Evening star., 1934-07-15

We see once again some OF the
outstanding theatrical stars
who came to Washington in that decade and
who amused with their acting, their singing,
their charm and their talents
We are not SO young as were then, nor
quite so nimbe, and, we could not climb the
long flight of stairs leading to the gallery
floors of the National Theater, Albaugh's Grand
Opera House. Columbia Theater. Lafayette
Square Opera House the Academy of Music,
which were the principal amusement houses
here during that period, with the same speed
and agility as We could around 40 years
ago. but it is nice to look back upon those
happy days. nevertheless.
OF course Kernans Lyceum was playing
then to good-sized audiences, but this was
mans theater, and the attractions at the
Bijou Theater formerly Ford's Opera House.
were of the lighter variety of the blood
and-thunder order
The old Columbia Theater, at Twelfth end
+ streets has been a movie house now for quite
a while: the Lafayette Square Opera House is
now the Belasco; the National Theater is still
known by that name, and the Academy Of
Music is now the Strand Theater, notion
picture house. Albaugh's Grand Opera House
talso known by other names), Fords opera
House known for awhile the Bijou, and
kernan's. more recently called the President
Theater were removed to make way for the Fed
eral buildings the last mentioned within the
past few weeks.
out Ol SbdAS dil0 aStAoiAo WIZ
came here then one in particular comes to
mind first because she will likely have passed
on ere this story reaches the public. 1 refer
TO Marie Dressler, who has made many
people enjoy life, enjoyed 1t herself, and passed
her light heart on to the multitudes that they
might enjoy life also. and. perchance, forget
their troubles if they had any.
She was a good comedienne, endowed with
natural Wit and brimful of wholesome humor,
the kind that is appreciated most by right
thinking people; woman who has entertained
ut least three generations in her time and re-
fiected honor upon the theatrical profession.
The writer never saw her in the movies, and
his knowledge along this line is hearsay; the
younger generation knows her too well and too
favorably in this connection. But to her
early days the stage, and especially those
spent in Washington, the present young folks
may know but little.
DROBABLY the first time the writer saw Miss
Dressler was at the Lafayette Square Thea
ter during the week beginning November 8,
1896 or nearly 80 years ago. when the
comedienne had just reached her twenty-sev-
enth birthday. for We told by reliable au-
thority that Miss DreSsler was born November
Q, 1863. The play was the well-known musical
comedy. The Lady Slavey" which was brought
out at the Casino in the February before she
played in this city. Flo Honeydew of the
Music Halls was the character she portrayed,
and it proved TO be one of her best. The cast
of characters included Dan Daily of the Daily
family of entertainers, Charles Dandy Joseph
s. GreenSfelder. Richard Carle. Charles Kirke,
G. l. Tallman. Nicholas Burnham. G. Hazelton
Haynes Annie Buckley, Marie George, Jessie
Carlisle. Linda Lear Clara Franton, Dorothy
Neville Edith Milward Florence DreSsler
Emma Miller. Cora Deane, Marie Mackenzie,
Annie Clay. Lucille BaylieS. Lulu Mooney and
Helena Francis
The play was an operatic comedy in two acts,
with new music by Gustave Kerker. and was
one of the big successes of that period. One
thing in particular the writer recalls was that.
In one part of the play. Flo Honeydew Miss
Dresslerl picked up Dan DAILY. who was William
Endymion Sykes and carried him from the