under the stage

[Tom Bogar]

You know, Mike, I've always wondered that, too. Ford's drawing shows no obstruction between the end of the passageway out to Tenth Street, and Baptist Alley (even on a larger, clearer color version that I scanned from the original, which I can send you as an attachment, if you private message me with an email address). And he certainly would have known of the existence of both of the doors backstage. The only guard at the stage door (stage left) was usually Peanut John, and he would have been no hindrance to Booth. My conjecture has always been, since he came and went so many times through the lobby, that perhaps he wanted to snag a quick look up at the box from the backstage area. And yet, he did go directly into the Star Saloon. Another head-scratcher.

Tom

P.S. Thanks for the adjective.