The Washington herald., 1921-04-24
New York Erects Memorial
To Washington's Playhouse
Old John Street Theater Site Designated
By New Tablet. 49,,

honored until the erection recently
Of q tablet marking the site of the
old John Street Theater. about 100
feet east Of Broadway on the north
ern side. says John C. Young in the
New York Times.
Most passers-by in this busy thor
oughfare, absorbed with workadsy
Affairs. doubtless never heard OF the
theater. but in other times IL lay
close to the city's heart. For half
. century IL was the only theater,
social mingling point and the
source Of old New York's amuse-
ment Actors in the FIRST Ameri-
can play trod its boards. Washing
ton frequently attended perform
ances. and all Of the leading play
ers in our early school Of the
drama appeared on its stage.
The theater stood back from the
street line sixty feet, almost in the
middle OF the block. II was built
OF wood In the summer Of 1857, and
painted red. A covered entry way
led from the sidewalk TO the door.
Greenroom and dressing rooms
were underneath the stage, but a
wing was added on the western
side, after the Revolution, where
the players had better quarters,
There were two rows Of boxes, a
pit and a gallery. and the house
brought about $500 when all seats
were sold.
a contemporary tells US that the
stage was Of good dimensions" {"
out the picture OF this theater
would indicate that IL must have
been small. indeed, compared to
modern playhouses. The print also
shows that lighting for the house
came from clusters of Tampa sus-
pended like our chandeliers, and
the footlights were candles. Mem
aoout-town Of the pre-Revolution
days used to insist on occupying
seats upon the stage, and this
sometimes impeded the plays. But
after the Revolution an effort wa.
made to keep everyone OF the
stage except the players. and this
policy gradually prevailed. Such
was the John Street Theater. where
the drama was nurtured and kept
alive despite the protests OF re-
formers. who saw in il nothing bu,
a temple OF the devil.
This was New York's fourth the
ater. The first professional COM
pany had come over fsom Ent-
land and presented the earlies,
drama on American shores IN Will
iamsburg, Va. September s, I75s.
The comedians, as all players then
were called. had selected Virginia
because the people and church rep
resented the liberal element in the
new world Pennsylvania. with the
Quakers, was a closed field: New
England, with the Puritans. impos-
sible. and New York, with many
Dutch, uncertain. Americas popu-
lation was about 100000. and that
OF New York 10000.
This troupe began its adventure.
under the leadership of Lewis Hal
lam. who was accompanied by his
wife and SON also named Lewis, and
ten or twelve-others. They did well
In Virginia, getting a friendly re-
ception also in Annapolis. This en-
couraged Ha1lam to try his fortune
In New York. He went there and
built the city's first theater in Mas
sau street, which was opened on
september II. 1888. Immediately
his troubles began with the blue
law advocates OF that day. Bat,
Hallam persisted. with some show
OF success. Then he took his COM
pany on tour TO the West Indies, and
died there
His widow married David Doug
lass. a member of the COMPANY. and
Douglass returned to New York with
the troupe. The Nassau Street The
ater made way for a church, and
Douglass built a second plavhouse
on Cruger's wharf, near the Old Slip.
Troubles again developed. and once
more the theater held its own.
This second playhouse must have
been a makeshift affair. for il soon
was abandoned, and a third theater
was built on Beekman street. in
1851. Thee ompany gained some
strength there, but three years later
the theater was pulled down by
Considerations ohjectors." and the
players were left homeless Then
the John Street Theater was
erected. with added support.
The first performance took place
on December Z. 1867. with a play
called The Beau's StrataCem." "a
iANNhs oAAN df-
Cordinc to one who saw il. John
England. made his appearance in
this piece. and became our original
matinee idol.
On December IL a number Of Wis
itinG Cherokee Chiefs attended the
theater. when Richard Ill" was
offered for their entertainment. The
same commentator assures US that
they regarded the play with atten-
tion, but seemed to express nothing
but surprise" Evidently the chiefs
decided that they should do some
thing to offset the mad Richard,
and the theater bills announced that
the Cherokee Chiefs and warriors,
being desiroUs of making some re-
turn. have offered to entertain the
public with a wal dance.
There were performances three
times a week. Monday. Wednesday
and Friday. The curtain rose at
o'clock, and. as the reserved seat
ticket had not been thought of at
that time. a playbill dated January
1s, 1858. asks that ladies will please
to send their servants to keep their
places at 4 o'clock"
We may evoke with our minds $
eye the rush for the best places
which took place at 4 o'clock by
seat holders who never would have
the fortune to see the play. A ma
jority of the servants sent to claim
seats were negro slaves. and their
clatter filled the auditorium for two
hours They gave way to their
owners, with sorrowful hearts, as
may be certain. The management
especially ordered that slaves must