Post Reply 
Ford's Theatre Museum
09-24-2012, 12:01 PM
Post: #1
Ford's Theatre Museum
Seeing as I'm probably never going to get to visit....can anyone share a blow by blow account of their visit? Can you actually stand in the presidential box and look over the balcony at the stage?

‘I’ve danced at Abraham Lincoln’s birthday bash... I’ve peaked.’
Leigh Boswell - The Open Doorway.
http://earthkandi.blogspot.co.uk/
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 12:24 PM (This post was last modified: 09-24-2012 12:35 PM by BettyO.)
Post: #2
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
Maddie --

I hope you get over here across the pond sometime soon - Ford's is wonderful -- and they have statues of the conspirators in the basement - my favorite is the assassination exhibit. No - you can not go into the Presidential box - you used to be able to do so years ago. But you can go around the dress circle to the box. They have also replaced the original reproduction cane bottom chairs with modern theatre seats which ruined it a bit for me - but that is that.... it is still a working theatre.

Interior of Ford's Today -

[Image: fordstheatre.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Exhibit in Basement

[Image: 25692554.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Powell and I (in the Basement- Assassination Exhibit)

[Image: surrattconference201204.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Picture hanging in hallway upstairs - somewhat out of perspective - but still nice....

[Image: surrattconference201206.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

"The Past is a foreign country...they do things differently there" - L. P. Hartley
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 12:52 PM
Post: #3
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
Betty: in the photo:which one is the conspirator? Smile

Bill Nash
Visit this user's website Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 01:01 PM
Post: #4
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
The shorter red headed one....

"The Past is a foreign country...they do things differently there" - L. P. Hartley
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 01:07 PM
Post: #5
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
Would you hire him to dig a gutter?
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 01:16 PM
Post: #6
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
Roger - a boy that size can dig anything he likes! Blush

"The Past is a foreign country...they do things differently there" - L. P. Hartley
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 02:02 PM
Post: #7
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
(09-24-2012 01:07 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Would you hire him to dig a gutter?

I think he looks a little pale for the job. But that fiery red head looks like she's up for the task

So when is this "Old Enough To Know Better" supposed to kick in?
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 02:03 PM (This post was last modified: 09-24-2012 02:11 PM by MaddieM.)
Post: #8
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
(09-24-2012 12:24 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Maddie --

I hope you get over here across the pond sometime soon - Ford's is wonderful -- and they have statues of the conspirators in the basement - my favorite is the assassination exhibit. No - you can not go into the Presidential box - you used to be able to do so years ago. But you can go around the dress circle to the box. They have also replaced the original reproduction cane bottom chairs with modern theatre seats which ruined it a bit for me - but that is that.... it is still a working theatre.

Interior of Ford's Today -

[Image: fordstheatre.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Exhibit in Basement

[Image: 25692554.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Powell and I (in the Basement- Assassination Exhibit)

[Image: surrattconference201204.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Picture hanging in hallway upstairs - somewhat out of perspective - but still nice....

[Image: surrattconference201206.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

You look diddy! how tall are you, Betty?

(09-24-2012 12:24 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Maddie --

I hope you get over here across the pond sometime soon - Ford's is wonderful -- and they have statues of the conspirators in the basement - my favorite is the assassination exhibit. No - you can not go into the Presidential box - you used to be able to do so years ago. But you can go around the dress circle to the box. They have also replaced the original reproduction cane bottom chairs with modern theatre seats which ruined it a bit for me - but that is that.... it is still a working theatre.

What's the dress circle... the first floor? So you can walk down the corridor to the balcony but cannot see inside? Or is it just fenced off?

What are those statues made from? Plaster?

‘I’ve danced at Abraham Lincoln’s birthday bash... I’ve peaked.’
Leigh Boswell - The Open Doorway.
http://earthkandi.blogspot.co.uk/
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 02:17 PM (This post was last modified: 09-24-2012 02:21 PM by BettyO.)
Post: #9
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
Believe it or not I'm 5' 9", Maddie! I was wearing sneakers.... Supposedly these statues are life size -- Lew was a BIG boy!! They are made of some sort of plastic/molded composition....

