Lincoln at Ford's Theatre

[loetar44]

In our discussion about Lincoln’s last words at

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...-1858.html

I said in post #25: “Lincoln visited Ford’s several times during his presidency, but I don't know how many times. I found conflicting numbers, 9 times, 12 times, 13 times, 19 times ??? Does anybody know the exact number?”.

And re. General Burnside, Roger said in post#23: “Lincoln had previously attended the theater with Burnside (and Burnside sitting with him in the presidential box)”

There was no response on the conflicting numbers and indeed several sources on the internet say that Lincoln, Grant and Burnside attended Ford’s Theatre on February 10, 1865 to see John Sleeper Clarke perform in the comedy Love or Livery.

However, the question “How many times did Lincoln visit Ford’s Theatre during his presidency” kept my mind busy. So, I did some research. I found the book “Restoration of Ford’s Theatre”, prepared in 1963 under the general direction of the National Park Service by historian George J. Olszewski, Ph.D., a carefully selected reference with a load of facts about the history of the theatre, including a list of the occasions on which Lincoln attended Ford's Theatre and a complete list of all performances given at Ford's.

On page 11 is said: “Lincoln attended Ford's Theatre on May 28, 1862, for the first time, thus adding considerable prestige to the theatre's list of distinguished patrons”.

On page 53 is said: “Up to 1865, Lincoln had attended Ford's Theatre eight times: five times in 1863, and three times in 1864. Sometimes, the First Lady attended with her own party. In 1863 the President had seen Maggie Mitchell in "Fanchon, the Cricket," on Friday, October 30; John Wilkes Booth in "The Marble Heart," on Monday, November 9; and three performances of his favorite Shakespearean actor, J. H. Hackett, in "Henry IV," on Monday, November 14; the same performance the following night, November 15; and in "The Merry Wives of Windsor," on Thursday evening, December 17, 1863. In 1864, Lincoln attended a performance by Edwin Forrest in "King Lear," on Friday, April 8; a Sacred Concert on Sunday,June 19; and a Treasury Ball and Concert on Monday, December 19”.

   

There is NO mention of a visit on Friday, February 10, 1865 with Grant and Burnside. There were no visits from Lincoln to Ford’s in 1865, except Good Friday, April 14. So can we agree on: (1) there were only 9 visits of President Lincoln to Ford’s Theatre and (2) he never was there accompanied by the Generals Grant and Burnside?

   

[RJNorton]

Hi Kees. I have seen different numbers for Lincoln's visits to Ford's Theatre. One book I have says "at least 11." I cannot recall if forum member Tom Bogar gives a number in his outstanding Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination.

Regarding Grant and Burnside with Lincoln at Ford's:

The Evening Star, February 10, 1865, page 2, column 2: Lieutenant General U.S. Grant - Mrs. Grant, two children, with two of the General's Staff, arrived at Willard's at 12 o'clock this morning . The family and staff will attend Ford's Theater tonight, and in all probability the General, to witness Clarke in de Boots.

The Evening Star, February 11, 1865, page 2, column 6: The President and General Grant at Ford's. President Lincoln, accompanied by Lieutenant General Grant, visited Ford's Theater last evening~ followed soon after by Major General Burnside. The audience welcomed the distinguished visitors with the most vociferous cheering, the orchestra struke up "Hail to the Chief," and for some moments the performance on the stage was altogether suspended. The President and General Grant remained until the close of the program."

http://lincolngroup.org/lincolnian/1983/...198301.pdf

[Eva Elisabeth]

In his also outstanding "American Presidents Attend the Theater", Tom mentiones and describes AFAIK every known of Lincoln's theater attendances, plus who accompanied him. It's a ~30 pg. chapter, and I haven't counted the attendances,, nor remember all details, I'll check it out again tonight.

[loetar44]

Thanks Roger. I think 11 is indeed close to the right number: five times in 1863, three times in 1864 and two times in 1865, inclusive the 10 February 1865 visit (as Steers says: "overlooked by virtually all students and authors of the Lincoln story") mentioned in the 1983 Linconian you attached. Add to these 5+3+2 = 10 the visit Lincoln made on Sunday, May 28, 1862 when Ford's was known under the name Ford's Atheneum (from March 19 to December 30, 1862). This brings the total to 11. However, Roger, your book speaks of "at least 11". So I'm really looking forward to Eva's upcoming post! Thanking you in advance Eva. Also curious who accompanied Lincoln....

