Evening star., 1928-04-22

eNowC

without comment. In the lower boxes
on the left of the stage were the mem
bers of the building committee of the
Washington Light Infantry Corps
Capt. j. r. Dyer, chairman; Capt. John
S. Miller, Lieut.. E. Fl. Neumeyer,
Thomas SomerVille and George F.
Timms; the architects, MeSsrs. W.
Bruce Gray and H. L. Page; the coz
tractor, D. j. McCarty, and w. s.
Roose and Col. George B. Corkhil. In
the upper box were Justice Miller,
with the commanding officer, Col.
Moore of the Light Infantry, and mem
bers Of his staff-Messrs. A. w. Kelley,
G.. Wheeler. DR.. H. E. Leach. and
DR.. T. E. McArdle. In the upper box
on the opposite side were Capt. Harrl-
son Dingrnan. Miss Minnie Evans and
Miss Effie Rodier and others. The
members Of the corps. in their full
dress uniform, were scattered about IN
the audience, and helped to add to the
wealth and glow Of color which marked
the scene.
"Of the general current Of warm
praise bestowed upon everything and
everybody, the drop curtain received
a very large share. It was in the form
Of rich blue plush, hanging in grace
full folds from the top OF the pro-
scenium arch, for so feet, then rich
border of woven Persian stuff, CON-
pleted with fringe feet long.
THE curtain was parted in the mid
die shortly after o'clock, and E. B
Hay stepped to the footlights. He was
greeted with a round of applause. He
then recited very effectively a poetlcai
inaugural address, which was written
for Manager Albaugh by John v. Hood
Of Baltimore. Upon the conclusion OF
the address, the curtain was rung ut
disclosing upon the stage the members
of the Emma Abbott Opera Co. Tne
orchestra began to play The star
Spangled Banner, an American nag
was lowered over the stage, and Miss
Abbott, dressed as the Queen OF
Babylon, appeared and bowed her ac-
acknowledgements to the repeated reunoS
of applause which greeted her. Tner
she rendered the national hymn, the
company joining in the chorus.
After these prehminaries, the orches-
ira began the overture to the opera OF
'Semiramide, and during this interval
President Arthur entered, accompanied
by John Davis, Mrs. Davis, and MISS
Frelinghuysen They were ushered tc
the lower box on the right of the stage
Senator Don Cameron and Mrs
Cameron were already in the box, ana
later in the evening Mr.. Phillips, the
private secretary. joined the party
The performance Of the opera was then
begun, and went along with greal
smoothness. considering that the stagt
fittings had so recently been put IN
When the curtain fell on the second
act. there were loud calls for Mr.. Al
baugh, and that gentleman appeared
before the curtain. In response 70 the
warm reception, he made brief speech
thanking the audience for their attend
ance and expressing the hope that he
would be as successful in the manage
ment as the Light Infantry was IN the
erection of magnificent opera house:
Upon this occasion special tran
brought from Baltimore number o
the friends of Manager Albaugh as vel
as representatives OF newspapers pup
lished in that city. The total receipts
for the night are said to have oeel
| $3,l37.
ON February 81, 1885. shortly afte'
" the opening of the Grand Opers
House, the National Theater was de-
stroyed by fire for the fourth time anc
for a while this left only Albaugh'S anc
nland for tigh-grade performances.
Aibaugh,s, In addition to being sue
cessful as theater, proved also TO ot
popular as a place for holding conven-
tionS II was here that, on September
5, 1898, President Cleveland opened thu
Pan American Medical Congress. Pre-
yious to this. other notable gathering
took place. including the meeting Of TIT
International Council OF Women, Marcf
| %. 1888. when Susan B. Anthony pre-
sided. Here Olga NetherSole made he
Washington debut IN 1894 in Camille.
Adelina Patti gave a farewell" per
formance at Albaugh's in 1887, anC
seven years later she gave a similar per
formance at Convention Hall.
The Avenue entrance to Aloaugh':
was an afterthought, as was also tht
outside gallery entrance on the E street
side of the building.
II my memory serves me right
George S. Atwater conducted where ths
entrance Is now. bicycle store. In The
rear was vacant piece Of ground which
he had asphalted and turned into 9
riding school.
Vaudeville was first introduced q,
the Grand Opera House. January i6
1899, the theater then being under the
management Of Burke and Chase
Chase, as you probably know, later
opened what is now Keith'S Theatsr
Just a word or two further about the
Washington Light Infantry. In scan
ming the columns of The Metropolitan
a Georgetown newspaper. which gave up
the ghost ever so many years ago. the
following notice attracted attention IL
the issue of August 81, 1886:
Washington Light Infantry,-A COM