Evening star., 1934-05-05
DUCED IN FAMOUS PLAYHOUSE.

TINE brash music Of wrecker's
hammer has begun to play
tune of destruction in Wash
L ingtons famous President
Theater, where the great
danced at the inaugural balls of five
Presidents and where the waltz was
first introduced to America.
Executing the sentence of oblivion
pronounced six years ago on the
structure at 1920 Pennsylvania ave-
nue., workmen of the r. A. Goldman
Wrecking Co. have opened their at
tack on the old building. The thea
ter will be razed to make way for
the ambitious triangle construction
program of the Government.
The President stood on the site of
the city's first theater, built in 1904
and patronized at one time by Presi-
dent Monroe, the first Chief Execu-
tive to grace local theater with his
presence.
Checkered Career.
In the succeeding 13o years of its
history, the old house knew every rung
Of the ladder of fame from the top
most to the bottom, from Washing
ton Assemblies, sponsored by Clay
and Calhoun and Webster down to
rowdy burlesque shows. 1t was
straight theater, a dining and enter
tainment place, an opera comique
house. Once-from 1841 to 1843-
had the city post Office in its base
ment.
Two fires blazed through the build
ing in its century and three decades of
existence. The first, in 1920, launched
it upon the most noted period of its
history. Giatano Carusi, a famous
musician of the day, bought the ruins,
rebuilt and fitted it up for balls, con-
certs and entertainments. At the great
dances given there. caterers bills
sometimes mounted to $1,000 to ST.
900 night. f--
In 1896, Baron Stackelburg, guest at
a party given by Mrs. Johnston of
Louisiana, introduced the waltz there
The dance, which had come into
great European vogue after the Gar
Alexander danced it at his court in
1916, was an instant sensation in this
country When it spread to the
hinterland cities "discretely austere
matrons frowned upon it" and it was
regarded as "a strictly feminine affair,
then cousins of the opposite sex were
permitted the privilege" and finally
the waltz was established.
Records Lost.
At Carusi's, however, the waltz
doubtless played an important and
charming role in four inaugural balls
after John Quincy Adams. which took
place there in 1925. The later festivi-
ties were held for President Jackson
in 1929, Van Buren in 1887. Polk in
l845 and Taylor in 1849
So ancient were these celebrations
in the relatively brief American his
tory that not one of their programs
Is to be found in the Washingtoniana
collected at the City Library, and the
Smithsonian's rare collection of in
augural ball gowns worn by First
Ladies boasts only part of one worn
at Carusi's. That belonged to jack
sons niece, Emily Donelson.
Carusi's, with its wines and songs
and foods, lived on into the sos. The
original name washington Assembly
Rooms" was changed to "Carusi's
Salon" and this title became COLO
quialiZed into "Carusi's Saloon" al
though the old standard of good en-
tertainment and high class was main
tanned.
Later an impressario named Jake
Budd ran the place as an opera
comique house. and in succeeding
years it bore the names of Lyceum
and The President. The date of the
second fire is not definitely established
but the popularity of the site de-
manded immediate rebuilding. All
manner Of straight theatres, bur-
leSque and other entertainments later
were held in the house, until in recent
years it fell into disuse and was aban-
doned to await the fate now befaIl-
ing it.