[Angela]

Ah, finally, my list making pays off.
These are all visits to Ford’s Theatre; though Lincoln frequented Grover far more often:

Wednesday, May 28, 1862
Concert by Clara Louise Kellogg (Abraham Lincoln Quarterly 5, December 1949)

Friday, October 30, 1863
"Fanchon, the Cricket" (Washington Star, 31 October 1863)

Monday, November 9, 1863
"The Marble Heart" (Hay, Letters and Diary)

Monday, December 14, 1863
Henry IV (Washington Chronicle, 15 December 1863)

Tuesday, December 15, 1863
Henry IV (Hay, Letters and Diary)

Thursday, December 17, 1863
"Merry Wives of Windsor” (Hay, Letters and Diary)

8 April 1864
King Lear (Washington Star, 8 April 1864)

Sunday, June 19, 1864
“Sacred concert” (William R. Thayer, The Life and Letters of John Hay)

Monday, December 19, 1864
Promenade concert (Washington Chronicle, 20 December 1864)

And two in which no theatre is given:

Saturday, January 2, 1864
In private box of James D. Greene (Journal of Samuel Heintzelman Papers)

Friday, December 9, 1864
Theatre with Sumner and other people (Lamon Papers, Huntington Library, San Marino, California)

[loetar44]

Thanks Angela!
BTW: do you know how many times Lincoln frequented Grover's ? Just to have the picture complete ...

[Eva Elisabeth]

(08-26-2014 07:33 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Regarding Grant and Burnside with Lincoln at Ford's:

The Evening Star, February 10, 1865, page 2, column 2: Lieutenant General U.S. Grant - Mrs. Grant, two children, with two of the General's Staff, arrived at Willard's at 12 o'clock this morning . The family and staff will attend Ford's Theater tonight, and in all probability the General, to witness Clarke in de Boots.

The Evening Star, February 11, 1865, page 2, column 6: The President and General Grant at Ford's. President Lincoln, accompanied by Lieutenant General Grant, visited Ford's Theater last evening~ followed soon after by Major General Burnside. The audience welcomed the distinguished visitors with the most vociferous cheering, the orchestra struke up "Hail to the Chief," and for some moments the performance on the stage was altogether suspended. The President and General Grant remained until the close of the program."

http://lincolngroup.org/lincolnian/1983/...198301.pdf

Tom gives two more sources for Grant and Burnside with Lincoln at Ford's on Feb.10,1865: the "Washington Chronicle" of Feb. 12+19, and the "Washington Star" (sounds it could be the same Roger posted though) of Feb.10+21.
Haven't counted yet, looks as if there's nothing to add to Angela's list than the people who went with him.

[Angela]

(08-26-2014 10:04 AM)loetar44 Wrote:  Thanks Angela!
BTW: do you know how many times Lincoln frequented Grover's ? Just to have the picture complete ...

I have the Grover's list at home and put it up when I get home later!

@Eva: You're right, I never took notes on who accompanied him - I should probably fix that.

[RJNorton]

(08-26-2014 10:04 AM)loetar44 Wrote:  Thanks Angela!
BTW: do you know how many times Lincoln frequented Grover's ? Just to have the picture complete ...

I once went through Lincoln Day By Day and came up with 22 Lincoln visits to Grover's Theatre. Angela, I will be curious how that number compares with what you have.

Leonard Grover was known for embellishing stories and facts. (Please see Tom Bogar's comment here.) Grover estimated that Lincoln had visited his theater more than a hundred times during his years as president!

