Evening star., 1950-08-06

The Light Infantry Corps, dur
ing its early existence, meant
more than words can express, for
during its existence it probably
participated in every parade OF
note held on Pennsylvania avenue
and the same can be said. too. for
the National Rifles. What a grand
sight each made as it executed its
most difficult movements. with
thousands of admirers watching
from the sidewalks and buildings
along the most historic thorough
fare in the United States. and
how they would stretch out at
times in company-front-f
ton, covering the Avenue from
curb to curb!
And the infantry's shakos
Where will we ever find better
looking body Of men. or more
handsomely uniformed?
At the time the cornerstone of
the armory was laid on April %,
1884, the Washington Light In
fantry was composed of as fine a
body of men as Washington had
within it's borders. William G,
Moore, who became major and
superintendent of police in 1886.
was the lieutenant colonel in COM
mand. His staff officers included d:
Judge advocate, H. Dingman:
commissary, L. Woodbury.; pay
master, j. T. Dyer; quartermaster
George Breitchbarth; surgeon. H
E. Leach; ordnance officer, E. c.
Wheeler; engineer. William j
Acker; inspector, William J. Kelly;
assistant surgeon, T. E. McArdle:
adjutant, 1st 1t. William H
Harrison; sergeant major, Charles
H. Ourand; quartermaster ser.
geant, Adrian M. Jones.
The Light Infantry, in the erect
ing of this building, showed rare
judgment in not only planning fol-
adequate quarters for its meetings
drills and social functions, but also
in providing for a revenue pro-
ducer in the form of an up-to-d date
theater, of which the city was
greatly in need, for the only
amusement houses then in the city
were the National Theater, Ford's
Opera House, at Louisiana avenue
and Ninth street; the Theatel
Comique. at Eleventh and {
streets, and the Dime Museum, al
1106 D street, where now stands
the Post Office Department Build.
ing.
Albaugh Secured Lease
There were then In the city
only two theaters which could bt
frequented with perfect prophet,
by the ladies and their escorts anc
where a flrst-class performance
might be seen, these being the Ma.
tional and Ford's Opera House
Because of the need of such :
building. pains and money wer'
not spared in it's erection, ant
from the time the first spade wa
sunk in the ground to the com
pletion of the structure. it wa
in every way, the achievement O
Washington enterprise and capi
tai.
Prior to the completion of tn,
theater it was leased to John w
Albaugh, who was the manager o.
our National Theater and of the
Holiday Street Theater of Balti-
more. He seems to have had a
habit of leasing new theaters, for
on September 80, 1895, we find
that the Lafayette Square Opera
House-later the Shubert Belasco
Theater-was opened under his
management.
The theater, at Fifteenth and
E streets, was opened November
10. 1884, under the name of AL
baugh's Grand Opera House, and
it was an historic event in
Washington theatricals. Emma
Abbott. one of Americas greatest
operate stars, was there on the
first night with her own com.
pany in the opera "Semiramide.
President Chester A. Arthur oc.
cupied one of the boxes. to-
gether with other distinguished
guests.
Grand Opening
Speaking of this event. Th,
Star of November IL has this II
say:
"The circumstances attending
the opening last evening of thu
new opera house, erected by thl
Washington Light Infantry Corps
were most gratifying to the friends
of the corps and satisfactory tt
the public. -.
"The only evidence that the
building had just emerged from
the hands of the workmen wa.
visible in the lobbies and stairs
which still need finishing touches
This. however. only served tc
bring out with stronger effect the