Evening star., 1934-01-07

jefferson De Angelis in character pose.
of Ford's Atheneum on Tenth street, which was
destroyed by fire during the engagement OF
Caroline Richings who was playing at the time
''The Enchantress,'' a play said to have never
been given here since. The building which
was burned had previously been the First Bap-
tist Church; the present one In which Lincoln
was shot, was never house OF worship. as
recently stated in a publication about Wasnlng-
ton but was erected as a theater.
At the time of the assassination of President
Lincoln when even a number of loyal people
of Washington were suspected as Deing lmph-
Gated in the plot to commit the dastardly deed,
the Ford brothers. John T., H. Clay and James
c., were incarcerated in the old Capitol prison,
where they were held for 40 days before being
released, having been fully exonerated OF any
completely in the conspiracy. After this un-
usual experience, Harry Ford went to Baltimore
and opened there a magnificent billiard room.
which he conducted for year, and then De-
came treasurer Of the Grand Opera House OF
that city. In 1869 he returned to Washington
as manager of the Chapman sisters. and
Travelled with them through the United States
and Canada for five years. About 1875. after
the expiration of the lease Of J. G. Saville, ne
took charge of the National Theater, and man
aged both this and Ford's Opera House for
several years.
"A /HEN Mary Anderson appeared at the
wv National in 1877. she was but 18 years
old. Few realized then what o great actress
she would become. However, > Chicago ara
matte critic had the right idea when he said:
"If we urge those who are fond Of the
theater in Chicago to witness at least one OF
Miss Anderson's performances. it is not because
we feel any undue interest in her personal for
tunes, but because the opportunity Is one
which no theater-goer should lose. She Will
make her way. II she lives, and continues
faithful to her profession, she will play 70
houses in Chicago in which standing room Will
be in demand. The only present concern is
that many who would like to assist at the well
come Of promising an artistic may lose tile
pleasure. through carelessness or ignorance CT
her merits"
But Mary Antoinette Anderson Qor this was
Miss Anderson's fun name), after becoming one
Of Americas greatest actresses, married Antonio
de Navarro; gave up the stage, and Tor many
years has resided IN England.
Samuel G. Kinsley. another popular manager
of the National Theater awhile back, was also
born in Baltimore; the particular date being
November %. 1912. HIS experience about
parallels that Of H. Clay Ford for he first be-
came q theatrical man In 1853 under the guid-
i.
until 1869. when he went with Lucille Western
look after that actress bookings and interests.
Next we find him with the Olympic Theater,
New York, later he travelled with Adelaide Neil
son. the famous English tragedienne. Then he
travelled with Joe Jefferson e. II. Sothern, ]. s.
Clarke and Lydia Thompson. Soon after this
he accepted an offer from John T. Ford to be
treasurer of the National Theater and Fords
Opera House in this city, and when John w.
Albaugh became proprietor of the National,
Mr.. Kinsley was made business manager. He
was widely known and very much admired.
From the earliest days of the first National
Theater, and throughout the entire period in
which Mr.. Rapley managed this house, the
practice was to put on here the best plays,
such as Alice Oates. recalled by many an old
timer: Charles Fechter. in Monte Christo'
John Mccullough, who. in 1877, put on such
tragedies as "Othello" "faicheHeu," "Virginius,"
"King Lear" Hamlet" and The Gladiator"
THIS was just few years after the terri
torial form Of government Of the District
Of Columbia headed by Alexander r. Shep-
herd. was turned into temporary commission
form Of government and later made permanent,
and the theater programs Of that period fre-
quently carried in their columns some very
interesting reading. q good and very tnlighten-
ing example Of which follows:
"A correspondent of the New York World
has interviewed ex-Gov. Shepherd and cleaned
many interesting statements in regard to the
comprehensive plan of improvements. Referring
to the changes that have taken place, the
correspondent says:
1.-THE transformation which Washington has
undergone at the hands of Boss Shepherd is
amasing Wilens first visited ,the city in war.
time. it was . mud hole. The, streets were