[Angela]

Here is the the list to Grover's (I'm really not sure how complete it is - it's a while since I did it and do not remember if I checked all the dates:

Tuesday, February 24, 1863
Barney Williams, blackface minstrel and Irish comedian (N.Y. Herald, 26 February 1863)

Wednesday, March 25, 1863
"Hamlet" (N.Y. Herald, 26 March 1863)

Tuesday, October 6, 1863
"Othello“ (New York Herald, 9 October 1863)

Saturday, October 17, 1863
"Macbeth" (Evening Star, 17 October 1863)

Saturday, January 23, 1864
„The Ticket of Leave Man“ (Washington National Republican, 22 January 1864)

Monday, January 25, 1864
"The Magnificent" (Evening Star, 25 January 1864, 1:4; 26 January 1864)

Friday, February 5, 1864
"Duke's Motto" (Daily National Republican, 6 February 1864)

Friday, February 19, 1864
"The Iron Chest“;"Katherine and Petruchio" (Daily National Republican, 19 February 1864)

Thursday, February 25, 1864
"Brutus" (Washington Chronicle, 26 February 1864; Daily National Intelligencer, 25 February 1864)

Friday, February 26, 1864
"Merchant of Venice";"Don Caesar de Bazan" (Washington Chronicle, 27 February 1864)

Wednesday, March 2, 1864
"Hamlet" (Washington Chronicle, 3 March 1864)

Friday, March 4, 1864
"Richelieu" (Washington Chronicle, 5 March 1864)

Monday, March 7, 1864
"The Fool's Revenge" (Washington Chronicle, 8 March 1864)

Thursday, March 10, 1864
"Richard III" (Washington Star, 11 March 1864)

Saturday, April 2, 1864
"Faust" (Washington Star, 4 April 1864)

Monday, April 4, 1864
"Der Freischütz" (Washington Star, 4 April 1864)

Tuesday, April 5, 1864
"Martha" (Washington Star, 6 April 1864)

Wednesday, June 8, 1864
n.a. (Leonard Grover, "Lincoln's Interest in the Theater")

Wednesday, June 29, 1864
„Rookwood; or, ***** Turpin, the Highwayman" (Daily National Republican, 30 June 1864)

Tuesday, November 15, 1864
„Hamlet“ (N.Y. Herald, 17 November 1864)

Monday, December 5, 1864
"Faust" (Washington National Republican, 6 December 1864)

Saturday, January 7, 1865
"Leah" (Washington Chronicle, 8 January 1865)

Tuesday, March 7, 1865
"Martha“ (Evening Star, 7 March 1865, 8 March 1865)

Wednesday, March 15, 1865
"The Magic Flute“ (Washington Star, 16 March 1865)

Tuesday, March 21, 1865
„La Dame Blanche" (Washington Star, 22 March 1865)



Washington Theater
Thursday, January 23, 1862
"Il Trovatore", "I Puritani" (Evening Star, 23 January 1862)

Friday, March 13, 1863
"King Henry IV“ (Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC)

Saturday, April 11, 1863
"Pocahontas" (Evening Star, 13 April 1863)

[loetar44]

Thank you Angela for this really great list! It must have you taken hours to compose it. Very much appreciated!

[RJNorton]

Angela, I second Kees! Wonderful work! Also, I checked Lincoln Day By Day for the two dates you cited Lincoln attended the theater but did not know which one. Well, Lincoln Day By Day says the same as what you found - he attended a theater on those dates, but which one is not mentioned. Perhaps the answer is lost to history.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Sorry for redundancy - well then, here's a compilation of what Angela found out and Tom Bogar's "American Presidents Attend the Theater".

* An asterix means this event was not mentioned in Angela's fantastic lists, to the other dates I've added the most interesting info (if there was any further). I haven't copied all the sources from Tom's book- so many...but there are sources for all events (on request...).
Statistics: 32 x Grover's, 15 x Ford's (+ 2 unknown place)

Angela,
RE: "Monday, January 25, 1864
"The Magnificent" - please see above, this is the title of the actress, the play was "Gamea".
RE: "Thursday, March 10, 1864
"Richard III" - Lincoln and Grant were announced, but stayed away. Instead see March 11 above.

