For the 100th anniversary of Thalian Hall in 1958, Elizabeth
Bridgers (left) and Emma Bellamy Williamson arrive at the
Princess Street entrance in an antique surrey. The women are
dressed in 19th-century costumes for this publicity photograph.
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Panopticon or Life-Moving Mechanical Exhibition of the War
in India and the Sepoy Rebellion. It consisted of 80,000 models
of men, women, horses, ships, artillery, cavalry, camels and other
animals, presumably moving in front of a backdrop of panoramic
paintings. The Daily Journal described the event: “The aquatic
scenery, with ships and steamers moving about, is truly remark-able,
as are also the battle pieces, with vast number of figures in
actual march motion, cannon firing, etc.”
Later, another panorama drew crowds to the Hall.
It was, Rivenbark said, “New York City on a giant canvas.”
Spools on either side of the stage turned 18,000 feet of canvas,
revealing views of the buildings on more than 50 streets from
Broadway to the Hudson River. The entire presentation took nearly
two hours and apparently created the sensation of actually walking
down the depicted streets.
APPROACHING WAR
As the Civil War approached, Wilmington turned away from
amusements and focused more on the conflict to come, but
Thalian Hall continued to play a central role in the life of the city,
hosting political meetings at which the coming clash was undoubt-edly
a topic of discussion.
During the war, Wilmington grew. The port boomed. It was a
blockade runners’ town. With money abundant and entertainment
in demand, the Hall saw its most active period, except during the
yellow fever epidemic of 1862.
Within a week of the town’s occupation by Union troops, the
Hall reopened. Production initially thrived, but by 1867 both the
town and the Hall were struggling. Eventually John T. Ford, a
theater owner from Washington D.C., agreed to handle Thalian
and added it to his touring circuit. As the town’s economy recov-ered,
so did the Hall’s fortunes, and once again stock companies,
hit plays from New York, and international performers visited.
Lisa Salines-Mondello, J.D., LL.M in Taxation, CELA*
*Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation
and NC Board Certified Specialist in Elder Law.
THALIAN HALL ARCHIVE COLLECTION