The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-06

stands practically IN rum, ne mu-
nicipal government again moves
to seek federal aid for restoration
of the building. Once before, in
1888, the city government saved
the historic theater, and plans for
renovation of the building are re-
vealed in the May, 1888, issue of
the North Carolina Municipal
News, which are reprinted:
ITALIAN Hall, one OF the oldest
sta1-ding theatres in America,
which though run down still has
its beautiful PROPORTIONS and origi-
nal curtain will be restored to its
former splendor. The Wilmington
City Commissioners recently vot-
ed to restore the hall in response
to public sentiment.
Wilmington has theatrical ira
citions second to none in the coun-
try. Archibald Henderson in his
biography of Thomas Godfrey.
calls it 1.-THE cradle of American
drama" because Thomas Godfrey,
who lived and died here and is
buried in St. James graveyard,
was the author of THE Prince of
Parthia." This play, published in
1865, S still holds unchallenged
claim to being not only the first
tragedy written by an American
and published in America, but also
the first play written by an Amer
lean to be performed on the pro-
fessional stage.
In addition to this. the ITALIAN
Association is generally acknowl-
edged to be the oldest little thea
ire group in America, having been
organized in 1890. Ten years later
they opened their own theatre on
the lower floor of lines Academy
which they had taken with a per-
petual lease. Here the Italians
produced both classic and current
ly popular plays until town au-
thorities decided to erect a town
hall on the site of the academy
and purchased the building. The
Thalians received half of the pur-
chase price and planned ITALIAN
Hall.
Cornerstone Laid in 1855
Henry j. Macmillan, who has
devoted considerable time to a
study of the history of ITALIAN
Hall and who has taken a leading
part in the move to get it re-
stored. describes the opening of
the hall thus:
The cornerstone OF this beauti-
full theater, which reflects so much
credit on the town, was laid two
days after Christmas, in the year
1855. James F. Post was the archi-
tect and builder. He also was the
architect of the magnificent Bella
my house at Fifth and Market. 1t
is considered by authorities to be
the most perfect theater of the
Nero Classic or Greek Revival
architecture in the south. This is
the type of architecture which was
introduced and made popular in
the south by Thomas Jefferson.
The famous French Opera House
in New Orleans, destroyed by fire,
was of the same period and New
Orleans is working on a project
to have it rebuilt.
THE hall, while very rundown,
still has its beautiful proportions
and the original curtains. 1t was
opened by the Italians with a per-
Torrance Of a musical extrava-
| CANA titled The Invisible Prince
followed by a farce BOX and Cox,'
on the night of December 2. 1857.
One wonders how an audience de-
scribed as brilliant ever sat
down with hall of its members IN
Voluminous hoop-skirts if the seats
were anything like they are to-
day."
Professional as well as amateur
performances e given in the
hall, with Joseph Jefferson man.
aging a stock company which
played there for two seasons. Sa-
vini. the great Italian actor; jana
shek, the Polish actress; Richard
Mansfield, Mary Anderson and in
later years Maude Adams; Nazi-
nova, and Robert Mantell are
among the great figures of the
stage who trod the boards of
ITALIAN Hall.
Dramatic Festival
When the work of restoring the
hall is completed the Thalians
plan to stage a dramatic festival
which it would attract interest
throughout the nation. If the thea
ter is restored to the former splen-