Kees, please see:
Ford's Theater, February 10, 1865: A. L. + Ulysses S. Grant, + Ambrose E. Burnside


I. Washington Theater

1. Thursday, January 23, 1862
Giuseppe Verdi's "Il Trovatore", Vincenzo Bellini's "I Puritani" (Evening Star, 23 January 1862)
+ Mary + Gen. Irvin McDowell

2. Friday, March 13, 1863
James H. Hackett as Falstaff in "King Henry IV“ (Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress)

3. Saturday, April 11, 1863
"Pocahontas" , "Slasher and Crasher" (Evening Star, 13 April 1863)
+ Tad, + Noah Brooks

(taken over by Laura Keene and reopened on February 1, 1864, but failed after two months)

* 4. February 8, 1864
Laura Keene in "The Sea of Ice/The Wild Flower of Mexico"
- "the Lincoln family"


II. Grover's (= New National Theater)

1. Tuesday, February 24, 1863
(Barney Williams in) "The Lakes of Killarney/The Brides of Glengariff" (N.Y. Herald, 26 February 1863)

2. Wednesday, March 25, 1863
"Hamlet" (N.Y. Herald, 26 March 1863)

* 3. April 22, 1863
Bellini's "Norma"
+ Sumner? (was invited by Mary)

(Grover's closed for renovation till fall)

4. Tuesday, October 6, 1863
"Othello“ (New York Herald, 9 October 1863)
+ Seward, + Stanton

5. Saturday, October 17, 1863
"Macbeth" (Evening Star, 17 October 1863)
+ Mary, + Tad, + W. O. Stoddard, + Seward family

6. Saturday, January 23, 1864
Tom Taylor's "The Ticket of Leave Man“ (Washington National Republican, 22 January 1864)
+ Mary

* 7. January 25, 1864
Victor Sejour's "Gamea" (featuring "The Magnificent" Felicita Vestivali)
+ Mary, + Ch. Sumner

* 8. January 28, 1864
"Gamea"
+ Mary

* 9. January 29, 1864
James R. Planché's "The Brigard"
- "the Lincolns"

10. February 3, 1864
John Brougham's "The Duke's Motto"
- "the Lincolns"

11. Saturday, February 20, 1864
Edwin Booth in "Richard III"

12. Friday, February 19, 1864
"The Iron Chest“;"Katherine and Petruchio" (Daily National Republican, 19 February 1864)

13. Thursday, February 25, 1864
Payne's "Brutus" (Washington Chronicle, 26 February 1864; Daily National Intelligencer, 25 February 1864)
+ Mary

14. Friday, February 26, 1864
Edwin Booth in "Merchant of Venice";"Don Caesar de Bazan" (Washington Chronicle, 27 February 1864)
+ Seward, who gave a dinner in the actor's honor.

15. Wednesday, March 2, 1864
Edwin Booth in "Hamlet" (Washington Chronicle, 3 March 1864)
+ "his family"

16. Monday, March 7, 1864
Edwin Booth in Tom Taylor's "The Fool's Revenge" (Washington Chronicle, 8 March 1864)

17. Friday, March 4, 1864
Edwin Booth in Buwler-Lytton's "Richelieu" (Washington Chronicle, 5 March 1864)
+ "his family", + Seward

18. Monday, March 7, 1864
Edwin Booth in Tom Taylor's "The Fool's Revenge" (Washington Chronicle, 8 March 1864)

19. Friday, March 11, 1864
Edwin Booth in "Hamlet"
"the Lincoln family", + Seward, + Sch. Colfax

20. March 14(?), 1864
"The Seven Sisters/Columbia and her 34 Daughters"
+ Tad (who had already seen it in NY in 1861), in one scene Tad appeared onstage, waving an American flag

21. Saturday, April 2, 1864
Charles Gounod's "Faust" (Washington Star, 4 April 1864)
"the Lincolns", + "the Seward family", + Julia Grant

22. Monday, April 4, 1864
Carl Maria von Weber's "Der Freischütz" (Washington Star, 4 April 1864)
- "the Lincolns"

23. Tuesday, April 5, 1864
"Martha" (Washington Star, 6 April 1864)
- "the Lincolns"

* 24. Wednesday, June 8, 1864
Ludw. van Beethoven's "Fidelio" (Leonard Grover, "Lincoln's Interest in the Theater", National Intelligencer and Washington Star June 8-9, 1864)
- A. L. "alone in his box"

