Evening star., 1940-07-21

playhouse. The theater was de-
stroyed by fire April 10, 1920, leaving
standing only the walls. In June.
1921, the site and some additional
ground were purchased by Lewis
Carusi and here Mr.. Carusi built
his Washington City Assembly
Rooms, generally known as Carusi's
Salon, where many Washington
girls-a few of whom may be still
with us-learned to dance while
costumed in hoop skirts and other
handicaps to the performing of the
light fantastic.
Prior to the Civil War the Wash.
ington Assembly Rooms were en-
gagged for the best functions of the
city and here the elite gathered to
dance at the inaugural balls Of
Presidents John Quincy Adams.
Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk.
Zachary Taylor, Franklin Pierce
and James Buchanan. 1t was in
Carusi's Salon that Baron Stackel-
burg had the distinction of intro
ducing here the waltz. which is
still one of our most popular dances.
Blodgett Hotel Shows.
Prior to the building of the Wash
ington Theater. performances were
held for a short period In the
Blodgett Hotel Building which stood
on E street between Seventh and
Eighth streets NV, the building
not having been completed at this
time, and not erected for theatrical
purposes. However, it helped out
in an emergency and until a regular
amusement house could be built.
OF this temporary playhouse, and
the first play produced here, an
early resident says:
THE building at that time was
not finished. The floor was but
temporarily laid with rough boards.
The seats, also, were all rough
boards. laid down to serve as
benches. On these boards. or
benches the audience sat.
Il remember how anxious the boys
were to get in and see the play. and
what tricks they resorted to, to ac-
complish that object. They went
into the cells. or basement story,
and, by the aid of bench. hoisted
themselves up to the joist. Then
they would remove one of the boards
of the temporary floor and by this
means few succeeded in getting
In to see the play. This was known
only to few. I was one of those
in the secret and got in twice in
that manner. Several of the cells
Of the hotel at that time were oc-
cupied by the families of laborers."
New House Built.
After the burning of the Wash
ngton Theater, q new playhouse,
which adopted the same name, was
built on the south side of Louisiana
avenue (now Indiana avenue), a lit
tie east Of Sixth street, and here on
August 8, 1921, its managers, War
rem and Wood, had their opening
night in "She Stoops to Conquer"
and THE Spoiled Child" and among
the members of the company en-
gagged by the managers to give 1t a
successful beginning we find such
notables of the day as Mr.. Warren,
Mr.. and Mrs. Wood, Mr.. and Mrs.
Francis, Mr.. and Mrs. Jefferson, Mr..
and Mrs. H. Wallach, Mr.. and Mrs.
Daley. Mrs Burke, Mrs. Lefolle,
Miss Seymour. Miss Hatwell, Mr..
Wheatley and Mr.. Hatwell.
It was in this Louisiana avenue
house that "Clari," or the Maid Of
Milan" written by John Howard
Payne. formerly of this theater, was
presented on March 20. 1924. At
this performance, Mrs Warren sang
Home, Sweet Home" to great ap-
plause. Eleven years later we find
"Clari" again appearing at this
theater. this time as part OF the
repertoire Of Mrs. Richardson, late
Mrs. S. Chapman"
Destroyed by Fire.
On Christmas night, 1885, this
playhouse became the American
Theater and in 1841 it was converted
into two spacious assembly rooms
which, on March Of that year, were
used for the inaugural ball of Will
liam Henry Harrison. However,
theatrical performances continued
to be held there of and on for a I
number of years afterward. On Fri
day, July %, 1869, 1t was destroyed i
by fire and never rebuilt, previous |
to which it was for awhile known as
Canterbury Hall.
The next theater to be erected,
and the one Of which we probably |
know most, was the National Thea
ter, Of which the fifth by that name
now occupies the site. The first Of
these theaters was opened December
7, 1885, and the firsS play performed
was the comedy "The Man of the
World" followed by the musical
farce Turn Out"
The first National Theater was
destroyed by fire in 1845 and the
next three to follow met q similar
fate in 1857, 1873 and 1885. A bis
tory of this theater no doubt would
fill several large volumes and would
prove decidedly interesting to large
number of Washingtonians who have
fond recollections of plays which
have been performed there and Of
actors who have performed there to
the delight of all, and Of other events,
such as school and university com.
mencements which have taken place
there and Of which they were . part.