I told one of the curators that if they ever "Tire" of Lewis Powell that I want him for my library at home! HA! Big Grin

(09-24-2012 02:17 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Believe it or not I'm 5' 9", Maddie! I was wearing sneakers.... Supposedly these statues are life size -- Lew was a BIG boy!! They are made of some sort of plastic/molded composition....

I told one of the curators that if they ever "Tire" of Lewis Powell that I want him for my library at home! HA! Big Grin

The dress circle is on the floor and the second balcony is where you get to the box....sorry - but I got mixed up.....

Here I am with Atzerodt -- I'm slightly taller than him.....

[Image: bettyandgeorge.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

"The Past is a foreign country...they do things differently there" - L. P. Hartley
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 03:46 PM
Post: #10
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
It looks like you've surprised George. All the color is drained from his face.

So when is this "Old Enough To Know Better" supposed to kick in?
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 04:07 PM
Post: #11
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
Maddie,

From the first floor, tiny lobby, you climb a set of stairs to get to the dress circle/first balcony (Betty was right the first time). Walk along that wall to the Presidential Box. There will be an open door to a small hallway. There is plexiglass covering what would have been another door to the box. They allow you into the hallway enough to see the Box from that plexiglass opening. You are actually seeing the interior of two boxes because the moveable partition had been taken down on the night of the assassination to allow room for the guests.

The whole theater is smaller than you think, but on the night of the assassination there was somewhere around 1400 people present. Of course, the second balcony was also used by the public then with benches instead of seats, I believe. Today, all the modern equipment to keep the stage shows going take up that space.

If you ever have the opportunity to come to the D.C. area, Christmas at Ford's is wonderful with their annual production of A Christmas Carol. The 19th-century costuming in a 19th-century theater setting is a treat -- despite those horrible new seats that look more like 1930s than 1860s.
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 04:10 PM
Post: #12
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
(09-24-2012 02:17 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Believe it or not I'm 5' 9", Maddie! I was wearing sneakers.... Supposedly these statues are life size -- Lew was a BIG boy!! They are made of some sort of plastic/molded composition....

I told one of the curators that if they ever "Tire" of Lewis Powell that I want him for my library at home! HA! Big Grin

(09-24-2012 02:17 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Believe it or not I'm 5' 9", Maddie! I was wearing sneakers.... Supposedly these statues are life size -- Lew was a BIG boy!! They are made of some sort of plastic/molded composition....

I told one of the curators that if they ever "Tire" of Lewis Powell that I want him for my library at home! HA! Big Grin

The dress circle is on the floor and the second balcony is where you get to the box....sorry - but I got mixed up.....

Here I am with Atzerodt -- I'm slightly taller than him.....

[Image: bettyandgeorge.jpg]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


OMG... I'm only 5 foot 4 inches tall! I'm the diddy one!

‘I’ve danced at Abraham Lincoln’s birthday bash... I’ve peaked.’
Leigh Boswell - The Open Doorway.
http://earthkandi.blogspot.co.uk/
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 04:53 PM
Post: #13
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
I'm only 5'3." I'm short, but I have a loud mouth!
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 05:01 PM
Post: #14
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
(09-24-2012 04:53 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  I'm only 5'3." I'm short, but I have a loud mouth!

Isn't it amazing how nature compensatesRolleyes

So when is this "Old Enough To Know Better" supposed to kick in?
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
09-24-2012, 10:38 PM
Post: #15
RE: Ford's Theatre Museum
Since we are sharing height -- I'm 5'2", with a mouth as loud as Ethel Merman's, and on occassion a quick temper like -- shall we say, Mary Lincoln?
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Forum Jump:


User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)