25. Wednesday, June 29, 1864
„Rookwood; or, ***** Turpin, the Highwayman" (Daily National Republican, 30 June 1864)
+ Tad, + Nicolay, + Hay

26. Tuesday, November 15, 1864
„Hamlet“ (N.Y. Herald, 17 November 1864)

27. Monday, December 5, 1864
"Faust" (Washington National Republican, 6 December 1864)
- "the Lincolns", + "the Sewards"

* 28. December 9, 1864
Meyerbeer's "Les Hugenots" (Ward Hill Lamon's "Recollections of A. L.", "Washington National Republican" Dec.9, 1864)
+ Sumner, + Prussian Minister Baron Gerolt

29. January 7, 1865
Daly's "Leah, the Forsaken" (Washington Chronicle, 8 January 1865)
+ Mary, + Tad

30. Tuesday, March 7, 1865
Friedrich von Flotow's "Martha“ (Evening Star, 7 March 1865, 8 March 1865)
+ Mary

31. Wednesday, March 15, 1865
"The Magic Flute“ (Washington Star, 16 March 1865)
+ Mary, + Clara Harris, + Gen. James G. Wilson

32. Tuesday, March 21, 1865
„La Dame Blanche" (Washington Star, 22 March 1865)
- "the Lincolns"


III.a) Ford's Athenum (burned in Dec.)

1. May 28, 1862
Gaetano Donizetti's "La fille du régiment"
- only Mary + a few friends, A. L. stopped briefly in
(Washington Star, May 28, 1862)

III.b) Ford's Theater

2. Friday, October 30, 1863
"Fanchon, the Cricket" (Washington Star, 31 October 1863)

3. Monday, November 9, 1863
JWB in "The Marble Heart/The Sculptor's Dream" (Hay, Letters and Diary)
+ Mary, + Tad, + Nicolay, + Hay

4. Monday, December 14, 1863
Henry IV (Washington Chronicle, 15 December 1863)
+ "his family"

5. Tuesday, December 15, 1863
Henry IV (Hay, Letters and Diary)
+ Nicolay, + Hay, + L. Swett

6. Thursday, December 17, 1863
"Merry Wives of Windsor” (Hay, Letters and Diary)
+ Nicolay, + Hay, + L. Swett

* 7. Saturday, Jan 2, 1864
"Heir at Law", "John Dobbs"

8. April 8, 1864
"King Lear" (Washington Star, 8 April 1864)
- "the Lincolns"

9. Sunday, June 19, 1864
“Sacred concert” (William R. Thayer, The Life and Letters of John Hay)
+ Hay

10. Monday, December 19, 1864
Promenade concert (Washington Chronicle, 20 December 1864)

11. January 4, 1865
"Richelieu"
+ "his family"

12. January 13, 1865
"Lear"

13. January 16, 1865
"Richelieu"

14. January 31, 1865
Robert Montgomery Bird's "Gladiator"

15. February 10, 1865
John Sleeper Clarke in J. Stirling Coyne's "Everybody's Friend" (Evening Star, February 10+11, 1865)
+ Ulysses S. Grant, + Ambrose E. Burnside

IV. The two for which no theatre is given:
Saturday, January 2, 1864
In private box of James D. Greene (Journal of Samuel Heintzelman Papers)

Friday, December 9, 1864
Theatre with Sumner and other people (Lamon Papers, Huntington Library, San Marino, California)

[LincolnToddFan]

Whoa, I knew the Lincolns were big time theater fans but I didn't know the half of it. That Presidential Box got quite a workout between March 1861 and April 1865! I have a feeling Lincoln also would have been a huge fan of "talking pictures"...the movies.

Great work Eva...BRAVO!

[RJNorton]

I don't know if Lincoln were at Ford's on the two dates where no theater is known. But if he were there, this is what was playing:

Saturday, January 2, 1864: Heir at Law and John Dobbs starring John E. Owens

Friday, December 9, 1864: Fanchon the Cricket starring Maggie Mitchell