Evening star., 1941-11-23

Ore OF the most interesting buildings
that once occupied corner in the square
where now stands the Bureau of Internal
Revenue, was the old Theater Comique,
which was located on the northeast
corner of Eleventh and C streets. Orig
inally, this site was occupied by the
Washington Theater, designed by George
Hadfield, and first opened to the public
on Friday, November l6, 1904.
The lot upon which the building was
erected extended for "a feet on C street
and l35 feet inches on Eleventh street,
and work upon the structure was begun
in June, 1903 The opening feature was
grand medley entertainment by the
celebrated Mr.. Maginnis from London,
who had performed in most of the cap
ital cities of Europe and America. Later
attractions included wives as They
Were and Maids as They Are" and
ways and Means, Or a Trip to Dover
Here, as far back as 1908, Joseph JEFF
ferson grandfather Of the Joseph JET
ferson of RIP Van Wrinkle" fame, played
"The Rivals" or "A Trip to Bath" and, a
year after Francis Scott Key wrote The
Star Spangled Banner" the piece was
sung here and was received with tumul-
tuous and unbounded applause Short
ly afterward Gen. Andrew jackson at
tended performance for the benefit OF
the poor and. in 1919. President Monroe
and his family witnessed play here,
and il is said to have been the first time
a President attended Washington play
house The theater was destroyed 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 it was on this land
that Mr.. Carus1 built his Washington
City Assembly Rooms, generally known
AZ Carusis Salon, where many WASH
inaton girls-now venerable women, II
any are still lving-learned to dance
while costumed in hoop skirts, and other
handicaps, to the performing of the light
fantastic.
Prior to the Civil War, the Washing
ton Assembly Rooms were engaged lot
the best functions of the city. and the
elite gathered to dance at the'lnaugural
balls of President John Quincy Adams,
Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, Zach
sry Taylor Franklin Pierce and James
Buchanan. 1t was in Carusls Salon
that Baron Stackelburg had the distinc-
tion of introducing the waltz, which Is
still one of the most popular dances.
The main entrance to the Washing
ton Theater. and later to the Washing
ron Assembly Rooms. was on the
street side of the building. In the early
DAYS the Assembly Room was the largest
Mace of its kind in the District. On the
first floor was a dining room and on the
second was the ballroom, which measured
a. nv 80 feet. with 22-foot ceiling.
Bv 1853 the Assembly Rooms had CIV
en- way to theatrical productions. ana IL
again became known as the Washington
Thester. being opened by w. Stewart OF
New York, with Dion Boucicault as man
ager.
Celebrated Plays Given
John Wilkes Booth leased the WASH
tngton Theater in April, 1868, and ad-
yertised himself as lessee and manager.
and We are told that he would appear on
Monday evening April q, of that year,
IN Shakespeare's celebrated tragedy.
"Richard III" In this it was said he
was without an equal Miss Alice Gray
was billed as Queen Elizabeth and E. H.
Brink was Richmond. During this week
he also played The Apostate, Marble
Heart" Romeo" The Stranger and
"The Robbers"
In September 2, 1872, its name was
changed to the Washington Theater
Comioue, under the management OF
Walker 81 Herman, with the following
performers Miss Marion Taylor. queen
OF burlesque" James Milburn, the great
London comique'': the charming Cali
fornia favorite," Miss Alma La Favre;
"the enchanting versatile artlste, MISS
Sa.lie Apt; the petite and fascinating
Miss Lula Delmay the modern ELISE
Mile. Galletti the brilliant, versatile
artists James W. Weslie and Miss Addle
Johnson: the comedian, Samuel Stan
ford the great Washington favorlte,'
Dick Parker; the great Dutch comedi-
an" George S. Knight; Mr.. Otbank, the
Ethiopian mastodon"; "the astonishing
aerial performer, John Manning; song
and dance artists, Macklln and wilson,
George Haerman, James Douglass ana
Miller Beall. and the following ballet OF
graceful secundos and coryphees: Jessie
Howson, Mary Ashton, Emily smith,
Laura LeClaire. Sallie Wesne, Ada Mich
OILS. Mary Devere, Maggie Weston. Annie
Donnelly, Annie Crane and lille An
dreUs.
After this. the theater was remodeled
and opened by James l.. Herman as the
Washington Theater, September 70, 1886,
and again. on August II, 1901, its name
was changed to that Of the Lyceum
Theater, and it was upon this last date
that the Avenue entrance was used Tor
the first time It's final name was the
President Theater.
In 1928, the Government acquired the
site from the Columbia Amusement co.
for $3.50 900. which, The Star at the time
said. was s50,575 less than the assessed
value of the property. 1t consisted OF
sublots 8O2 and 804 in square 349 and
had a frontage of Is feet on Pennsylvania
avenue. next to Harvey's restaurant on
the corner, and faced 135 feet on
Eleventh street and 123 feet on c street.
Popular Restaurant
Of course the present generation OF
middle age or more, will always look
upon this place as the "Comique. or
"Kernan's," and associate with its stage
the inimitable Jake Budd Billy Williams