Evening star., 1933-06-18
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

An ambitious amusement enterprise
was projected so years ago in Wash
Connecticut Avenue tailed tailed to de. de-
no-Theater Plan. vsl1p:. ! ,, ): It ! Is Is
scribed in The Star Of June a. 1888:
"The stockholders Of the proposed
new casino and theater on Connecticut
avenue have invited architects to pre-
sent sketch plans Of the new building.
Any architects IN the city desiring to
present plans can do so, and limited
competition will be allowed to architects
outside Of the city. It is the intention
to have all the plans in by the 28tn
Of June, so that the work OF building
can be begun at once. The suggestions
to architects call for plans for casino
and theater building combined, the
former to cost $40, 900 and the latter
$4,000, independent Of the furniture.
The ground cost $4,000, and it is pro-
posed to complete and furnish the
building for about $175,000, although
the capital stock Is 100000. The
theater will be so by rs feet, the depth
of Is feet not including the stage. It
will seat 1850 people. Mr.. Samuel w:
Fort, the manager Of the Academy OF
Music in Baltimore, has been chosen
manager of the new theater and he
will direct both theaters. The same
companies appearing at the Academy
of Music will appear here. The stock
holders of the new enterprise have not
as yet elected a permanent board OF
directors, and in consequence no officers
have been chosen. Mr.. Hyde OF Riggs
& Co. is acting treasurer and Mr. +.
H. Paine is acting secretary
X
Considering the objections made in
many quarters to the number OF eques-
Memorial Arch nvina SIllan = sra,aej m 1eI n
ton," says The Star
of June 16, 1888, "and in view of the
further fact that other memorial struc-
lures are certain to be erected here
from time to time, the suggestion Is
respectfully offered that a wholesome
departure in that line could be made
by substituting an imposing and hand
somely decorated arch for the conven-
tional statue, whether equestrian or Pc
destrian. A site for structure of this
character should, of course, be on the
highest suitable ground attainable and
it should also be made to span an
important street or avenue. These are
indispensable and inseparable conditions.
1t should, Of course, be massive in its
proportions and durable in its material,
and it could be built plainly, or pro-
fusely ornamented with groups Of statu-
a1y, reliefs. etc, according to public
wish or as the funds available for the
purpose would allow.
Few things are more pleasing to
a 0r 70 To nj
than a fine archway, as those who have
seen the principal structures of that
class in Europe uniformly testify. 1t
will be remembered that at the time
Congress was considering the question
Of finishing the Washington Monument
project to take down the unfinished
shaft and construct from its materials
a grand triumphal arch instead found
a number of very ardent advocates both
in and out Of that body The pro-
priety of finishing the column as origi-
nally contemplated seemed to be gen.
orally conceded, however, and so the
project was dropped in that connection.
1t has not been forgotten, however, and
the suggestion Is made now In the
hope that its merits may be fairly con-
sidered and means finally adopted to
carry 1t out when the opportunity Of
fers. The undertaking would perhaps
be too great to be assumed by such an
organization as one of the Army So
cieties; but it is greatly to be regretted
that all these associations had not in
the beginning united their means and
energies and reared a common memo
rial structure of this character, which
would have been at once worthy me-
mortal of themselves and a monument
OF which not the National Capital alone
but the whole country might well be
proud. It is, Of course, too late now
to carry out the idea in this form, but
1t is to be hoped that the time and
the occasion are not far distant when
it may be put into tangible shape.
Another suggestion, to which no
one can object. and the realization of
which would cost a comparatively small
sum of money, is that a handsome
sculptured fountain shall be erected at
some suitable and conspicuous point in
the city to the honor of Maj Pierre
Charles L'Entspt the distinguished en-