Washington and the Theatre Author:Paul Leicester Ford Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: LIST SUBSCRIBERS. HE Prefident of the United States. Roger Alden, Efq. New-York, 2 copies. Samuel Anderfon, Efq. Mr. Henry Anderfon. Mr. George Arnold. ... more » Mr. W. Alexander, Philadelphia. Mr. Jofeph Anthony. Mr. Thomas P. Anthony. Alexander Aikman, Efq. Ifland of Jamaica, 20 copies, B J. Barrell, Efq. Boflon. Dr. Richard Bayley, New-York. William Banyer, Efq. Mr. George N. Bleecker. George Bond, Efq. Washington's subscription to Wignell's edition of Royal Tyler's "Contrast." From copy in possession of Mr. S. P. Avery. With the transfer of the government to Philadelphia, the Old American Company began a season in that city. " This was probably agreeable to President Washington, who was fond of the theatre and frequently occupied the east stage-box, which was fitted up expressly for his reception. Over the front of the box was the United States coat-of-arrns and the interior was gracefully festooned with red drapery. The front of the box and the seats were cushioned. According to John Durang, Washington's reception at the theatre was always exceeding formal and ceremonious. A soldier was generally posted at each stage- door; four soldiers were placed in the gallery ; a military guard attended. Mr. Wignell, in a full dress of black, with his hair elaborately powdered in the fashion of the time and holding two wax candles in silver candlesticks, was accustomed to receive the President at the box-door and conduct Washington and his party to their seats. Even the newspapers began to take notice of the President's contemplated visits to the theatre." As an example, the " Pennsylvania Journal" of January 5, 1791, announced: "We hear that the President of the United States will honour the Theatre with his presence, this evening," and advertised that : At t...« less