It was an ordinary day. Reading about The Fulton Opera House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I have written several stories about the historical theatre which is located in the first block of North Prince Street where Lancaster's first jail once stood. But, what I discovered today about the historic building is who performed on the stage at the Fulton in 1872. Guy by the name of Samuel L. Clemens. Do you recognize that name? Maybe if I told you his pen name was Mark Twain you might know who he was. Yep, Lancaster was honored by a visit from Samuel Langhorne Clemens during the years he took to the stage as a world-famous speaker and humorist. His visit to the Fulton had him delivering selections from his book "Roughing It" which was a memoir of his wandering years.
Samuel Clemens, age 15 |
Book by Mark Twain |
Mark Twain |
Mark Twain in the rear of the Fulton Opera House |
So, why was Mark Twain in Lancaster you ask! Well, it seems that Mark Twain was in great demand as a featured speaker, performing solo humorous talks similar to modern stand-up comedy. And, just in case you wanted to know...he also used the pen names of "Josh" and "Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass." So, just when did he appear on the stage of the Fulton Opera House in downtown Lancaster? Check out the list that follows:
1872
January 1 - Association Hall, Indianapolis, Indiana - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 2 - Opera House, Logansport, Indiana - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 3 - Richmond, Indiana - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 4 - Music Hall, Dayton, Ohio - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 5 - Opera House, Columbus, Ohio - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 6 - Arcadome Hall, Wooster, Ohio - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 8 - Concert Hall, Salem, Ohio - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 9 - Gray and Garrett's Hall, Steubenville, Ohio - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 10 - Washington Hall, Wheeling, West Virginia - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 11 - Mercantile Library Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 12 - Kittanning, Pennsylvania - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 16 - Opera House, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 17 - Milton, Pennsylvania - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 18 - Court House, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 19 - Fulton Opera House, Lancaster, Pennsylvania - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 22 - Old Methodist Church, Carlisle, Pennsylvania - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 23 - Maryland Institute, Baltimore, Maryland - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 24 - Steinway Hall, New York, New York - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 29 - Klein's Opera House, Scranton, Pennsylvania - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 30 - The Tabernacle, Jersey City, New Jersey - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
January 31 - Opera House, Paterson, New Jersey - "Roughing It" - One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63.
Samuel L. Clemens died of a heart attack on April 21, 1910 and upon hearing of his death, President William Howard Taft said Mark Twain gave pleasure to millions, and his works will continue to give such pleasure to millions yet to come. I'll always remember The Adventures of Tom Sawyer! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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