The Washington times., 1922-03-19

IN the united STATES. the
building now known as tho Folly
Theatsr gives little or no indi-
cation Of those bygone days when
tho most brilliant theatrical ar
lists Of this country and Europe
appeared there in the leading pro-
ductions Of that period.
Only darkness holds forth where
once John Mccullough. Lilly
Langtry, the elder Southern and
Mrs. Gilbert drew thunders of
applause from the theater-lovoing
public.
Tho Folly stands at tho inter-
section Of Ninth and c STREETS and
Louisiana avenue. The theater
n vacant now. Many Of the
windows are smashed, the doors
are sagging and the building Ia
badly In need Of repair.
Rats slurry across the dark
sned stage and the cupids that
Ethel Le Van. the artist. painted
on the ceiling smile down on the
empty seats that were once filled
with the elite Of the city.
HAD MANY NAMES.
The Folly has had many names
and many managers. 1t has been
known a. Walls Opera House,
rord's Opera House, Harris Bijou
Theater, Buffers Theater, the
Majestic Theater and back again
to the Bijou Theater. During the
last ten or fifteen years 1t has
been tho scene of many failures
and . great deal Of money has
been lost there by ambitious man
aSers-
Now . sign above the entrance
informs the passing public 1t IL
for rsnt- The auditorium that
once resounded to tho plaudits
Of gallant gentlemen and fair
women, 10 silent. The lights are
out. the play il over and the cur
tain's down.
The building was erected in
1850 by Messrs. Haslup and
Weldon. who used 1t as a car
riaSe factory. Messrs. Berry and
Mohun purchased it several years
later and used 1t as a combina-
ton warehouse and auctioneer
rooms. During the civil war they
fitted Il up as q variety theater
and ran 1t with Indifferent sue
cess for q couple OF years. Mr..
Wall bought Mr.. Mohun's inter-
est in 1865 and shortly after the
theater was opened under the
name Of Walls Opera House.
Thadeus Barton became the
house manager for Mr.. Wall in
1858 and while under his manage
ment some of the best known
stars Of that period appeared
there. Among them can be men,
toned Madame Marie Seebach.
tho great opera singer; Mrs. Scot
Siddons. Mrs. Fred w. Lander.
Jane Oates and Lizzie Weber.
In 1871 the theater was leased
to J. @. Saville. On the night ,
of December 6. the same year. 1t
was partially destroyed by fire.
It was rebuilt at once and leased
to John Ford, who had formerly
conducted Ford's Thcater. on
Tenth street. where Lincoln was
assassinated. A glance over the
names Of performers who APP
peared there while 1t was under
Ford's control is the cue for the
old-timer to lay down his paper
and let his eyes grow misty, as
he dreams Of the shows he saw
at Fords when he was nothing
moro than q kid.
DOWNING A FAVORITE.
Robert Downing. who used to
20 swimming with Washington
Topham and the other youngsters
in Rock Creek, made a big hit
down at Ford's playing a prom
inent part in the white Slave"
Sol Smith Russell, appearing In
"Edgewood Folks" was always
greeted with crowded houses.
Other favorites were Madame
Janauschet, in BLEAK House"
and MARY Stuart" Genevieeve
Ward in Forget Me Not"
Charles Bishop in 1.-THE Widow
Bedott," Henry G. Richmond In
sour Candidate" the Kiralfy
brothers in THE Black Crook"
Mrs. Charlotte Thompson, ID. p.
Bowers, James c. McCollum, w.
II. Power, Robert G. Wilson. w.
n. Lawrence, John r. Ward, Mr..
and Mrs. George s. Knight. J.
Polk, Haverly and his Ministries
and Dion Boucicault and his
octoroons.
If you don't believe these were
the names of the famous artists,
ask Dad. he knows. Get him to
talk Of the days when he spruced