RECALLS OPENING OF OLD ROHRBAUGH Auditorium takes Place of Old Playhouse. It was a Gala Event January 31, 1898, When the Rohrbaugh Was Dedicated - Salvini, Italian Actor, Drew Much Applause.

Formal opening of Ottawa's new memorial auditorium, erected by the public in memory of the soldiers and sailors of Franklin county during the recent war, calls to the minds of many folks the elaborate dedication of the old Rohrbaugh theater. It was a gala event - of distinguished citizens, fine clothes, much oratory and some wine. It was the night of January 31, 1896.

As a part of the dedication a bottle of champagne was sprinkled on the stage floor. They say some folks in Ottawa have never forgiven such prodigal waste and blamed the subsequent ups and downs of the Rohrbaugh on the spilling of one whole bottle of perfectly good champagne in the days before Mr. Volstead became famous or infamous, according to your thirst.

The Rohrbaugh was built by the late Samuel B. Rohrbaugh and was named for him. It stood in the same block with the new auditorium - on the site of the present Jewell apartments. The building cost about $33,000 exclusive of site and equipment. The first stone was laid July 9, 1895, and the dedication with much pomp and glory was on the last night of the following January. It was a cold and rainy night. With a raw wind blowing, but that didn't dampen or chill, Ottawa's enthusiasm.

Alexander Salvini, an Italian actor, opened the building with the presentation of "the Three Guardsmen." Salvini carried the role of Phillipe D'Artagnan. The Ottawa Republican of the following day said:

"Mr. Salvini was enthusiastically greeted with an audience of about 800 of Ottawa's most cultured and refined citizens, together with numerous visitors from Topeka, Lawrence, Emporia, Baldwin, Osawatomie, Wellsville and other neighboring towns."

It was a 3-act play. Salvini took the crowd by storm. Perhaps they didn't understand all the Italian spoken but they liked the play. It was Ottawa's grand night. Even the waste of a bottle of champagne didn't matter - then. When the curtain rang down on the third act, after Salvini had made a thrilling dive through a window in the stage setting the crowd went wild.

"Speech! Speech! Speech!"

They applauded and called again and again for Salvini to appear. At last the curtain rose and Salvini came forth. He congratulated the town on its fine playhouse, lauded Mr. Rohrbaugh and predicted a great future for the theater and the town. The crowd then went home, fully satisfied.

The opening had been extensively advertised. Railroads offered special rates to Ottawa. The admission was $2, $1.50 and $1.00. Music was furnished by Ottawa's own Owl Club orchestra.

Before the curtain rose on "The Three Guardsmen," Mr. Rohrbaugh came out on the stage. He was greeted with cheers from the boxes, main floor and balcony. He spoke in his dry, semi-humorous way and related his own experiences in theater building.

When Mr. Rohrbaugh had finished his little niece, Nelle Hubbard - now Mrs. Robert E. Phillip came forward. The Republican said she looked pretty - was pretty - and made a pretty recitation. She recited the following.

Dear friends, for so I humbly dare to call All ye assembled in this beauteous hall - I truly am embarrassed what to say as fitting prologue to the coming play.

We meet

To dedicate with formal celebration

Thro' player's art and not profound oration,

This gracious temple, and my simple part.

Shall be to welcome ye with glowing heart.

Love's labour

In this structure grand you see,

And to the public service royally

Tis tendered. Take it! Thus compass end.

Intended by the public's humble friend -

Mine uncle.

I ask but one little favor -

I trust not on presumption it doth savor -

Please join me as I bow at Thespian shrine

And toast "The Rohrbaugh" with this flask of wine.

After the wine had been spilled on the floor and the groans of the thirsty had died away, George T. Anthony, former governor of the state and anti-liquor leader, spoke. He praised Mr. Rohrbaugh warmly and enthusiastically. Upon Mr. Anthony's retirement from the stage Miss Hubbard came forth again to present him with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

It will be remembered that the old Rohrbaugh had 8 boxes. They were filled that opening night. Following are some of the guests who occupied box seats.

Attorney General and Mrs. Dawes, State Superintendent L. Stanley and Mrs. Stanley of Topeka; Frank Montgomery of the Kansas City Journal, and Mrs. Montgomery; Frank Jarrell of the Kansas City Times; H. L. chase of the Topeka Capital, and Mrs. Chase; Ex-Governor Anthony and Miss Anthony; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Shiras and party; Mr. and Mrs. H. L. T. Skinner; Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Dunn; Mrs. E. Bowles.

Other guests of note were Misses Stacher, DeWeese and VanHosen of Lawrence; Messrs Snow of Topeka and Atkinson of Kansas City; Superintendent W. T. Dunaway, Frank Pyle and Frank Hall, and ladies, of Osawatomie; Hon. William Glenn and Mrs. Glenn, and Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Brown of Greeley county.

Charles H. Ridgway, now a state senator from Wyandotte county, was the first manager. Mr. Ridgway is now in a hospital at Topeka, following injuries received in an automobile accident recently.

The second attraction at the Rohrbaugh was "A Pair of Kids," a comedy featuring Ezra Kendall, a comedian of that day. Next came "the Defaulter," a melodrama. The Rohrbaugh saw good shows and poor ones in its day. Politicians, from township candidates to presidential nominees, spoke from its stage. High-up musicians such as Nordica, LeBrun, Schumann-Heink, Maud Powell, Langendorff, and others appeared there.

The theater had a seating capacity of 1,200. Its stage was 40 by 64 feet. It was generally conceded to be an extraordinary theater except as a money-maker. When it was destroyed by fire on the early morning of October 2, 1915, the stockholders breathed a sigh of relief, collected what little insurance there was and felt themselves pretty lucky.

The Rohrbaugh was not the first theater Ottawa ever had. Back in 1867 and 1868 D. W. Zimmerman built the old Hamblin house at Second and Main. Later H. F. Sheldon added a third story and made room for a town hall and court room. S. B. Rohrbaugh built a structure on the south and added a stage. That building was destroyed by fire February 9, 1895, with a $65,000 loss.

Then there was the old Auditorium which stood on the site later occupied by the Rohrbaugh. It was destroyed by fire March 3, 1895. The loss was $23,000.

The third floor of the Zellner building, Second and Main streets, was Ottawa's opera house for many years. Up until a few years ago the old box office and dressing rooms were placarded with posters, programs and other heritages of the early day actors and actresses who came to Ottawa.

Since the loss of the Rohrbaugh, Ottawa has had no theatrical house. The high school and college auditoriums have been used for home talent productions. Churches have been used for public meetings. The court house has also served as a gathering place.