Evening star., 1938-05-01

" " and sideShoWs, ana De1ore
long the chances are that
the small boy will be worrying father
for the price of ticket to see the
show, that is, If daddy does not an
ticipate little Willie's desires by sug-
gesting going himself, for, after all,
even the grown-ups, who have not for
gotten their youthful days, turn out
in large numbers when the circus
comes to town, and even granddaddy
still has the urge within him, even II
he does not 60.
But, after all, there is something
about the painted wagons, the big can
vas tents and the roaring lions that
appeals to the rich and the poor alike,
as well as the great and the humble,
and 1t is not a modern invention,
either, for we are told it had its be-
ginning in this country in l785, and
that President Washington attended
Ricketts, Circus in Philadelphia in 1893,
and there is no reason for doubling
this statement as being true, for we
do know that Gen. Washington en-
loved amusements and was particu-
larly fond Of horses and of animal life
in general.
Just when the first circus came to
Washington the writer is unable to
say. but this form of amusement evi-
dently grew out of our early fairs.
which were said to have been held "to
amuse the country folk and draw Gus
tom to the CITY," and these forms Of
entertainment were held on the Mall,
where are now the Smithsonian
grounds, from about the time the Fed
eral Government was moved to WASH
tngton from Philadelphia, in 1900.
AT A very eaerly date-probably
around 1920 large brick build
ing is said to have been erected on the
south side of c street between John
Marshall place and Sixth street for use
as theater during the summer
months and circus during the win
tertime, and we are told it was SO
constructed that the sawdust arena
could be transformed into stage at
any time, and here for number of
years was the headquarters of Walkers
Great Southern Circus when it was
not on the road.
The circus companies were then
comparatively insignificant, as one
would imagine, and often the per-
formers were called upon to put up
and take down the canvas, drive the
teams and do other stunts Of similar
character.
About 1880 the building was given
the name THE Amphitheater," and
later the property was taken over by
Walker g. Kimmel, who converted the
lower portion of the building into the
National Livery Stables and made a
public hall out of the upper story.
The Amphitheater was also used for
several years for combined theatrical
and circus performances and here Joe
Jefferson of Rip Van Wrinkle fame,
and his father and mother held up the
theatrical part of the show while the
mother occupied her spare time mend
inng the circus performers costumes.
This old building was removed during
the summer of 1898.
TN THE early days circus perform
ances were held as near the center
of the city as possible, and so, in April,
1846, we find Howe's Circus erecting
its tents on the Mall between Seventh
and Eighth streets, ''and near the
Seventh street canal bridge" Incl
dentally, the press said that the per-
formances were Of the very first order
and 1t would probably have made this
statement even had it not been paid
for the following advertisement:
"HowE's CIRCUS
From Palmo's Opera House, New York
Opened on Monday, April 13
Positively for Six Nights Only
Wednesday Thursday, Friday and
Saturday Afternoon Performances.
With the greatest female equestrian
in the world,
Madame Marie Macarte,
Whose wonderful and most admiring
riding has called forth deafening
shouts, braves, huzzas and applause
from houses nightly crowded to ex-
cess with the beauty and fashion of
New York, Philadelphia and Balti-
more, and who has had the honor Of
appearing before Louis Philippe and
Queen Victoria, and the combined
courts Of England and France, and by
them acknowledged the first equestri-
enne of the age.
. Dan Rice,
The Prince Of Clowns. whose lively
and grotesque delineations of Shake
spearian characters has gained for
him the appellation of the Shake
spearean Clown, is engaged and will
appear each evening.
Together with the most brilliant
combination of Horsemanship, Vault
ing, Acrobatic and Gymnastic Feats.
etc., ever presented to the citizens of
the District.
Price Of Admission, rs Cents.
Doors open tn. Commence at 8
o'clock"
RuT the amphitheaters on C street
and the Mall were not the only
places where the circuses gave per-
formances, but Market House Square,
as then called Pennsylvania avenue
between Eighth and Ninth streets.
was also a popular circus grounds. and
the triangular space in front Of the
National Theater, on z street between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets.
was also frequently used. For five
or six seasons. Dan Rice's and other
circuses were allowed, and indeed in
duced to give their performances in
Judiciary Square, Armory Lot and
other public parks.
The public streets were often given
over to the circus companies, and it
was on Louisiana avenue (now a thing
Of the past), between Ninth and
Tenth streets, that Barnum is said to
have made his first appearance as a
circus owner As the story ooax ~