The Washington times., 1922-03-19

1855. Ip that yeer the theater was
leased TO p. Harris. The sign
that had been up SO many years
came down, and in its place went
up ono bearing the name Of The
BiJou Theater. The theater was
opened with a matinee perform
ance on February Is Of the same
year. The first production APP
pearing there under the new man.
asement was Dion Boucicault's
1.-THE Shaughruan."
The policy Of the house was
changed. and II was evident from
the start that tho management
was going to pin its faith to the
good old blood and thunder"
drama. Instead of the great stars
who formerly held sway there. tho
patrons were now introduced to
the villain with a heavy mus
tache and the handsome hero
who got II In the neck until the
last act.
WELTER OF CRIME.
A half dozen stage murders
were committed nightly behind
the footlights at the Bijou. Mort
cages were foreclosed. old folks
were driven from home. and the
young women wearing dark cloaks
over their heads were always
struggling through binding snow
storms. The price Of peanuts
went up. and those folks who
wanted action in the plays they
went to see. were delighted with
tho character Of the production
appearing there.
The very names Of the plays
save promise that there was some
thing doing. Hero are q few Of
thom: alone in London" Tho
Streets of New York." I'm Dark
est Russia" "The Galley Slave"
Across the Pacific" THE Still
Alarm" Tho Fast Mail" Tho
Lights of London" East Lynne"
Lightning LOU" 1.-THE World
Against Her." Peter jackson in
Uncle Toms Cabin" tom. tho
Newsboy." "Adrift in New York."
and The White Slave" Some Of
the performers appearing in them
included N. 8. Woods, Florencs
Bindlay, Charles T. Ellis, Matte
Vickers. and Ada Gray.
ENTER THE MELODRAMA.
In 1892 L. Britain and T. r.
Dean became associated with Mr..
Harris in the management Of the
theater. Tho melodramatio policy
was continued. and the boys and
girls munched their peanuts and
hung around the stage door after
the performance to SEQ the great
ones como out just a. you used
to do down at the old Academy
of Music on d street.
We next find q Mr.. Butler man.
aging the destinies Of the theater.
Butler was noted for his genial
smile and . huge diamond he
wore in his tie. Under hiS con-
troll, the Bijou continued to do
good business with the same
class Of attractions.
Willie and Eddie Fowler drifted
along about this time and beamed
on the patrons from the box Of
flee window. Willie II still beam
ing down at the National and Ed
die was well-known at the Columbia
before that theater became a NOV
ing picture house.
In tho course Of time Mr.. But
Ter took his departure and a. the
years flew by other Managers
came and went. Then one day
John 0rieves dropped into town.
looked over the field and thought
It good. He Interested Mr.. Arthur
johnson. Jerry Ritter and Charles
n. Harris in his plans ana soon
after the Bijou opened mp with .
burlesqus stock company that soon
had the male thsater-goerp OF the
city ordering their seats two ana
three weeks In advanoo
The company grew famous In
six montha Prices were raised
again and again and still the
crowds packed the theater nightly.
Grieves believed In giving his
patrons the best and many Of the
performers who appeared in his
stock company are now playing
in tho first class theaters OF the
country.
LOTTIE gibson RECALLED.
Among the artists booked for
his theater can be mentioned Toe
Howard, Mcintyre and Heath. EN-
ma Carua, Lottie ellison, Ben
WEIGH, Bert Leslie. Susie Roca'
mora, IDA Mule. James and Bon
ME Thornton. the Great Lafayette
Nina Collins, Flora Parker (now
Mrs. Carter De Haven), Pauline
Moran, Sam Adams. Billy Watson
M. WIN. BARRY Thompson. An,