Fords Theater

The History of Ford's Theater

• 1861: John T. Ford, a theatre manager, leases out the abandoned First Baptist Church for five years with an option to buy at the end of that period. After signing the lease, Ford rents the theatre to George Christy who performs there with a group of minstrels to critical and audience acclaim until 1862. Christy advertises the theatre as “The George Christy Opera House,” since it is unnamed. Christy does not make any structural changes to the building, and the basic seating structure, including church pews and a single balcony, remain intact.
• 1862: On February 28, Ford closes the theatre to remodel the stage for theatrical and musical productions. Ford spent more than $10,000 on renovations and reopened the theatre on March 19. He named the theatre “Ford’s Athenaeum.” The theater begins to gain a steady stream of revenue, but on December 30, the original exterior was destroyed by a fire. Ford estimated his damages to total around $20,000 – a huge amount for this time.
• 1863: John T. Ford buildt a new theatre, calling it “Ford’s New Theatre.” The grand opening was on August 27. It was a sold-out performance. The theatre quickly gained momentum and became a popular spot for local residents, tourists and Abraham Lincoln to enjoy a variety of shows. In November, Lincoln attended a performance at Ford’s of The Marble Heart, starring a then 24-year-old John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln attended Ford’s a total of eight times within the next two years.
• Spring of 1865: On April 14 Lincoln, his wife Mary, share a box stage left at Ford’s for a performance of Our American Cousin. John T. Ford’s brother, James, is in charge of the theatre on this evening. During intermission, Lincoln’s bodyguard goes to the lobby bar for a drink but does not return for the start of Act 3. John Wilkes Booth enters Ford’s through a backstage door with the help of a stagehand and proceeds to Lincoln’s box. At around 10:15 p.m., during the beginning of Act 3 Scene 2, Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head by his left ear. Lincoln was rushed to the Peterson House across the street. Booth escaped until he was caught by the Police 12 days later.

History continued...

• Spring of 1865: On April 14 Lincoln, his wife Mary, share a box stage left at Ford’s for a performance of Our American Cousin. John T. Ford’s brother, James, is in charge of the theatre on this evening. During intermission, Lincoln’s bodyguard goes to the lobby bar for a drink but does not return for the start of Act 3. John Wilkes Booth enters Ford’s through a backstage door with the help of a stagehand and proceeds to Lincoln’s box. At around 10:15 p.m., during the beginning of Act 3 Scene 2, Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head by his left ear. Lincoln was rushed to the Peterson House across the street. Booth escaped until he was caught by the Police 12 days later.

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