Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-23

Aentually It will become part Of the
triangle development Of Greater Wash
1ngton.
The first President ever to attend the
theater in Washington went there
March 26, 1919. President Monroe and
his family witnessed the performances
of the School Of Reform" and Matrt-
mony" at the old Washington Theater.
President Andrew Jackson and his en-
tire suite saw charity benefit there.
In those days the price Of admission
was 81 for boxes and IS cents for the
pit ION the first floor, where orchestra
at o'clock and the performance started
at O'Clock. There were three shows
a week.
Anything pertaining to marriage or
love went over big with the theater
crowds of that day. wives as They
Were and Maids as They Are" the
farce, ways and Means; or a Trip to
the Plough" "Matrimony, Man and
Wife; or More Secrets Than One"
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife," and
mo Song. No Supper" were great
favorites.
The theater burned in 1920, but two
years later was rebuilt and named
Carusi's Hall.
In more recent years burlesque -four
1shed there. About 10 years ago it was
transformed into a modern concrete
structure for bigger and better bur-
lesque, but as has so often been the
case, the burlesque fans who filled it
when 1t was ramshackle old firetrap
stayed away when at last 1t became a
more safe and sane place for entertain
Inent.
So burlesque failed. Some time later
two men took the theater over, changed
its name from Capitol to President, and
put on "Abie's Irish Rose" The show
ran for weeks and was the only real
success the new house ever had.
Further attempts were less successful.
while, then movies, and finally stock,
but to no avail
So the New York amusement COM
pany which owned the property has
sold 1t to the Government.
The site, Of the President was also
the scene Of the inaugural balls of FIVE
Presidents-Van Buren,, Polk, Taylor
Pierce and Buchanan
The favorite hotel for members of
IN House of Representatives and some
Senators % years has closed for all
time.
Congress Hail. half block south of
OAC SdPlVOAB 10 w We GOAAA OOWL1 W AldhC
way for the new House Office Building.
Its $50 rooms have been emptied. Its
furnishings have been sold at public
auction.
And some 80 Representatives and
Senators-many with families-have
been forced to look for new quarters
while Congress is in session.
The passing of Congress Hall removes
from the hill one of its most famous
landmarks Not so venerable, true, but
one rich in the memory Of national
characters.
Here lived Speaker Champ Clark from
the very time Of the hotels opening.
Two days before his last term expired
he died in his suite.
Here lived Senator Ra1ston, Senator
Joe Robinson and Senator Willis, who
died in his campaign for the Ohio dele
cation for the presidency.
There Senator Tom Hef1in made his
home ard told his Southern stories to
me music of hysterical laughter, for
Heflin, with his inimitable art, can con-
vllse you with an old story.
Here was "Dinty Moore's Place" SO
named by Congressman, where across
the bridge table Doc" Crowther, hard
boiled Republican protectionist. razzed
jolly Jack" Garner of Texas, both OF
the ways and means committee, and
genial Jack" suffered his anathemas
at Docs" rotten game.
There was an atmosphere of homo
and fraternity about Congress Hall not