expert in
the history Of old Washington the
aters and play bills, takes me to
task for saying last Sunday that the
first play given IN Washington was
performed September 1, 1900. in
the United States Theater.
"That was not the first perform
ance staged in Washington" says
Mr.. Mudd. at took place in the
first theater in Washington, but the
first performance was on Friday,
August %, and the phys performed
were Venice Preserved and The
Spoiled Child"
The play bill about which wrote
Is dated September /, 1900, but for
the same theater, and only a few
days subsequent to the date referred
to by Mr.. Mudd-
The theatrical antiquarian con-
tinued:
Nobody was able to say where
the United States Theater was To-
Gated until / made the discovery
after q long and diligent search.
found that It was In the Blodgett or
Lottery Hotel, where the old post
Office building now stands, between
Seventh and Eighth streets north
west"
speaking of The Varieties" which
was q gaudy showhouse OF the civil
war times, Mr.. Mudd said:
at did not stand at either the
PARKER, BRIDGET & CO. corner
nor at JAMES F. OYSTERS cor
ner. It stood at the corner back
Of Oysters, where the Rijou Build
ing now stands. It was originally
built for a gymnasium. On Octo-
Der IL, 1862, it was opened as a va
riety theater under the name OF
Olympic Hall. Its successive names
have been as follows:
Varieties, Oxford Hall and Pima
cotheca, Oxford Music Hall and
Theater, Wallis Opera House, the
New Opera House, Ford's Opera
House, Harris Bijou Theater, Empire
Theater and Majestic Theater.
"The T. Jefferson referred to later
on was the uncle Of Rip Van
Wrinkle joe and the theater was
located on Louisiana avenue between
Four-and-a-half and Sixth streets.
Joseph Jefferson the second and
father of the third Joe became the
manager of the theater in 1881. The
building was subsequently convert
ed into two spacious assembly
rooms, which were opened on the
4th of March, 1s41, with the inaugu-
ration ball of William Henry Har-
rison. The Canterbury Hall, the
famous wartime resort, was located
in this building. 1t was burned
July %, 1869, and the lot is still
vacant
Mr. Mudd concluded:
"I have complete record of