This hand-tinted postcard from 1909 offered the earliest view of the
interior of Thalian Hall. It was created from a photograph taken after
major changes were made to the 1858 auditorium and proscenium.
Good News was a large show, with a cast of over 40 players. A Ford
roadster was driven across the stage in the opening number. Dancing
in this 1966 production were, from left to right, Bill Walgren, Barbara
Deaton, Michael Sampley, Tony Rivenbark (bow tie), Chris Deasy and
Jere Hodgin.
THALIAN HALL ARCHIVE COLLECTION
CELEBRITIES
As with music, celebrity appearances have long been a
dependable element in Thalian’s appeal. During the age of
“trouping” in the 19th century, star performers brought
shows to all parts of the United States, including South-eastern
North Carolina, but they occasionally encountered
difficulties here. Companies traveled by rail, but although
Wilmington was an important rail center, the trains’ time-tables
didn’t always accommodate actors’ schedules. Often
performances had to be cut short to enable a company to
catch the departure of the night train, much to the audi-ences’
dismay.
Still, celebrities visited Thalian Hall from its earliest
days. Rivenbark explained that, in the 19th century, “the
way people capitalized
on their celebrity status
was to create a play
and travel around the
country, because that
was where the big bucks
were.”
John L. Sullivan
appeared in a boxing
play, and Buffalo
Bill Cody, before he
developed his Wild
West show, came to
Wilmington twice.
In 1875, he brought a
“combination show”
to Thalian that the
newspaper called “a
lavish expenditure of
paint and powder.” He
returned in 1875 with
the play May Cody, or
Lost and Won. After
that performance,
Among the celebrities to play
Thalian Hall was William
Frederick Cody (1846-1917), an
Army scout, Pony Express rider,
wagon train master, fur trapper,
gold prospector and buffalo
hunter who became an inter-national
showman known as
Buffalo Bill Cody.
according to the Star, he “gave a short exhibition of his skill
in handling the rifle.”
Other 19th century celebrities who visited were Joseph
Jefferson (one of the most popular actors of the day, best
known for playing Rip Van Winkle), and Tom Thumb
(Charles S. Stratton), as well as James O’Neill (father
of playwright Eugene O’Neill). And although the 20th
century saw a marked decline in celebrity touring, Tyrone
Power, Agnes Moorehead, Charles Lawton and Nelson
Eddy also performed at Thalian. Later, nationally and
internationally recognized stars, often actors who have
called Wilmington home, have appeared on Thalian’s
stage, including Linda Lavin, Pat Hingle, Peter Jurasik, Joe
Gallison and Henry Darrow.
36 september 2022
WBM